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Lord Barnett, Labour minister who devised Barnett formula, dies aged 91 Lord Barnett, Labour minister who devised Barnett formula, dies aged 91
(about 1 hour later)
Lord Barnett, the former cabinet minister who devised the system for allocating public spending to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that came to be known as the Barnett formula, has died aged 91.Lord Barnett, the former cabinet minister who devised the system for allocating public spending to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that came to be known as the Barnett formula, has died aged 91.
The former Labour cabinet minister was the Treasury chief secretary in the 1970s when he devised the formula, which has remained in place despite his arguments that it was a temporary fix and ought to be changed as it now produced unfair results.The former Labour cabinet minister was the Treasury chief secretary in the 1970s when he devised the formula, which has remained in place despite his arguments that it was a temporary fix and ought to be changed as it now produced unfair results.
Labour’s leader in the Lords, Lady Royall, said: “Joel was an extraordinary individual.Labour’s leader in the Lords, Lady Royall, said: “Joel was an extraordinary individual.
“As an MP, minister and colleague in the House of Lords, to the very end he was diligently holding the government to account and doing his best to ensure the best for the people of this country.”“As an MP, minister and colleague in the House of Lords, to the very end he was diligently holding the government to account and doing his best to ensure the best for the people of this country.”
Barnett’s daughter Erica said he died peacefully at home on Saturday morning after a short illness. Barnett’s daughter, Erica, said he died peacefully at home on Saturday morning after a short illness.
She said he retained his interest in politics during his illness and “the last words he spoke to me were about the European Union budget”. She said he had retained his interest in politics during his illness and “the last words he spoke to me were about the European Union budget”.
The upsurge in interest in the Barnett formula following the Scottish referendum – and the “vow” by the leaders of the three major parties David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg to retain the system – had provided a “great boost” to him, she said. The upsurge in interest in the Barnett formula following the Scottish referendum – and the “vow” by the leaders of the three main parties, David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg, to retain the system – had provided a “great boost” to him, she said.
Ms Barnett said: “The Barnett formula thing during the Scottish referendum was a great boost to him, because he was able to say what he had been saying for a long time to anybody who would listen, but this time people were listening. Barnett said: “The Barnett formula thing during the Scottish referendum was a great boost to him, because he was able to say what he had been saying for a long time to anybody who would listen, but this time people were listening.
“He had the chance finally to tell people just why he thought it was not only unfair but undemocratic.”“He had the chance finally to tell people just why he thought it was not only unfair but undemocratic.”