David Cameron’s brother has died of cancer after a long battle with the disease.
Alexander Cameron, 59, a prominent lawyer, stepped down shortly after being diagnosed with cancer in 2020.
He is said to have inspired his younger brother to become a conservative leader.
When a vacancy for a new leader of the Conservative party appeared in 2005, Alexander told his brother: “You have to go for it,” the Mail Online reported.
Alexander was barely 39 when he became Queen’s Counsel and developed a reputation as “one of the best sides at the Criminal Bar”, according to his chambers.
He was an important role model for David, who wrote in The Big Issue that he “lived in my older brother’s shadow”.
David wrote: “He was three years older and was a huge success. It was great to have such a role model and I was incredibly proud of him, but like many younger brothers you are always a few steps behind.”
‘An inspiring head of these chambers’
Alexander’s Chambers, Three Raymond Buildings, announced his death, saying: “It is with great sadness that Chambers announces the death of Alexander Cameron KC.
“Alex was considered one of the best sides at the Criminal Bar throughout his illustrious career and was a hugely respected and inspiring head of these Chambers.
“He will be greatly missed and our sincere condolences go out to his wife, Sarah, their children Imogen and Angus, and to his wider family.
“The details of a memorial service will be announced in due course.”
Alexander was born in 1963, the eldest son of Ian and Mary Cameron.
He and David, who is three years his junior, attended Heatherdown prep school in Berkshire. The brothers both went to Eton, where Alexander was an accomplished athlete.
While David attended Oxford, Alexander attended Bristol University, where he studied law and was called to the Bar in 1986.
Star turns on court TV
In 2013, Alexander became the first lawyer in 90 years to appear on camera while in action at the Court of Appeal after a major law change allowed for televised proceedings.
After the day’s hearing, Alexander told Sky News he didn’t have much time to prepare to appear on camera: “It’s surprising. I only found out yesterday that it happened.”
David, who was prime minister at the time, was among those following the broadcast, watching his brother make history on his smartphone on a train.
David said: “I noticed that the lawyer on the case was actually my brother, which was a surprise to me this morning, just as I think it was a surprise to him.
“My reflection on that is that the noise and atmosphere in the Court of Appeal is very different from the noise and atmosphere in the House of Representatives for Prime Minister’s Question Time.
“It’s very calm, it’s very orderly, it’s very reasonable. So I told my brother he might want to change jobs for a day.”
Alexander represented a number of high-profile clients, including Rebekah Brooks, the former editor of the News of the World, in her 2013 defense of phone hacking.
He married fellow attorney Sarah Fearnley-Whittingstall, the cousin of chef Hugh, in 1990.