Tony Blair’s tribute to Lord Alan Haworth, former secretary of the parliamentary Labour Party and Labour peer:
“Alan was one of my close friends, a wonderful, warm and witty companion. You never had a dull evening with Alan, and I had many of them. And there was no one whose counsel I found wiser or more perceptive. He and Maggie were fantastic hosts, generous and loving friends.
“Of course Alan was a huge Labour Party stalwart. But the kind that was no nonsense, let’s get elected so we can do instead of talk. And in all the years I knew Alan, he never wavered in his belief in, and commitment to, the Party. He served it with distinction, and true and dedicated loyalty.
“So, I will miss him very deeply indeed. On many different levels. In many different ways. It is a sad day for me, Cherie and all our family.”
Lead image: Getty