Former politician, novelist Jeffrey Archer dies aged 86

Former politician and author Jeffrey Archer has passed away at the age of 86, according to a statement released by his publisher Harper Collins. The versatile man had a distinguished career in politics, serving as a Conservative MP for five years and as the party's deputy chairman before retiring from active politics in 2001. However, his political journey was disrupted when he was imprisoned for four years due to convictions for perjury and perverting the course of justice.

The jury found Archer guilty of lying in a libel action he had taken against The Star newspaper, after which he was awarded £500,000 in damages. Following his release in 2003, Archer returned to the House of Lords until his retirement in 2024. Kate Elton, Harper Collins UK chief executive and Archer's former editor, expressed her deep appreciation for Archer, describing him as a master storyteller and an editor's dream - a hard-working individual who was committed to perfecting his work through numerous drafts and a true champion of the team spirit in publishing.