Speaker left 'devastated' by father's death

Sir Lindsay Hoyle has led tributes to his father, the former Labour MP and "truly dedicated parliamentarian" Doug Hoyle, who has died aged 98.

The veteran politician was MP for Nelson and Colne from 1974 and 1979 and for Warrington from 1981 to 1997 before being ennobled as Lord Hoyle.

Announcing his father's death, the Commons Speaker said he had been "a force to be reckoned with".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he had been "a tenacious campaigner".

Lord Hoyle first ran for office in the Lancashire constituency of Clitheroe in 1964, coming second to Conservative Sir Francis Pearson, before he was narrowly defeated by Tory rival Lord David Waddington in Nelson and Colne in 1970.

He lost for a second time to Lord Waddington in the general election of February 1974, but when a second general election was called eight months later, he clinched the seat.

He was unseated in the 1979 election, but returned to Parliament as Warrington's MP two years later.

He went on to represent the Cheshire town for 16 years and, after being made a life peer in 1997, he served as chairman of its rugby league side Warrington Wolves from 1999 to 2009.

He retired for the House of Lords in 2023.

In his statement, Sir Lindsay said there were "few people who get to my age with their father still around, but I have been one of the lucky ones".

"His death last night has left me bereft; I have lost my dad, my inspiration and the country has lost a truly dedicated parliamentarian," he said.

He said his father had "loved his sport" and as "a massive rugby league fan", he had held his position as Wolves chairman "with great passion and honour".

"Today, there is an empty armchair, an absence of ready wit, and one less animal lover in the world," he said.

Alongside his service as an MP, Lord Hoyle also chaired the Parliamentary Labour Party and two trade unions.

In a tribute, Sir Keir said he had been "a distinguished parliamentarian and a tenacious campaigner".

"A trade unionist, co-founder of LFI [Labour Friends of Israel] and Warrington Wolves fanatic, he had a longstanding commitment to the town, but above everything, he was a family man," he said.

"We will truly miss him. All of our thoughts and prayers are with Mr Speaker, Catherine, Emma and his family."