Roy Hattersley, a prominent figure in the Labour Party and its former deputy leader, has died at the age of 93. He passed away after a long career in British politics, serving in Parliament for over three decades.

Hattersley, who entered Parliament in 1964 as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Sparkbrook, became a significant voice within the Labour movement. His tenure as deputy leader, from 1983 to 1992 under Neil Kinnock, came during a period of significant ideological debate and electoral challenges for the party.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to Lord Hattersley, describing him as a “giant of the Labour movement” who, through decades of service, never lost his belief in a more equal Britain. Hattersley's wife, Maggie, and his family were in his thoughts, Starmer added. Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell stated that Hattersley had shaped the Labour Party and British politics, calling him a giant of their movement and of that generation of politicians.

During his time in the cabinet under James Callaghan in the 1970s, Hattersley served as secretary of state for prices and consumer protection. Following Labour's defeat in 1983, he became deputy leader and vocally opposed what he saw as the party's shift too far to the left. He advocated for multilateral disarmament, the market economy, and European Union membership.

After leaving the House of Commons in 1997, Hattersley was made a life peer as Baron Hattersley of Sparkbrook. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle commented that Lord Hattersley had dedicated his life to politics, public duty, and writing. New Labour strategist Alistair Campbell remembered him as "Labour through and through" and a loyal, hard-working deputy during a vital period in the party's history.

Hattersley's political career spanned a transformative era for the Labour Party, from its time in government in the late 1970s through periods of opposition and internal ideological struggle. His advocacy for a more centrist approach and engagement with market principles marked him as a key figure in the party's evolution.

His influence extended beyond parliamentary duties, as he was also known for his contributions as a writer and commentator. His public service and intellectual contributions to political discourse were widely acknowledged by colleagues and contemporaries across the political spectrum.

The legacy of Roy Hattersley is tied to his efforts to modernize the Labour Party and his consistent engagement with the key political and economic debates of his time. His passing marks the end of an era for many who followed British politics closely.