Former minister Lord John Horam dies at 87
Former minister Lord John Horam has died at the age of 87, his family says, reports BritPanorama.
The peer passed away at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, after falling on the way home from a day working at the House of Lords on 2 July. Despite receiving immediate care from paramedics and hospital staff, he did not regain consciousness, according to his family.
Born in Preston, Lancashire, Lord Horam attended Silcoates School, where he served as head boy. He later studied economics at Cambridge, earning an MA in 1960.
His professional journey began with the confectionery company Rowntree’s, where he contributed to the development of the After Eight mint. Transitioning into journalism, he wrote for the Financial Times and The Economist before embarking on a political career.
Throughout his time in Parliament, Lord Horam represented three different parties. Initially an MP for Gateshead with the Labour Party and then the Social Democratic Party (SDP) from 1970 to 1983, he switched allegiance to the Conservatives in 1987 and served as the Tory MP for Orpington from 1992 until 2010.
He held ministerial positions in both Labour and Conservative governments, was created a life peer as Baron Horam of Grimsargh in 2013, and was known for advocating increased housing availability, a living wage, and elevating the income tax threshold.
A member of the Conservative European Mainstream Group, Lord Horam was a strong proponent of the UK remaining in the EU. He also aligned with the Common Sense Group of Conservative Parliamentarians, which focuses on stricter immigration policies and criticisms of what they perceive as “woke ideology.”
In 1987, he married Judith Jackson, former motoring editor at The Sunday Times and The Guardian. He became a stepfather to her sons, Fraser and Lincoln, the latter now serving as the Conservative MP for Spelthorne after his election in 2024.
“John’s widow Judith (née Jackson) and stepsons Fraser and Lincoln Jopp would like to thank the paramedics, police and all the staff at St Mary’s for the immaculate care John received,” the family stated.
Lord Horam’s legacy as a political figure and advocate for various social issues highlights his significant contributions to UK politics over the decades.
