Lord Alan Haselhurst died on 1 June 2026, aged 88. 

Alan attended Cheltenham College from 1951 to 1956. He was a member of the Shakespeare Society and Debating Society – becoming Secretary in 1955-56 – where they debated such motions as  ‘this House would like to be co-educated,’ ‘this House deplores the existence of the English Channel,’ and ‘this House has lost the art of enjoying itself.’

He went on to Oriel College, Oxford, where he was elected president of the Conservative Association. Initially working in management of textile and chemical engineering companies, Alan first entered Parliament in 1970 as MP for Middleton and Prestwich. He became MP for Saffron Walden in 1977 and stayed there until 2017, with his service being recognised with a knighthood in 1995. In 1997, Lord Haselhurst became Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons. He was appointed a Life Peer in 2018.

Paying tribute to Lord Haselhurst, Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, said, ‘He was a good and kind man, respected across both Houses, devoted to his family and admired by colleagues of every political persuasion.’

Outside of Parliament, his greatest interest was cricket. As The Daily Telegraph wrote on 11 June 2026, ‘Haselhurst’s passion for cricket was infectious … He was founding co-chairman in 1993 of the All-party Cricket Group, wrote several books on the game, and for 12 years served on the Essex County Cricket Club committee.’

Lord Haselhurst is survived by his wife Angela, daughter Emma and sons David and Mark.