Lord Michael Spicer: ERG founder and former chair of 1992 Committee dies, aged 76

Conservatives pay tribute to eurosceptic former minister who sat in parliament for more than 40 years

Lord Michael Spicer founded the ERG in 1993 before serving as the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee (PA)

Prominent Conservatives have led tributes to Lord Michael Spicer, former chairman of the 1922 Committee and ERG founder, who has died in hospital after a long illness.

A family spokesman said Lord Spicer, 76, had Parkinson’s and leukaemia.

His widow, Patricia Ann Hunter, paid tribute to the “amazing husband and wonderful father”, saying he had remained involved in politics until his death.

Conservative party chairman Brandon Lewis described Lord Spicer as “a kind, courteous and faithful member” of the party, while Priti Patel lauded his “achievements during the Thatcher government”.

Lord Spicer was in the Commons for 26 years and served as chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench Tory MPs for nine years before standing down as an MP at the 2010 general election.

He had been a Worcestershire MP since February 1974 and served in various ministerial positions from 1984 to 1990.

In 1993, he founded the European Research Group, a Eurosceptic group of Conservative MPs.

A statement released on behalf of the family said: “Ann, the wife of Lord Michael Spicer and her family wish to announce that Michael died peacefully this morning in hospital after a long illness.

“They are sure that many will be sad to hear this news. They would be grateful for a few moments privacy whilst they take into account what has happened.”

Lady Spicer said: “He has been the most amazing husband and a wonderful father and he has done a lot politically, as well as a lot of painting and art work as well.”

She said her husband, who took over from Archie Hamilton as chairman of the 1922 Committee, the body made up of all Conservative backbench MPs, in 2001, had remained politically active throughout his illness.

She said his last letter to The Telegraph had been published only days before his death.

Lady Spicer said: “He wrote his last letter to The Telegraph, and it was published on Friday, May 17.”

Mr Lewis said in a tweet: “Sad to hear of the death of Michael Spicer. A kind, courteous and faithful member of our Party - he will be missed and my thoughts are with his wife Ann and his family.”

Ms Patel said: “Sad to learn of the death of Michael Spicer. He led the Eurosceptic movement in Parliament during the 1990s & was well known for his achievements during the Thatcher Government. My thoughts are with his wife and family.”

Fellow Tory MP Steve Baker added: “I’m very sorry to learn Michael Spicer - who founded the ERG - has passed away. My condolences to his friends and family.”

In one of his last major contributions in the House of Lords in June 2018, Lord Spicer set out his support for leaving the European Union, saying he believed the “nation state is the best unit for democracy”.

Lord Spicer said: “My Lords, this may be the last time I address this House on a point of substance - unless my health changes.

“My physiotherapist says that I will be playing tennis again by Christmas, which would be nice because I used to captain the parliamentary tennis team.

“But at the moment I do not think I could crawl here from the Bishops' Bar in a straight line without what that nice lady has given me across the counter.”

He went on to say: “Briefly, I want to make it clear why for the past 30 years I have been a pain in the neck to those who want to stay in Europe. I formed the Fresh Start group and the ERG some 30 years ago. I did so for a one-word reason.”

He added: “The word I want to use is ‘patriotism’. I do not mean the fascist form of wrapping yourself up in a flag; I mean a bit of sentiment - John Major's warm beer and the shadows of the trees across the cricket pitches, the music of Elgar, the Trooping of the Colour - but that is not the essence.

“The essence of why I oppose staying in the European Union is that it seems to me that the nation state is the best unit for democracy.”

Press Association