Tributes paid after death of former UK chancellor Denis Healey

Tributes have been paid to long-serving British Labour Party MP and former chancellor Denis Healey, who died on Saturday aged 98, with political foes and allies describing him as a "giant" of Westminster.

The Labour peer served in 11 Downing Street during the 1974-79 government and became the party’s deputy leader in 1980 during a career in British politics that began in 1952.

He died peacefully at his home in Sussex after a short illness, his family said.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "Denis Healey was a Labour giant whose record of service to party and country stands as his testament."

Healey, often described as “the best prime minister the party never had”, served as a major with the Royal Engineers in North Africa and Italy. During the Anzio landings, he was a beach master; he was mentioned in dispatches and received the MBE.

Prime minister David Cameron said: "We've lost a huge figure of postwar politics. A hero in the second World War as beach master at Anzio, and a brave politician, Denis Healey told his party hard truths about Britain having to live within her means. By all accounts he was a hugely entertaining man personally, and author of tremendously readable and informative books. A great man and a genuine public servant has left us. We should mourn with his family and give thanks for all he gave our country."

Healey stood unsuccessfully for election in 1945 and eventuallyentered the House of Commons as MP for Leeds South East in 1952. He reached the cabinet as defence secretary in 1964, but he will be remembered for his role as chancellor during a turbulent time for the British economy.

Shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn, whose father Tony unsuccessfully ran against Healey for the party's deputy leadership in 1981, said: "Very sorry to hear that Denis Healey has died. All our thoughts are with his family on their loss." – (PA)