Donald RoyA #Laɓour life peer of #canadian heritage - through his father - died a few days ago. #davidlipsey aka. #Bäron #lipsey of #tootingbec in the #londonborough of #wandsworth died swimming in the river #wye . He had an interesting career - beginning as a 'chocolate soldier' - parliamentary researcher paid for by the #josephrowntreetrust - in the early 1970s. He went on to work for first #anthonycrosland and then #jamescallaghan in #government . He was about my age . He did more good than harm.
#davidlipsey regarded himself as a #democraticsocialist - albeit in the 'revisionist' tradition - which meant having a strong aversion to economic inequality and a willingness to see both an active state and high taxes. Like #anthonycrosland he was no puritan and was particularly keen on #greyhoundracing . The one mistake of his that I can recall was to be over-impressed by claims made by private providers of #socialcare with regard to cost and quality. This I am sure was naivete not venality!