Former Health Secretary Dobson was ‘a politician of highest calibre’
TONY BLAIR has described Frank Dobson as a “politician of the highest calibre” after it was announced the former Health Secretary has died.
Mr Dobson passed away on Monday at the age of 79 following a “longstanding illness”, his family confirmed.
Former Prime Minister Mr Blair appointed Mr Dobson to the position of Health Secretary after Labour’s landslide election victory in 1997.
The Yorkshireman also served the constituency of Holborn and St Pancras MP for 36 years, stepping down at the 2015 election.
Mr Blair praised the former Camden Council leader’s “many important improvements to the NHS” during his two years in the Cabinet.
“Frank Dobson was an exemplary public servant and
politician of the highest calibre,” said the former party leader.
“He was a great colleague with an often pugnacious style, but always loyal to the Labour Party and to changing the lives of people for the better.”
Jeremy Corbyn, Labour’s current leader, paid tribute to his political achievements, referring to him as “brilliant” when in charge of health and praised his “great wit”.
Former Labour leader Lord
Neil Kinnock added: “Frank was sharply bright, tenacious, irreverently funny, blunt, a great team player, a strong democratic socialist and a remorseless foe of racism.
“His instincts and capacities would have made him an outstanding Health Secretary but, after just 18 months, he was talked into running for London mayor by appeals to his loyalty.”
The York-born son of a railwayman, attended Dunnington County Church of England Primary School and the Archbishop Holgate Grammar School in the city before going to the London School of Economics.
He was married to Janet and the couple had three children.
He worked at the headquarters of the Central Electricity Generating Board before becoming a councillor in London and later an MP.