Former Tory chairman Michael Ancram dies aged 79

by · Mail Online

The former deputy leader of the Conservative Party Michael Ancram has died aged 79.

Mr Ancram, known formally as the 13th Marquess of Lothian, held the role under Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard for five years in the early 2000s.

He also served as shadow foreign secretary and had been a member of the House of Lords since 2010, in a political career spanning five decades.

He died in hospital surrounded by family in the early hours of Tuesday following a short illness, his family said in a statement.

New Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay posted on X: 'I am sorry to hear of the passing of Michael Ancram who was a first-rate politician and a gentleman. The thoughts of all in the Scottish Conservatives are with his wife and family.'

Former Tory chairman Michael Ancram has died aged 79. Here he is pictured arriving for a service at St Margaret's Church in London in 2023
Mr Ancram, known formally as the 13th Marquess of Lothian, was the former deputy leader of the Conservative Party
He had held the role under Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard for five years in the early 2000s

Lord Donald Cameron, a former Scotland Office minister and former MSP, said his uncle had been 'a huge support and inspiration'.

He said on the social media platform: 'Some very sad news tonight. Michael was a man of great warmth, humour and generosity. As an uncle, he was a huge support and inspiration to me.

'We will all miss him very much. Eternal rest grant unto him.'

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: 'He was a huge support to me when I was Leader of the Conservative party and a stable voice at times of difficult decision making. 

'I will miss him enormously and my Party and country have lost a great public servant.'

One of his predecessors, Jackson Carlaw, said Mr Ancram was a 'politician of charm, principle & duty, he served our country with distinction, while it was always immense fun to be in his company'.

His family said in a statement that he died in hospital surrounded by family in the early hours of Tuesday following a short illness
Mr Ancram also served as shadow foreign secretary and had been a member of the House of Lords since 2010

Jackson Carlaw, who briefly led the Scottish Tories in 2020, described Mr Ancram as 'a politician of charm, principle and duty' who had 'served our country with distinction'.

Mr Ancram's nephew Donald Cameron, a former minister, said: 'Michael was a man of great warmth, humour and generosity. 

'As an uncle, he was a huge support and inspiration to me. We will all miss him very much. Eternal rest grant unto him.'

Ex-minister Paul Scully said the peer was a 'real servant of the Conservative party and the country'.

Welsh Tory leader Andrew Davies added: 'Michael Ancram was a staunch and passionate defender of our Union and our nation.'

Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle also said he was the 'nice guy of politics'.

Danny Kruger, the MP for East Wiltshire, said: 'Sad news of the death of Michael Ancram, my predecessor-but-one as MP for Devizes. Michael was a great Conservative and a much loved MP. 

'He helped our Party recover its principles & purpose after 1997; we could use his wisdom now. A long life well lived in the public service.'

Veteran crossbench peer Lord Alton said: 'He and his formidable mother (Lady Lothian) gave me great personal encouragement and support in defending the right to life. In both Houses he made wise, measured and well informed interventions.'