Political journalist Anthony Howard dies after illness, aged 76

POLITICAL journalist and commentator Anthony Howard died yesterday after a short illness, his family said, prompting a flood of tributes. He was 76.

The former editor of the New Statesman worked for a range of Fleet Street titles and was well-known to television viewers as a Westminster pundit.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "Anthony Howard was not just a distinguished political commentator, but someone who conveyed the excitement and importance of the events on which he was commenting.

"He knew the trivial from the important, the dramatic from the humdrum and could see round the next political corner. His raised eyebrow at the twists and turns of politics and the depth and rigour of his analysis will be sorely missed."

Former prime minister Gordon Brown said: "Anthony Howard was a unique commentator and historian whose eloquence, wit and beliefs straddled 50 years of our history. I remember him first in 1964 as the successful editor of the New Statesman - admired by my father and by me alike - and then as a writer for major newspapers. "

In a 40-year career, Mr Howard also served as deputy editor of the Observer and obituaries editor of the Times, and he wrote for the Guardian and the Sunday Times. On television he was known for roles at Panorama and Newsnight and presented Face the Press on Channel 4 and The Editors on Sky News.