Sir Patrick Duffy, a former Labour minister renowned as one of his party's leading authorities on defence and disarmament during the Cold War, has died at the age of 105.
From Humble Roots to Westminster
Born in Wigan on 17 June 1920 to Irish parents from County Mayo, Patrick Duffy's early life was shaped by his working-class roots. His father, James, was a miner, and the family later moved to Rossington near Doncaster. Educated at local schools, he served as an altar boy and developed a lifelong love of reading, nurtured by Latin lessons from his priest.
His path to politics was forged through six years of service in the Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War, where he was badly injured. A disability pension later funded his studies, earning him a BSc and a PhD from the London School of Economics, with further study at Columbia University in New York.
A Political Career Forged in Opposition
Duffy's political journey saw persistence pay off. After first standing for parliament in Tiverton, Devon in 1950, he was finally elected as the Labour MP for Colne Valley in West Yorkshire at a 1963 byelection. He held the seat by a mere 187 votes in the 1964 general election, only to lose it in 1966. He later secured the safe Labour seat of Sheffield Attercliffe, which he represented from 1970 until his retirement in 1992.
Of his 25 years in the Commons, 19 were spent in opposition. Despite this, he held significant roles, including Parliamentary Private Secretary to Defence Secretary Roy Mason (1974-76) and later as the Minister of State for the Royal Navy. After Labour's 1979 defeat, he served as opposition defence spokesman.
Atlanticist Convictions and a Surprising Brexit Stance
His wartime and academic experiences made him a committed Atlanticist and a fervent European for most of his life. This made him a prominent figure in the Nato Parliamentary Assembly, where he served for 13 years and was President from 1988 to 1990. His term as President led to a knighthood in 1991, recommended by Conservative Prime Minister John Major after Labour leader Neil Kinnock declined to nominate candidates.
In a notable divergence from his pro-European stance, Duffy supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum, arguing that the creation of the eurozone had made the European Union impractical.
He was never afraid to stand against his party's line, most notably during the early 1980s when Labour was committed to unilateral nuclear disarmament, a position at odds with his NATO role. His convictions also saw him survive a deselection attempt by local party activists by just five votes during Labour's internal struggles.
A devout Catholic, he voted against abortion, embryo research, and Sunday trading. He was also a forthright commentator on Irish affairs, criticising Conservative policy in Northern Ireland, opposing the Anglo-Irish Agreement, and speaking out against the wrongful imprisonment of the Birmingham Six.
Life Beyond Parliament
After leaving Westminster, Duffy returned to academic work in the US and at British universities. He was a dedicated pilgrim, undertaking annual walks to shrines in Walsingham, Croagh Patrick in Mayo, and Santiago de Compostela. He chronicled his unique identity in a 2013 autobiography titled Growing Up Irish in Britain and British in Ireland, followed by a second volume, From Wigan to Westminster, two years ago.
Sir Patrick Duffy, a figure of remarkable longevity and steadfast principle, is survived by his sister, Patricia. He died on 2 January 2026.
