Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has led tributes following the death of former Labour Party general secretary Lord Tom Sawyer aged 82.

He said the former trade unionist’s “place in our party’s history is assured” as one of the leading figures in the build-up to the 1997 general election success.

Lord Sawyer had been one of the key figures in the New Labour era and was credited with helping to steer through the reforms to the party in the run-up to Sir Tony Blair’s landslide win.

Sir Keir said: “I am deeply sorry to hear of the death of Tom Sawyer. From the factory floor to the House of Lords, he was driven throughout his life by an unrelenting belief in the dignity of working people and opportunity for all.

“As a trade unionist, he drove that mission forward. As general secretary of th

See Full Page