The former deputy leader of the Conservative party Michael Ancram has died, aged 79, his family has announced.
The 13th Marquis of Lothian, as he was formally known, died in hospital after a short illness, surrounded by close family.
His political journey, spanning five decades, began in 1974 when he was first elected to parliament representing Berwickshire and East Lothian, returning to the Commons in 1979 as the member for Edinburgh South.
Scottish Conservative party leader Russell Findlay paid tribute to the Conservative stalwart, labelling him “a first-rate politician and a gentleman”.
Michael Ancram’s ministerial career included roles in the Scottish office and Northern Ireland office.
He played a significant role in the formative stages of the Northern Ireland peace process as minister of state until 1997 and was the first British minister to sit across the negotiating table with the IRA.
He held the role of deputy leader of his party under Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Howard for five years in the early 2000s.
Born on 7 July 1945, Ancram was educated at Ampleforth College before reading history at Oxford.
He went on to study law at the University of Edinburgh and practising as an advocate in Scotland.
He was first elected to parliament representing Berwickshire & East Lothian.
Although he lost this seat in the second general election of 1974 he returned to the Commons in 1979 as the MP for Edinburgh South, defeating future Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Following defeat in the 1987 general election, returned as MP for Devizes in 1992 until he retired from the House of Commons in May 2010.
Lord Lothian inherited his title in 2004 from his father, becoming the 13th Marquis of Lothian, and after leaving the Commons became a life peer.
He was also the hereditary Chief of the Scottish Clan Kerr, a testament to his deep Scottish roots.
He is survived by his wife, Lady Jane Fitzalan-Howard.
The couple had three daughters, three grandchildren and five step-grandchildren.
