Former Montgomershire MP dies after long illness, aged 86

Tributes have been paid to Liberal Democrat peer and former Montgomeryshire MP Lord Emlyn Hooson who has died aged 86.

Lord Hooson, who lived in Llanidloes, died on Tuesday following a long illness.

He was Montgomeryshire MP between 1962 and 1979 and was also a leading QC who represented child killer Ian Brady in the Moors murders trial in the 1960s.

In 1985, he became a non-executive director of Laura Ashley, which has its head office in Newtown, and became chairman in 1995.

He was already chairman of the Trustees of the Laura Ashley Foundation.

Today the Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams paid tribute to Lord Hooson and said he was a steadfast Liberal who cared for Montgomeryshire.

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies said the constituency and Wales had lost one of its greatest citizens. "In many ways he was gentle in his approach to things, but very determined and had a very sharp mind. He was a great personal friend of mine."

Lord Hooson, who leaves his wife Shirley, was also president of the International Musical Eisteddfod between 1987 and 1993.

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