FORMER Conservative Taunton MP Sir Edward du Cann has died aged 93.

He represented the constinuency from 1956 to 1987 and served as a Minister in the governments of Harold Macmillan abd Alec Douglas-Home in the early 1960s.

He was chairman of the influential 1922 backbench committee for 12 years and supported Margaret Thatcher when she ousted Edward Heath as party leader.

A meeting of MPs he chaired in 1975 sparked the leadership contest that led to Thatcher taking the helm.

He had many business interests and became chairman of Lonhro under Tiny Rowland.

He was heavily criticised in many cricles for his business dealings, which earned him the nickname 'du Cann of worms'.

He used to own Cothay Manor, although he had a number of run ins over defaulting on his mortgage on a number of occasions.

David Nicholson, who succeeded Sir Edrwad as MP for Taunton said: "When I started here as candidate in 1986 I found him revered in the poorer parts of Taunton as one who had helped many people-such as getting council houses (which MPs were able to help with in those days- I found it increasingly difficult), and with welfare and tax matters."

Tory MEP Daniel Hannan who tweeted that Sir Edward had been "from WW2 torpedo boats to Parliament a model of decency and patriotism".

Sir Edward was Conservative party chairman under Ted Heath when the party formed the opposition after its 1964 election defeat.

He was twice married, fierstly to his cousin and later to the widow of a former colleague.