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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Ex-Speaker Lord Weatherill dies | Ex-Speaker Lord Weatherill dies |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The former Speaker of the House of Commons, Lord Weatherill, has died at the age of 86. | The former Speaker of the House of Commons, Lord Weatherill, has died at the age of 86. |
| The peer served as speaker from 1983 to 1992, and oversaw the introduction of television cameras into the chamber. | The peer served as speaker from 1983 to 1992, and oversaw the introduction of television cameras into the chamber. |
| Lord (Bernard) Weatherill died at the Marie Curie Community Hospice in Caterham, Surrey, on Sunday night after a short illness. | Lord (Bernard) Weatherill died at the Marie Curie Community Hospice in Caterham, Surrey, on Sunday night after a short illness. |
| His son Bruce Weatherill, who informed the BBC and the House of Lords, said: "We will all miss him greatly." | His son Bruce Weatherill, who informed the BBC and the House of Lords, said: "We will all miss him greatly." |
| Even temper | Even temper |
| BBC political correspondent Guto Harri said Lord Weatherill was widely admired for his fairness, even temper and support for backbenchers' rights. | BBC political correspondent Guto Harri said Lord Weatherill was widely admired for his fairness, even temper and support for backbenchers' rights. |
| I don't know what this place is coming to, Tom, they've got my tailor in here now Tory MP, overheard by Lord Weatherill Obituary: Lord Weatherill | I don't know what this place is coming to, Tom, they've got my tailor in here now Tory MP, overheard by Lord Weatherill Obituary: Lord Weatherill |
| Bernard Weatherill - widely known as Jack - was educated at Malvern College before being apprenticed into the family's Saville Row tailoring business. | |
| He served in the Indian Army during World War II and rose to the rank of captain. | He served in the Indian Army during World War II and rose to the rank of captain. |
| He was elected to Parliament as Conservative MP for Croydon North East in 1964 - a seat he held until his retirement in 1992. | He was elected to Parliament as Conservative MP for Croydon North East in 1964 - a seat he held until his retirement in 1992. |
| The then-prime minister, Baroness Thatcher, tried to block his election to the post of speaker, and his private papers released in 2003 revealed their behind-the-scenes rows. | The then-prime minister, Baroness Thatcher, tried to block his election to the post of speaker, and his private papers released in 2003 revealed their behind-the-scenes rows. |
| Although Lord Weatherill was a Tory MP, in the Lords he was convenor of the crossbench peers and his father was a member of the Independent Labour Party. | Although Lord Weatherill was a Tory MP, in the Lords he was convenor of the crossbench peers and his father was a member of the Independent Labour Party. |
| Tributes were being paid to him on Monday from across the political spectrum. | Tributes were being paid to him on Monday from across the political spectrum. |
| 'Awkward squad' | 'Awkward squad' |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair described him as "a real gentleman, someone of immense courtesy and kindness who was an outstanding Speaker and will be missed by people from all parties". | |
| Lord Heseltine, the former Tory deputy prime minister, said: "He was a popular Speaker and a good one." | Lord Heseltine, the former Tory deputy prime minister, said: "He was a popular Speaker and a good one." |
| Lord Tebbit, the Tory peer and former party chairman, described him as "one of life's gentlemen". | Lord Tebbit, the Tory peer and former party chairman, described him as "one of life's gentlemen". |
| Former Labour MP Tam Dalyell, an ex-Father of the House of Commons, said: "Albeit he once called me 'the platoon sergeant of the awkward squad', I rated him in the very highest league of Speakers, partly because he resisted pressure from Margaret Thatcher, and was fair to those with dissenting opinions. | Former Labour MP Tam Dalyell, an ex-Father of the House of Commons, said: "Albeit he once called me 'the platoon sergeant of the awkward squad', I rated him in the very highest league of Speakers, partly because he resisted pressure from Margaret Thatcher, and was fair to those with dissenting opinions. |
| "He was superb in being host to people from developing countries, particularly Asians as he spoke Urdu." | "He was superb in being host to people from developing countries, particularly Asians as he spoke Urdu." |
| Lord Weatherill told MPs of the time he was mocked by Tory grandees for his former profession before his maiden speech. | Lord Weatherill told MPs of the time he was mocked by Tory grandees for his former profession before his maiden speech. |
| "I was so frightened I must tell the House that I spent most of it locked away in a room not a million miles from this chamber," he recalled. | "I was so frightened I must tell the House that I spent most of it locked away in a room not a million miles from this chamber," he recalled. |
| "And my confidence was not increased when I heard a familiar voice say to one of his friends: 'I don't know what this place is coming to, Tom, they've got my tailor in here now.'" | "And my confidence was not increased when I heard a familiar voice say to one of his friends: 'I don't know what this place is coming to, Tom, they've got my tailor in here now.'" |
| He was also the last Speaker to conduct business in a wig, saying it allowed him to hear selectively. | He was also the last Speaker to conduct business in a wig, saying it allowed him to hear selectively. |