Death of Labour peer from cancer

Norman Hogg was named Baron Hogg of Cumbernauld in 1997

Labour peer Lord Hogg of Cumbernauld has died aged 70, following a two-year battle with cancer.

Norman Hogg entered the Commons in 1979 as MP for the East Dunbartonshire constituency and subsequently represented Cumbernauld and Kilsyth.

He left parliament at the 1997 General Election.

During his political career he was a deputy chief whip in the Commons and a deputy speaker of the House of Lords. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth.

Rosemary McKenna, who succeeded Lord Hogg in the House of Commons, said: "Norman's death will sadden a lot of people who saw in him a good friend, a very able politician and a fine trade unionist.

"The Labour and trade union movements have lost a very special man."

Lord Hogg was born on 12 March, 1938, and educated at Causewayend School and Ruthrieston Secondary School, Aberdeen.

Deputy speaker

Before entering parliament he was Scottish district officer of the National and Local Government Officers' Association, a member of the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for Scotland and secretary of the trade unions committee for the Electricity Supply Industry in Scotland.

After his election to parliament, he became chairman of the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Group and then served as a Scottish Labour whip.

After the 1983 general election, he was appointed deputy chief opposition whip, and later was to become a spokesman for Labour on Scottish Affairs, as well as being a member of the powerful Public Accounts Committee.

Lord Hogg had also been chairman of the All-Party Anglo-Israel Group of parliamentarians and vice president of the council of Christians and Jews.

He was active in his interests in Middle East politics and known to many of its senior figures.

Lord Hogg was created a life peer as Baron Hogg of Cumbernauld in 1997, and was a chairman of the Scottish Peers Association, as well as a deputy speaker of the Lords.

His principal parliamentary interests were industrial relations and local government.