Tribute to ex-Lincoln MP and Lib Dems founder Dick Taverne

Tributes have been paid to Liberal Democrat peer Lord Taverne, who has died aged 97.

As Dick Taverne, he was a Labor MP for Lincoln between 1962 and 1974. He was also principal secretary of the Treasury as Britain prepared to switch to decimal currency.

Lord Taverne resigned from the Labor Party due to his pro-European views and became a founder member of the Liberal Democrats when the SDP merged with the Liberal Party in 1988.

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Lib Dems, said: “Dick was a passionate, principled and thoughtful colleague who will be sorely missed by all of us in the Liberal Democrat family.”

He added: “Dick, one of the founders of our party, was a passionate European who inspired us all with his keen intelligence and incredible experience in government, politics and beyond over many decades.”

In a statement, Lord Taverne’s family said: “He died peacefully at home in London early this morning. He was a much loved and loving husband, father and grandfather. We will all miss him dearly.”

Lord Taverne famously won the 1973 by-election against Lincoln as the Democratic Labor Party candidate, after resigning from the Labor Party over his position on the European Common Market.

He lost his seat in Lincoln at the October 1974 general election.

Lord Taverne was appointed first Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies in 1970 and a member of the House of Lords in 1996.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Janice, and daughters Suzanna and Caroline.