Lord Gareth Williams, 62; British Labor Party Leader in House of Lords

Lord Gareth Williams of Mostyn, 62, leader of the British Labor Party in the House of Lords, the upper house of Parliament, died Saturday at his home in Gloucestershire in southwest England of unstated causes.

Educated at Cambridge University, Williams was known as a formidable lawyer in London’s law courts before he was made a life peer in 1992. He served as a spokesman on Northern Ireland between 1993 and 1997 and was parliamentary undersecretary for the home office in 1997 and 1998, with special responsibilities for constitutional issues.

Prime Minister Tony Blair issued a statement calling Williams “a fine politician with excellent judgment who earned the respect of colleagues of all parties.” Blair said Williams “used his wit and general humor time and time again to defuse difficult situations in the Lords.” Williams had worked to reform the House of Lords.

Williams was a former trustee of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and campaigned for creation of the office of commissioner of children.