Liberal Democrat peer Lord Taverne has died at the age of 97, prompting an outpouring of tributes.
Known as Dick Taverne, he previously served as the Labour MP for Lincoln from 1962 to 1974. During his tenure, he held the position of chief secretary to the Treasury during the UK’s transition to decimal currency.
Lord Taverne resigned from the Labour Party due to his pro-European stance and played a key role in the formation of the Liberal Democrats, following the merger of the SDP and the Liberal Party in 1988.
Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, expressed his sorrow, stating, “Dick was a passionate, principled, and thoughtful colleague who will be deeply missed by everyone in the Liberal Democrat family.”
He further added, “As a founding member of our party, Dick was a dedicated European who inspired us all with his keen intellect and vast experience in government, politics, and beyond, accumulated over many decades.”
In a statement, Lord Taverne’s family shared, “He passed away peacefully early this morning at his London home. He was a much loved and loving husband, father, and grandfather. We will all miss him immensely.”
Lord Taverne famously won the 1973 Lincoln by-election as a Democratic Labour candidate, a consequence of his resignation from the Labour party over disagreements regarding the European Common Market.
He subsequently lost his Lincoln seat in the general election of October 1974.
Lord Taverne’s career also included his appointment as the inaugural director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies in 1970, and he was elevated to the House of Lords in 1996.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Janice, and his daughters Suzanna and Caroline.
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