Sir Patrick Duffy, the former Labour MP and defence minister, has died at the age of 105 after a short illness, a family friend has confirmed. He passed away on 2 January and is believed to have been the UK's longest-living former MP.
Duffy, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and received a papal knighthood from Pope John Paul II, served in the Second World War with the Fleet Air Arm. He survived a plane crash in the Orkney Islands during the conflict.
He first stood for parliament in 1950 and was elected MP for Colne Valley in a 1963 by-election. He later represented Sheffield Attercliffe from 1970 until his retirement in 1992. In the late 1970s, he served as parliamentary under-secretary for the Royal Navy under Prime Minister James Callaghan.
Kevin Meagher, who helped Duffy publish his memoirs, described him as a 'living historical jukebox' who could recall meetings with figures such as Clement Attlee. Meagher noted that Duffy faced criticism for being the only MP to condemn Margaret Thatcher in 1981 over the death of hunger striker Bobby Sands. Despite this, Duffy and Thatcher later had tea together, particularly during his tenure as president of the Nato Assembly in the 1980s.
A statement from Duffy's family, written by Meagher, said: 'An extraordinary man with a lifetime of accomplishments, Patrick leaves behind him family and friends – across all age groups – who will miss his kindness, humour and incredible acuity in recalling personalities and events from a century ago.'
