Green peer Lord Beaumont dies

Green Party peer Lord Beaumont has died aged 79.

The former Liberal Party president and vicar was the Greens' only member of the House of Lords.

He passed away on Wednesday evening at St Thomas's hospital, the party said.
 
Having been in the second chamber since 1967, he joined the Greens in 1999 in protest at the Liberal Democrats' support for free trade. 

Green principal speakers Caroline Lucas and Derek Wall said in a statement: "Lord Beaumont will be enormously missed by the party.

"He was a pioneering spirit in green politics, and a passionate defender of human rights and civil liberties.

"He worked tirelessly to put sustainable development higher up the political agenda and, in particular, to promote sustainable energy."