Sir Patrick Duffy, a former Labour MP and Defence Minister, passed away at the age of 105. He was a key figure in his party's defense and disarmament policies during the Cold War and its aftermath, serving as a member of the Nato Parliamentary Assembly for 13 years, including a two-year term as president. Duffy's political career began in 1950 when he stood for Parliament in Tiverton, Devon, and was eventually elected as an MP in the Colne Valley, West Yorkshire, in 1963. His background as an economist and his wartime service in the Royal Navy shaped his Atlanticist and European views, which evolved over time. Despite his party's stance on unilateral defense policy in the early 1980s, Duffy remained true to his convictions, even when it meant disagreeing with his party. He was a devout Catholic and strongly opposed abortion and embryo research, voting against Sunday trading and the televising of the House of Commons. Duffy's political career was not without controversy, as he faced challenges from local activists during Labour's internal struggles in the 1980s. He was also vocal on Irish issues, criticizing Conservative policies in Northern Ireland and the imprisonment of the 'Birmingham Six'. After leaving Parliament, Duffy resumed academic work in the US and the UK, and he made regular pilgrimages to religious sites in Ireland and Spain. He published two autobiographies, 'Growing Up Irish in Britain and British in Ireland' and 'From Wigan to Westminster', leaving a lasting impact on British politics and academia.
