Thatcher era minister Brittan dies of cancer

Leon Brittan, a former senior minister in the government of Margaret Thatcher as well as vice-president of the European commissioner, has died from cancer, his family said.

Brittan, 75, was home secretary between 1983 and 1985 and was recently in the headlines over his handling then of a child abuse dossier said to implicate public figures.

“Leon passed away at his home in London after a long battle with cancer,” a family statement said.