Former Labour deputy leader Roy Hattersley, Baron Hattersley, has died aged 93, the Prime Minister has confirmed.
Sir Keir Starmer led tributes to the Sheffield-born figure on Sunday night, describing Lord Hattersley as a "giant of the Labour movement" following news of his death.
The former deputy leader, who was also an accomplished author and journalist, died peacefully, his family said.
Sir Keir wrote on social media: "Roy Hattersley was a giant of the Labour movement.
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"Through decades of service, including as deputy leader and a minister, he never lost his belief in a more equal Britain.
"My thoughts are with his wife Maggie and his family."
Born in Sheffield in 1932, Lord Hattersley first entered the House of Commons in 1964 when he was elected to represent Birmingham Sparkbrook.
He would go on to complete a distinguished political career spanning more than three decades in Parliament.
Mr Hattersley had a distinguished political career spanning more than three decades in Parliament
|PA
But the so-called Labour "nearly man" never gained the leadership of the party he loved, and spent more than two decades of his 33 years on the opposition benches.
During Harold Wilson's time in charge, he held ministerial positions including minister of state for defence administration and at the Foreign Office.
His career advanced further when he joined the Cabinet in 1976 under James Callaghan, taking on the role of secretary of state for prices and consumer protection.
From 1983 until 1992, he served alongside Neil Kinnock as deputy leader of the Labour Party during a transformative period for the opposition.
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Sir Keir described him as a 'giant of the Labour movement' following news of his death
|GETTY
Lord Hattersley had been positioned on Labour's right wing for much of his career.
He was credited with helping to steer the party away from the policies which had made it unelectable in the eyes of many voters, including its support for unilateral nuclear disarmament and its opposition to the European Community.
But he turned on the Labour right to become a vocal opponent of Sir Tony Blair.
He contended that New Labour had turned away from the party's socialist principles.
Upon departing the Commons in 1997 after 33 years, he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Hattersley of Sparkbrook.
Lord Hattersley turned on the Labour right to become a vocal opponent of Sir Tony Blair
| PAPoliticians from all parties have paid tribute, with many recalling him as a man of principle who demonstrated unwavering dedication to public service throughout his life.
Tory former Commons deputy speaker Nigel Evans wrote: "Roy Hattersley was one of the genuine old Labour politicians – fiercely academic with his true roots in support of working people.
"I was lucky enough to cross his last term in the Commons.
"It's people like Roy that shaped politics for a generation with absolute belief in improving the lot of the people he represented... on the lighter side he was a gift to spitting image - but his legacy was not that of his caricature.
"I pay tribute to the passing of a warrior of a politics more real."
Lord Hattersley is survived by his wife Maggie Pearlstine.