Bernard Ingham dead: Margaret Thatcher's right-hand man dies aged 90

Sir Bernard Ingham, the long-standing press secretary to Margaret Thatcher, has died after a short illness, his family said.

The 90-year-old, who was a former reporter, died surrounded around his family on Friday.

Known for his straight-talking approach, Ingham served in Downing Street throughout Thatcher's premiership from 1979 to 1990.

Sir Bernard Ingham was a former reporter known for his 'straight-talking approach'
Chris Jackson

His family have described him as a “journalist to his bones” as he continued to write a column for the Yorkshire Post until as recently as last month.

He was also still writing for the Daily Express in the weeks before he died.

His son John Ingham said: “To the wider world he is known as Margaret Thatcher’s chief press secretary, a formidable operator in the political and Whitehall jungles.

“But to me he was my dad – and a great dad at that. He was a fellow football fan and an adoring grandfather and great-grandfather.

“My family will miss him greatly.”

Ingham was born in 1932 and attended Hebden Bridge Grammar School before starting his career in journalism aged 16 at his local paper in West Yorkshire.

He worked at the Guardian before becoming a Government press officer but positioned himself as a bitter enemy of “spin”, criticising those who practised the “black art”.

Ingham was Lady Thatcher’s press secretary for all but the first few months of her premiership.

Ingham worked as a journalist from the age of 16
Chris Young

He was knighted in her resignation honours and wrote a book called Kill The Messenger about his life in No 10.

He was married to Nancy Ingham, a former policewoman, for 60 years, before she died in 2017.

Ingham leaves a son, two grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

John Ingham thanked his father’s nursing home, Tupwood Gate in Caterham, Surrey, and his previous in-home carers for their “wonderful care and support”.