ridges have been paid to the Conservative former chancellor Nigel Lawson after his reported death at the age of 91.
Following a message in the Telegraaf former Prime Minister Boris JohnsonTory chairman Greg Hands and ex-chancellor Sajid Javid were among those who marked his death.
Mr Johnson said: “Nigel Lawson was a fearless and original flame of free market conservatism. He was a tax cutter and simplifier who helped transform the economic landscape and helped millions of Britons achieve their dreams.
“He was a prophet of Brexit and a lover of continental Europe. He was a giant. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Current and former Conservative cabinet ministers said Nigel Lawson was one of “Britain’s greatest civil servants”.
Secretary of State James Cleverly said on Twitter: “Sad news that Nigel Lawson has passed away.
“A true statesman. His contributions to this nation will not be forgotten.”
Sajid Javid tweeted: “Very saddened to hear this.
‘One of Britain’s greatest civil servants, especially as chancellor. Thinking of his family. May he RIP.”
The 91-year-old, who is also the father of TV chef Nigella, retired from the House of Lords this year, ending a parliamentary career that stretches back nearly five decades.
It was heralded as the conservative grandee and leading Brexiteer had resigned from the upper chamber on 31 December when peers returned to Westminster after the Christmas break.
He represented the former Leicestershire constituency of Blaby in the Commons from 1974 to 1992, before taking his place on the red benches that same year.
He joined Margaret Thatcher’s newly elected government in 1979 and served as its chancellor from 1983 to 1989.
The parliamentary record shows that Lord Lawson of Blaby, who chaired the Vote Leave campaign during the EU referendum, last spoke in the House in April 2019 when he raised the specter of “undesirable insurgent forces” as parliament refused to accept the result of the Brexit vote.
He also served as founder and chairman of the Global Warming Policy Foundation, which has lobbied against climate change policies such as net zero.