Sir Jeremy Hanley obituary: former Conservative Party chairman dies aged 80

The once promising political career of Jeremy Hanley, a cabinet minister in his role as chair of the Tory party, who has died aged 80, fell victim to the vicious Conservative infighting over Europe that characterised the years of John Major's government.

Promoted by Major in 1994 to run Conservative central office, he was expected to restore its finances and the morale of the party faithful – both in effect bankrupt – while simultaneously seeking to repair the widening schism on Europe and whip the organisation into election-winning shape.

Major privately described Hanley's task as 'the hardest'