Tributes Paid to Lord Triesman, Former Labour Minister and FA Chairman

Lord Triesman, the former Labour minister and ex-chairman of the Football Association, has passed away at the age of 82.

Labour leaders have expressed their condolences, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer commending his “brilliant contribution to our Party and country,” while former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair referred to him as “a vital part of the New Labour movement.”

Born David Triesman in London, he joined Blair’s government as a Foreign Office minister in 2004. Throughout his career, he served on numerous prominent select committees and maintained an active role in the House of Lords until his passing.

As chairman of the FA from 2008 to 2010, Lord Triesman was an advocate against racism in sports and strongly supported women’s football.

In a statement, the Labour Party announced that Lord Triesman passed away peacefully at home on Friday night.

Prime Minister Starmer expressed his sadness, stating, “David will be remembered for his brilliant contribution to our Party and country, including as Labour General Secretary and a government minister,” according to a post on X.

Before joining the Blair government in the House of Lords, Lord Triesman served as the general secretary of the Association of University Teachers and as the general secretary of the Labour Party.

He later became Labour’s shadow minister for foreign affairs and participated in various prominent select committees.

An ardent supporter of Tottenham Hotspur, Lord Triesman was also the first independent chair of the FA.

Baroness Angela Smith, in tribute to her former colleague, noted that he was “respected and loved by his colleagues for his courtesy, kindness, wisdom, loyalty, and generosity of spirit.”

Lord Triesman is survived by his wife, Lucy, and their daughter, Ilona.