The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, has paid tribute to Lord Whitelaw, the first person to hold the position of Northern Secretary and yesterday expressed his "deep regret" over his death at the age of 81.
Arriving at Stormont for the start of the fourth day of intensive negotiations, Mr Blair said Lord Whitelaw would be missed. "He was a politician who commanded enormous respect from friend and foe alike and he was a genuine and thoroughly decent man. He made a huge contribution to British public life. I know he will be sorely missed."
Lord Fitt - who as Mr Gerry Fitt was leader of the SDLP from 1970-1979 - was among the first to pay tribute to Lord Whitelaw. "He was the first Northern Ireland Secretary since the collapse of Stormont, and by any yardstick he was the most successful. He succeeded in bringing together both communities and forming the first executive.
"It was a very sad he had to leave Northern Ireland just before Sunningdale. Had he continued to have been there, we might not be in the position in which we find ourselves today," added Lord Fitt.
He will also be remembered as the man who engaged in the secret talks in 1972 with representatives from the republican movement.
Sir George Quigley, chairman of the Group of Seven, a conglomerate of business interests in Northern Ireland, described Lord Whitelaw as a shrewd man with a keen sense of business and an ability to see right to the heart of an issue.
"I look back with great affection. He was a man of very considerable stature and a complete gentleman."
The Alliance party leader, Mr Sean Neeson, said Lord Whitelaw would be best remembered for the establishment of the power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland in 1973.