THE body of a member of the House of Lords has been recovered from a river after he was last seen swimming in the water.
Police had received a report for concern of the safety of a man last seen in the River Wye in Glasbury, Wales, on Monday.
PAThe body of Lord David Lipsey has been recovered by police from the River Wye in Wales[/caption]
GettyThe peer had last seen been swimming in the water on Monday (file photo)[/caption]
An extensive search was then launched, eventually resulting in a body being recovered from the river on Tuesday.
This body has now been identified as that of Lord David Lipsey, Dyfed Powys Police said.
Lord Lipsey previously worked as a journalist and as a Downing Street adviser under Labour prime minister James Callaghan in the late 1970s.
He then entered the House of Lords in 1999, created a Life peer as Baron Lipsey of Tooting Bec in London.
While in the Lords, he sat on the Labour benches.
The veteran peer is also credited with coining the famed phrases “New Labour” and “winter of discontent” during his time in politics.
A police spokesperson confirmed his death in a statement today, writing: “Dyfed-Powys Police received a report concerning the safety of a man who was last seen swimming in the River Wye, Glasbury.
“Following a multi-agency search on July 1, sadly, we can confirm the body of Lord David Lipsey was recovered.
“His next of kin have been informed and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.
“They have asked for their privacy to be respected.”
Tributes have poured in for Lord Lipsey, with the Lord Speaker saying the upper chamber extended its “condolences to the noble Lord’s family and friends”.
Premier Greyhound Racing – where Lord Lipsey served as chair from its inception before retiring this year – also released an emotional statement for the peer, highlighting his commitment to the sport.
It wrote: “David had a great love for the greyhound, and for greyhound racing as a whole.
“This love started when he first went racing and then continued and developed as he took home his first greyhound.
“His enthusiasm for all things greyhound racing was infectious and he commanded great respect throughout his career in the sport.”
The company also paid tribute to his “wisdom and guidance which he delivered with dedication, professionalism and no little humour.”
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GettyHe had served in the House of Lords since 1999[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
