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| Lord McAlpine, former Tory party deputy chairman, dies aged 71 | Lord McAlpine, former Tory party deputy chairman, dies aged 71 |
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| The former Conservative party deputy chairman Lord McAlpine has died, his family has announced. | The former Conservative party deputy chairman Lord McAlpine has died, his family has announced. |
| McAlpine, 71, was previously an aide to prime minister Margaret Thatcher. He died on Friday night in Italy, his family said. | |
| In a statement, they said: "It is with great sadness that the family of Lord McAlpine announce his peaceful death last night at his home in Italy." | In a statement, they said: "It is with great sadness that the family of Lord McAlpine announce his peaceful death last night at his home in Italy." |
| Prime minister David Cameron tweeted that his thoughts were with the peer's family, adding he was a "dedicated supporter of Margaret Thatcher and the Tory party". | Prime minister David Cameron tweeted that his thoughts were with the peer's family, adding he was a "dedicated supporter of Margaret Thatcher and the Tory party". |
| Conservative former chairman and Cabinet minister Lord Parkinson, who worked closely with McAlpine during the Thatcher era, said: "Alistair McAlpine was an outstanding treasurer of the modern Conservative party – if not the outstanding treasurer. | |
| "He served as treasurer when deputy chairman during the whole of the Thatcher years and was an extremely successful fundraiser. He was also a very close adviser to Mrs Thatcher and had her total trust. In addition to all these things he was a most unusual, intriguing, interesting character with a fantastic range of interests." | |
| McAlpine was mistakenly embroiled in controversy when he was falsely implicated in the North Wales child abuse scandal, after the BBC Newsnight TV programme accused an unnamed "senior Conservative" of abuse which led to widespread innuendo on Twitter that McAlpine was the man implicated. | McAlpine was mistakenly embroiled in controversy when he was falsely implicated in the North Wales child abuse scandal, after the BBC Newsnight TV programme accused an unnamed "senior Conservative" of abuse which led to widespread innuendo on Twitter that McAlpine was the man implicated. |
| The decision to broadcast the Newsnight report without contacting McAlpine first led to further criticism of the BBC, and to the resignation of its director-general, George Entwistle. The BBC paid McAlpine £185,000 in damages which he donated to charity. | The decision to broadcast the Newsnight report without contacting McAlpine first led to further criticism of the BBC, and to the resignation of its director-general, George Entwistle. The BBC paid McAlpine £185,000 in damages which he donated to charity. |
| He also won £125,000 in damages plus costs from ITV following a November 2012 edition of This Morning which linked Conservative politicians to allegations of child sex abuse. | He also won £125,000 in damages plus costs from ITV following a November 2012 edition of This Morning which linked Conservative politicians to allegations of child sex abuse. |
| In February 2013, he dropped the defamation claims against Twitter users with fewer than 500 followers in return for a £25 donation to Children in Need. | In February 2013, he dropped the defamation claims against Twitter users with fewer than 500 followers in return for a £25 donation to Children in Need. |
| In March 2013, McAlpine's representatives reached an agreement with writer George Monbiot, who had tweeted on the case and had at that time more than 55,000 followers on Twitter, for the latter to carry out work on behalf of three charities of his choice whose value amounts to £25,000 as compensation. | In March 2013, McAlpine's representatives reached an agreement with writer George Monbiot, who had tweeted on the case and had at that time more than 55,000 followers on Twitter, for the latter to carry out work on behalf of three charities of his choice whose value amounts to £25,000 as compensation. |
| The prime minister, David Cameron, said McAlpine was a "dedicated supporter of Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative party". | The prime minister, David Cameron, said McAlpine was a "dedicated supporter of Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative party". |
| Colleagues described him as a towering figure who made a huge contribution to public life. | Colleagues described him as a towering figure who made a huge contribution to public life. |
| Conservative party chairman Grant Shapps said: "Lord McAlpine made a huge contribution to public life. | Conservative party chairman Grant Shapps said: "Lord McAlpine made a huge contribution to public life. |
| "He was a man of integrity who had a successful career in both politics and business. He was a towering figure during the Thatcher era who did much for the Conservative party and our country. My thoughts are with his friends and family." | "He was a man of integrity who had a successful career in both politics and business. He was a towering figure during the Thatcher era who did much for the Conservative party and our country. My thoughts are with his friends and family." |
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