Roy Hattersley, the Labour MP for Birmingham Sparkbrook for 32 years and former deputy leader of the party, has died at the age of 93.
A Life in Politics and Writing
Hattersley served as an MP from 1964 to 1997, representing the Birmingham Sparkbrook constituency. He was deputy leader of the Labour Party from 1983 to 1992 under Neil Kinnock, forming what was known as the 'dream ticket' after the party's 1983 election defeat.
Beyond politics, Hattersley was a prolific author, writing 22 books on subjects ranging from biography to politics. He also appeared at literary festivals, including the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2002 to discuss his biography of John Wesley, and again in 2015.
Notable Moments
His career included various highlights: studying the news with his then-wife Molly in 1968, attending cricket at Lord's in 1982, and visiting the scene of rioting in Handsworth, Birmingham, in 1985. He also met his Spitting Image puppet and appeared with the cast of Coronation Street at the Edinburgh TV festival in 1990.
Hattersley was known for his dog, Buster, who made headlines in 1996 after attacking and killing a goose. The dog accompanied him to book festivals, where Hattersley told stories about a dog's life in politics.
Legacy
Roy Hattersley was born in 1932 and passed away in 2026. His contributions to the Labour Party and British politics are remembered alongside his literary achievements.
