Lord Williams of Mostyn dies at 62.
Lord Williams of Mostyn QC, leader of the House of Lords, died at the age of 62 on Saturday.
Lord Williams died at his home in Gloucestershire.
Tributes have poured in from colleagues.
Prime Minister Tony Blair said: “I am profoundly shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Gareth Williams.
“He was a fine politician with excellent judgement who earned the respect of colleagues of all parties.
“But he was also a kind and generous man who sparked huge affection in all those who knew him. A superb and entertaining speaker, he used his wit and general humour time and time again to diffuse difficult situations in the Lords.
“He was a politician at the height of his powers who played, as always, a full role in Cabinet discussions on Thursday.
“It will be hard for his Cabinet colleagues and his many friends within and outside politics to accept that we will not see him again.”
And Leader of the House of Commons Peter Hain said: “This news is a bolt from the blue. Gareth was a close and warm friend and one of the most brilliant minds in the Cabinet.
“He was a highly-respected leader of the Lords as well as one of Wales’ favourite sons.”
Baroness Jay, Lord Williams’ predecessor in the Upper Chamber, said she was shocked to hear the news.
“I am absolutely shocked. I saw him only 48 hours ago and he seemed hale and hearty. My deepest sympathy goes out to his family, whom I know well.
“He will be an enormous loss. He was somebody whom I admired very greatly. He was a very, very articulate and clever person, but had a warmth and a twinkle which gave great humanity to his cleverness.
“And of course he was an enormously respected Leader of the House of Lords.”
Lord Newby, the Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman in the Lords, contributed these words: “Lord Williams was one of the most widely respected members of the House of Lords, combining a delightful wit with a complete mastery of his brief.
“His death will be a tremendous shock to all his friends and colleagues.
“This represents a great loss to the House of Lords as a whole.”
Downing Street said thoughts of a possible Cabinet reshuffle were better left “for another day.”
