Lord Williams of Mostyn dies
Leader of the House and Lord Privy Seal Lord Williams of Mostyn died on Saturday, aged 62.
His shock death deprives the Government of one of its most competent performers, just days after plans to reform the House of Lords were announced.
Gareth Williams entered politics only after a long and successful career in the law. He was made a life peer in 1992 – the same year he became chairman of the Bar.
A longstanding Labour supporter, he was rewarded with a junior post at the Home Office in 1997, becoming the first Attorney General to sit in the House of Lords in 1999. He became Leader of the Lords in 2001, upon the retirement of Baroness Jay.
Lord Williams was apparently in good health when he collapsed at his Gloucestershire home on Saturday.
A statement on his death was delayed, until all of Lord Williams’ children – one of whom was in the USA – could be informed.
