Former Conservative Cabinet minister Lord Mayhew has died at the age of 86 following a battle with cancer and Parkinson’s, his family said today.
Lord Mayhew served as attorney general and Northern Ireland secretary in the late 1980s and 1990s, and is said to have played a key part in the Downing Street Declaration in December 1993.
In a statement, his family said he died peacefully at his home in Kent on Saturday. They added: “He had lived with cancer and Parkinson’s for several years. He worked hard for peace in Northern Ireland.”
Colleagues paid tribute to the peer, who they described as “much loved and respected”.
Greg Clark, communities secretary and MP for Tunbridge Wells, said: “Patrick Mayhew, an outstanding MP for Tunbridge Wells, former Sec of State and friend has died. Much loved and respected, will be deeply missed.”
Baroness Stowell of Beeston, Leader of the House of Lords, tweeted: “Very sad to hear Lord Mayhew of Twysden has died.
“As longest-serving SoS, he played a massive part in achieving peace in N.Ireland. As a friend & colleague, Paddy Mayhew was supportive, a great source of wisdom, and always fun to be with. Condolences to his family.”
Lord (Patrick) Mayhew of Twysden was born on September 11, 1929. He attended Tonbridge School in Kent before going to Balliol College, Oxford.
In 1955, he was called to the Bar before becoming a Member of Parliament for Tunbridge Wells in 1971.
He was a key figure in the 1993 declaration, which was formulated by the then prime minister John Major and then Irish Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds. It led to the IRA ceasefire the following September.
As solicitor-general in January 1986 he was also a key player in the Westland crisis, which briefly threatened to endanger the position of then prime minister Margaret Thatcher.
The ex-Cabinet minister was at the eye of the storm again during the Spycatcher affair when he attempted to block the publication of former MI5 agent Peter Wright’s memoirs for the Thatcher government.
He was also angrily accused by Irish politicians of being behind the decision not to prosecute Royal Ulster Constabulary officers implicated by the Stalker affair.
Lord Mayhew was seen as more at home on the liberal wing of the Tory party.
He is survived by his wife Jean Mayhew, their four sons and their families.
Source: The Telegraph
