Keir Starmer has led tributes after the death of former Labour party general secretary Tom Sawyer.
He said the former trade unionist’s “place in our party’s history is assured” as one of the leading figures in the build-up to the 1997 general election success.
Lord Sawyer had been one of the main figures in the New Labour era and was credited with helping to steer through the reforms to the party in the run-up to Tony Blair’s landslide win.
Starmer said: “I am deeply sorry to hear of the death of Tom Sawyer. From the factory floor to the House of Lords, he was driven throughout his life by an unrelenting belief in the dignity of working people and opportunity for all.
“As a trade unionist, he drove that mission forward. As general secretary of the Labour party, he was integral to delivering the victory in 1997 that transformed the nation.
“His place in our party’s history is assured and his loss will be felt deeply by the many people who admired and loved him. My thoughts are with his family at this time.”
Tony Blair with Tom Sawyer at a Labour party conference in Blackpool. Photograph: Ben Curtis/PA
Sawyer served as Labour’s general secretary from 1994 until 1998 when he stood down and was made a peer as Lord Sawyer of Darlington.
Before becoming Labour’s general secretary he served as deputy general secretary of the National Union of Public Employees and deputy general secretary of Unison.
Labour’s current general secretary, Hollie Ridley, said: “Lord Tom Sawyer served the Labour party and Labour movement with distinction.
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“As general secretary, member of the national executive committee and as a trade unionist, he played a significant role in the transformation of our party from years in opposition before leading Labour through the 1997 landslide general election victory.
“Tom’s legacy is the legacy of those great Labour governments that rebuilt Britain’s public services, lifted millions out of poverty and delivered change to the lives of people throughout his beloved north-east of England.
“On behalf of the whole Labour party, I send my deepest condolences to his family, friends and all those who were close to him.”