Gerald Kaufman, Oldest British Lawmaker, Dies At 86

By Dave Goldiner February 27, 2017

Kaufman, an outspoken former top Labour Party leader, served for nearly a half century representing a left wing-leaning district in Manchester.

Ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the Guardian that Kaufman “gave the wisest of advice to Labour leaders who relied upon him throughout his 47 years in Westminster.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called Kaufman an “iconic and irascible figure in the Labour party.” H

Members of the rival Conservative Party also mourned Kaufman’s death, recalling him as a jovial figure known for his keen wit and sharp sense of style.

Dave Goldiner is the Forward’s director of digital media. Dave is a veteran journalist who has spent two decades working at newspapers in the United States and Africa. A native New Yorker, Goldiner wrote for the New York Daily News, where he covered some of the biggest stories of our time, including the attacks of September 11, along with thousands of stories of hope and heartbreak. He also studied and worked in Southern Africa and has written for publications in South Africa and Zimbabwe. He holds masters degrees in journalism and public administration from Columbia University. Dave can be reached at goldiner@forward.com, or follow him on Twitter @davegoldiner

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