Roy Hattersley (1932 – 2026)
Written and published by the SouleMap editorial team. Published June 15, 2026. This tribute was not created by the family. Are you a family member? Claim this memorial.
In loving memory of Roy Hattersley. Born December 28, 1932. Passed away June 13, 2026.
Their Story
Roy Sydney George Hattersley, Baron Hattersley was born on 28 December 1932 in Sheffield and died on 13 June 2026 at the age of 93. A distinguished member of the Labour Party, he served as MP for Birmingham Sparkbrook for over 32 years from 1964 to 1997, becoming one of the party's most recognizable figures. He served as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party from 1983 to 1992 under Neil Kinnock, playing a crucial role in stabilizing the party during turbulent times in the 1980s and helping steer it back toward electoral viability. Coming from a politically engaged Sheffield family—his mother Enid was a Labour city councillor and Lord Mayor of Sheffield in 1981—Hattersley studied economics at the University of Hull and held several ministerial positions, including minister of state for defence and foreign office, and as secretary of state for prices and consumer protection under James Callaghan. He was a committed pro-European and advocate for comprehensive education. After leaving the House of Commons in 1997, he was created a life peer as Baron Hattersley of Sparkbrook and embarked on a prolific second career as an author, journalist, and columnist, publishing more than 20 books on a wide variety of subjects.
Sources
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