Bob Kerslake: Former head of civil service dies after battle with most cancers

Bob Kerslake, the previous head of the civil service, has died aged 68, his sister has confirmed.

Posting an image on Twitter, Ros Kerslake stated her brother had died on Saturday after “a short battle” with most cancers, including: “We are all devastated.

“I know he will be much missed by everyone, but most of all by his family.”

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Lord Kerslake held a quantity senior roles in native authorities, together with as chief government of the London Borough of Hounslow and later Sheffield City Council – the fourth largest authority in England.

He then took up a put up because the chief government of the Homes and Communities Agency, the nationwide housing and regeneration company for England, earlier than changing into the everlasting secretary on the Department for Communities and Local Government in 2010.

He went on to be the pinnacle of the civil service in January 2012 and served till September 2014, earlier than being ennobled in 2015, serving as a crossbench peer within the House of Lords till his demise.

Lord Kerslake led the inquiry into the Manchester Arena bombing, the place 22 folks misplaced their lives in 2017.

And he was an outspoken commentator on points from well being service funding by means of to celebration politics.

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Former colleagues and politicians have paid tribute to Lord Kerslake on Twitter, with Labour’s deputy chief, Angela Rayner, describing him as “a good, kind and principled man, generous with his time and full of wisdom”.

Shadow setting secretary Jim McMahon additionally referred to as him “a hugely dedicated public servant” whose “quiet but firm authority garnered support across the political spectrum”.

And London mayor Sadiq Khan added: “His kindness and commitment to improving our city and country will always be remembered.”