Former Labour Minister Sir Patrick Duffy Dies at 105
Sir Patrick Duffy, who has died at the age of 105, was a stalwart defender of defence and disarmament issues during the Cold War era. For nearly two decades on the opposition benches, he yearned to hold power but ultimately found himself thwarted by his party's dominance.
Born in Wigan to Irish parents, Duffy's early life shaped him into an Atlanticist who cherished European integration. As a lecturer at Leeds University and later Drew University in New Jersey, his academic background lent depth to his politics. His experiences during World War II further solidified his pro-European stance.
Duffy's time on the opposition benches was marked by frustration as he repeatedly faced setbacks. In 1979, he narrowly escaped deselection after a challenge from local activists over Labour's internal issues. However, this setback did not deter him, and in 1983, he again reclaimed his seat after another attempt to oust him.
As a devoted Catholic, Duffy consistently stood against abortion and embryo research, as well as Sunday trading and televising the House of Commons. He spoke out strongly on Irish issues, denouncing Conservative policy in Northern Ireland for its incompetence, particularly during Bobby Sands' hunger strike in 1981. He also voiced opposition to the imprisonment of the Birmingham Six and the SAS killings of three IRA members in Gibraltar.
Throughout his illustrious career, Duffy's commitment to his principles remained unwavering. As a member of the NATO parliamentary assembly, he served as president for two years from 1988. His stance earned him a knighthood in 1991 on the recommendation of then-Conservative Prime Minister John Major.
Duffy's later years saw him return to academic pursuits in the US and at various universities in the UK. In 2013, he published his autobiography "Growing Up Irish in Britain and British in Ireland," followed by a second volume two years ago. He is survived by his sister Patricia.
Sir Patrick Duffy, who has died at the age of 105, was a stalwart defender of defence and disarmament issues during the Cold War era. For nearly two decades on the opposition benches, he yearned to hold power but ultimately found himself thwarted by his party's dominance.
Born in Wigan to Irish parents, Duffy's early life shaped him into an Atlanticist who cherished European integration. As a lecturer at Leeds University and later Drew University in New Jersey, his academic background lent depth to his politics. His experiences during World War II further solidified his pro-European stance.
Duffy's time on the opposition benches was marked by frustration as he repeatedly faced setbacks. In 1979, he narrowly escaped deselection after a challenge from local activists over Labour's internal issues. However, this setback did not deter him, and in 1983, he again reclaimed his seat after another attempt to oust him.
As a devoted Catholic, Duffy consistently stood against abortion and embryo research, as well as Sunday trading and televising the House of Commons. He spoke out strongly on Irish issues, denouncing Conservative policy in Northern Ireland for its incompetence, particularly during Bobby Sands' hunger strike in 1981. He also voiced opposition to the imprisonment of the Birmingham Six and the SAS killings of three IRA members in Gibraltar.
Throughout his illustrious career, Duffy's commitment to his principles remained unwavering. As a member of the NATO parliamentary assembly, he served as president for two years from 1988. His stance earned him a knighthood in 1991 on the recommendation of then-Conservative Prime Minister John Major.
Duffy's later years saw him return to academic pursuits in the US and at various universities in the UK. In 2013, he published his autobiography "Growing Up Irish in Britain and British in Ireland," followed by a second volume two years ago. He is survived by his sister Patricia.
! I mean, have you ever been to the Blue Lagoon? It's like walking on clouds! 
Anyway, back to Sir Patrick Duffy... 105 years old is insane! I'm still trying to figure out how people stay so sharp mentally at that age 
. Does anyone know if they have special coffee or something in Iceland that keeps you going all day 
️?
. I'm really sad to see him go, but what an amazing legacy he leaves behind 
. The man was a true champion for disarmament and defence issues, and it's crazy to think he spent nearly two decades fighting against the party that wanted to keep him out of power 
. As a proud Brit, I admire his unwavering commitment to European integration and his stance on Irish issues - he really spoke truth to power 
. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones - what an incredible life he lived 
#RIPSirPatrickDuffy #DefenceMatters #EuropeanIntegration #IrishPride
. A strong advocate for European integration and disarmament, he remained true to himself even when faced with challenges 
. May we learn from his dedication and perseverance 
sir patrick Duffy was like 105 lol can u even imagine havin a party @ 105? 
anyways i just read that he died & it seems like hes had a super long life but also had his share of struggles. i wonder if hes a role model or not, some ppl might say he's too set in his ways & stuff 
but on the other hand, he stuck 2 what he believed in thru all those yrs, thats def admirable 
Oh man, this guy was like a superhero for peace and disarmament 
! I'm so impressed that he stood strong on abortion and embryo research issues, even when it wasn't popular among his party members 
. And can we talk about how dedicated he was to standing up for the IRA prisoners during Bobby Sands' hunger strike? 
It's crazy that someone who was in power back then still managed to maintain their principles 
. I mean, it's not easy to put your life into words, but he did it anyway 
. He even got a second volume published two years ago! 
That's dedication right there.
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. But also super passionate about European integration - it's crazy how some of these old-school politicians can be so out of touch with current times 
. Still, gotta give him credit for sticking to his principles even when faced with setbacks. His views on abortion and Sunday trading are super interesting, though - I mean, what's the world coming to when people are debating those issues again? 
.
what's up fam... just heard about Sir Patrick Duffy passing away at 105 
even if he didn't get to hold power himself 
he spoke out against abortion, Sunday trading, and all sorts of stuff that others might've been too scared to touch 
meanwhile, he's also got a whole other side as an academic 
your legacy lives on 
. But hey, being a knighthood is no joke, that's like, a big deal 
. I wonder if he'll make a comeback in politics or not? maybe publish another book and become a legend 
. I mean, he was already an oldie but goodie when I was in primary school 
. But you know what? He never gave up! And look at him now... he's still got a voice and has been writing books 
. He even faced setbacks and came back stronger than ever - I'm not saying it's easy being in politics, but Sir Patrick definitely made it look effortless 
. It's so inspiring to see someone's passion for justice and equality shine through their work 
. We should totally give him a standing ovation (if we were at his funeral... RIP) 
. His commitment to European integration and defense issues was unwavering, which led to some tough decisions 
, particularly in regards to issues like abortion and the imprisonment of the Birmingham Six 
. As he moved through his career, Duffy remained dedicated to his values, even as he faced setbacks and challenges 
. He might not have held power, but his legacy lives on and we can still learn from his unwavering commitment to what matters most 
