Peer dies after 56 years service

---

A Labour peer who first entered the House of Lords in 1954 has died, it has been announced.

Lord Strabolgi was a hereditary peer who was elected to the upper House in 1999 by other Labour hereditary peers.

He died on Christmas Eve. There will now be an election to replace him.

Lord Strabolgi is one of 19 peers to pass away in 2010.

A total of 84 new peers were created last year.

David Montague de Burgh Kenworthy, 11th Baron Strabolgi, who was born in 1914, held a number of government posts.

He was an opposition whip 1970-74, deputy chief whip and government spokesman on agriculture and energy 1974-79 and opposition frontbench spokesperson for the arts 1979-85.

He also served as a deputy Speaker and deputy chairman of committees 1986-2001.

The death of Conservative peer Lord Windlesham has also been announced.

A home office and Northern Ireland office minister under Edward Heath, he entered the House in 1962 as a hereditary and like Lord Strabolgi was elected to the House in 1999.

He was the youngest leader of the House of Lords in modern times when he was appointed in 1973.

19 members of the House of Lords died in 2010:

Strabolgi, L. died on 24 December 2010

Windlesham, L. died on 21 December 2010

Carnegy of Lour, B. died on 9 November 2010

Acton, L. died on 10 October 2010

Livsey of Talgarth, L. died on 15 September 2010

Bingham of Cornhill, L. died on 11 September 2010

Lyell of Markyate, L. died on 30 August 2010

McIntosh of Haringey, L. died on 27 August 2010

Flowers, L. died on 25 June 2010

Walker of Worcester, L. died on 22 June 2010

Laing of Dunphail, L. died on 21 June 2010

Quinton, L. died on 19 June 2010

Delacourt-Smith of Alteryn, B. died on 8 June 2010

Wolfson, L. died on 20 May 2010

Bernstein of Craigwell, L. died on 13 April 2010

Colville of Culross, V. died on 8 April 2010

Northesk, E. died on 28 March 2010

Park of Monmouth, B. died on 24 March 2010

Richardson of Duntisbourne, L. died on 22 January 2010.