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Keir Starmer has led tributes after the death of former Labour party general secretary Tom Sawyer.
Tony Blair, who recruited Sawyer as Labour’s general secretary in 1994, said he was “instrumental” in helping the party to win in 1997. In his tribute Blair said:
Tom Sawyer was the embodiment of strong but serious trade unionism allied to a brilliant understanding of the aspirations and values of working class Britain. He was an outstanding National Union of Public Employees officer, a great member of the Labour party national executive and in 1994 upon becoming Labour leader I was able to persuade him to take on the role of general secretary of the party. He was instrumental both in making the changes which Labour desperately needed to transform itself and in the landslide 1997 election campaign.
He was loyal, tough and deeply committed to ensuring the Labour party could govern for a time long enough to change the country.
Tom Sawyer RIP. Tom was a crucial part of the New Labour team from 94 through to the landslide win and beyond. It was not easy being general secretary when some in the party and many in the unions thought we were changing the party too much. But Tom never lost his nerve or his cool with anyone. He was a team player and a man whose judgement and character were strong. Really sad to hear of his passing. Love to Liz and the family.
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