Tributes have been paid to Wigan born Sir Patrick Duffy, who has died age 105,
He also the last surviving person who served in the UK Armed Forces during the Second World War who would later go on to be an MP
Born in Wigan on June 17, 1920 to Irish parents he served as a Fleet Air Arm pilot during the second world war
He first stood for Parliament in 1950 and was a former defence minister in the 1970’s under the Labour Government of James Callaghan.
His political career began in 1950 serving as MP for Colne Valley and later Sheffield Attercliffe.
He held ministerial roles under both Harold Wilson and Jim Callaghan and went on to become President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly
His memoir, From Wigan to Westminster: Hot Wars, Cold Wars and the Carrier Strike Groups was published last year
The oldest living former MP is now Elizabeth Shields (Lib, Ryedale 1986-87), who is 97 and the first woman to hold the record
The oldest living male former MP is now Bill Rodgers (Lab/SDP, Stockton Apr 1962-1983), also 97
