POLITICIANS from across the political divide have paid tribute to a former East Lancashire MP who died last week at the age of 87.

Burnley-born Lord David Waddington, who served in Margaret Thatcher's cabinet during the final year of her premiership from 1989-90, was hailed by the current leader of the upper chamber, Baroness Smith of Bowes Park, as 'one of the leading political figures of his generation'.

He served as MP for Nelson and Colne and later represented Clitheroe and then Ribble Valley in Westminster.

Appointed as leader in the Lords by John Major, Labour's Lady Smith said the fact the then-prime minister attended Lord Waddington's maiden speech 'only hints at the legacy left by a great parliamentarian'.

She said he had never abandoned his Lancastrian roots and added: "Retaining always a directness of approach, clarity of thought and plainness of speech which enabled him to cut through political complexity with enviable success.

"A man of principle and grit, a tenacious and committed servant to the British public who affected real change.

"Lord Waddington set a standard for dedication and integrity to which we can all aspire and he will be missed by us all."

She said he was known as a man of 'strong conviction', who had retained an affection and commitment to his former Ribble Valley constituency.

For the Liberal Democrats, Lord Newby joked of the politician, best-known as a hard-line, no-nonsense right-winger: "I think it's fair to say that he wasn't one of life's natural Liberal Democrats."

But Lord Newby said his party colleagues did 'cheer' when as home secretary he referred the case of the Birmingham Six to the Court of Appeal, where their convictions for IRA pub bombings were eventually quashed.

Lord Newby also said his memorial service was to be held in Clitheroe rather than in Westminster which 'speaks a lot for where his priorities lay and those of his family'.

The Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Christine Hardman, said: "I know that his Christian faith was a source of great comfort and inspiration to him."

She said in 2008, he successfully introduced what became known as the Waddington Amendment to protect 'the discussion or criticism of sexual conduct or practices' from being covered by legislation outlawing hate crime on grounds of sexual orientation.

The bishop said this had been 'prompted by his concern that those who sincerely hold traditional bible based views on relationships should be able to speak freely under the law'.

Lord Waddington, who retired from the House of Lords in 2015, died on Thursday.