Eric Lubbock, Baron Avebury: Liberal MP, human rights and civil liberties campaigner

Eric Lubbock, Baron Avebury — Liberal MP for Orpington and long-serving peer, prominent campaigner for human rights, refugees and civil liberties, and Privy Councillor whose parliamentary work influenced 1960s British politics.

Eric Reginald Lubbock, 4th Baron Avebury, PC (29 September 1928 – 14 February 2016) was an English politician best known for his work as a parliamentarian and for campaigning on human rights and civil liberties.

Parliamentary career

Lubbock was elected as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Orpington at a 1962 by-election and held the seat until 1970. His victory in Orpington was notable at the time for its impact on national politics and for boosting the profile of the Liberal Party during the 1960s.

House of Lords

After inheriting the peerage in 1971, he took his seat in the House of Lords as the 4th Baron Avebury. Following the House of Lords Act 1999, which removed the automatic right of most hereditary peers to sit, he was chosen by his fellow peers to remain as one of the elected hereditary members and continued to sit as a member of the Liberal Democrats. At the time of his death he was the longest-serving Liberal Democrat peer.

Honours and public work

Appointed to the Privy Council (PC), reflecting his role in public life.
Throughout his career he was active on issues such as human rights, refugees, and civil liberties.

Death

Lubbock died in London on 14 February 2016 from leukemia. He was 87 years old.