In the early morning at his London home, Lord Dick Taverne passed away at the age of 97, surrounded by his family and a life lived on his own terms. His passing marks the end of a chapter in British political history defined by a deep belief in public service, independent thinking and an unwavering commitment to Europe and progressive ideas.
Born in October 1928, Taverne first entered the House of Commons in 1962 as the Member of Parliament for Lincoln — a post he held until 1974. In those dozen years he established a reputation for intellectual rigour, holding posts at the Home Office and later in the Treasury during a period of major change in the UK economy and currency reform. His role in preparing for decimalisation and advocating for the 50p coin were early signs of his willingness to take on the detail of governance.
The defining moment of his career came in 1973. Having split from the Labour Party over his pro-European views, Taverne resigned his seat and stood in the subsequent by-election as a “Democratic Labour” candidate. He won with a commanding 58.2 % of the vote, proving that political courage and integrity could still resonate. Although he lost back his seat in the general election of October 1974, the ripple effects of that victory would amplify through the decades.
In 1970, Taverne became the first Director of the influential think-tank Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), establishing its reputation for independent, evidence-based scrutiny of public finance and economic policy. From that position he helped shape how policy choices were debated in Westminster and beyond — not as party propaganda, but as sober, serious conversation.
His political journey did not stop after the Commons. As the Labour movement fragmented, Taverne joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and later helped forge the merger that created the Liberal Democrats in 1988. He was appointed to the House of Lords in 1996, where he continued to speak on issues of Europe, economic fairness and rational public policy.
Tributes poured in. As described by the Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, Taverne was “a passionate, principled and thoughtful colleague who will be sorely missed… his long and exceptional record of public service is an inspiration to us all.” Others paid tribute to the way he combined moral clarity with intellectual discipline, always willing to dissent from his own side if that’s what his conscience demanded.
On the personal side he leaves behind his wife of some 70 years, Janice, and their daughters Suzanna and Caroline. The family released a statement saying: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Dick Taverne. He was a much loved and loving husband, father and grandfather. We will all miss him enormously.”
As the nation reflects, Lord Taverne’s legacy lies not just in the offices he held but in the values he lived by: independence of mind, service to society, and the courage to follow conviction over convenience. He reminds a new generation of what politics can be at its best.
