David Bookbinder: Former council leader who 'stood up for people' dies

David Bookbinder was known as a stalwart of the political left

A former leader of Derbyshire County Council, best known for opposing Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s, has died aged 82.

David Bookbinder passed away on Christmas Eve.

He played a key role in persuading Toyota to move to the county and believed his biggest achievement was banning the use of canes in schools.

His daughter, Susan Bookbinder, said her father was "courageous, kind and modest" and he "stood up for people".

Refusing to pay for Derbyshire police during the Miners' Strike was one of several flashpoints between Mr Bookbinder and Margaret Thatcher

Born in Manchester, Mr Bookbinder became a conviction politician of the left and was elected Labour leader of Derbyshire County Council in 1981, a role he kept until 1992.

His combative style made him an adversary of a number of Conservative politicians, notably Mrs Thatcher, with whom he had an ongoing personal duel.

He opposed her on spending cuts, widespread nationalisation of key industries, the Miners' Strike, relations with China and the Poll Tax.

Ms Bookbinder said: "By refusing to pay the police bill when Margaret Thatcher sent in the Derbyshire force in the so-called 'Battle of Orgreave', he became Margaret Thatcher's 'least favourite councillor'.

"A BBC Radio Derby presenter once asked my dad how he'd like to be remembered. After a thoughtful pause, this was his answer - 'the man who made things happen'.

"I would add to that - 'he stood up for people'.

"If you are working at Toyota, driving on the A50, have used the best social services - free school meals, free home helps, that is because of David Bookbinder.

"As well as courageous, he was kind and modest."

Mr Bookbinder also banned the caning of children in school and use of animals in circuses

He was summoned to Downing Street in the wake of the 1989 shootings in Tiananmen Square, after he refused to break off a twinning arrangement with the Shanxi province, which he felt protected students then in Derbyshire.

Speaking to the BBC in 2011, he said: "I put it to Mrs Thatcher - 'what authority have you got to do this in Derbyshire?'

"There was an admission there was no authority. I said, 'tell me your authority and I'll comply with the law'. So the issue was keep within the law and you can do virtually anything you like."

On banning the use of canes in schools, he called the practice "sick" and added that you "wouldn't beat an animal, let alone a child".

His administration also led the way in animal welfare and banned the use of live animals performing in travelling circuses.

Even political opponents credited Mr Bookbinder with bringing Toyota to the area

Former Conservative MP Edwina Currie, who represented South Derbyshire from 1983 to 1997, paid tribute to her political opponent, particularly with regard to Toyota.

She said: "Toyota would not have arrived in Derbyshire and in my constituency without David Bookbinder.

"Occasionally, he and I would look across the table and agree on something. One example was we thought we had no chance of persuading Toyota to come here.

"He was highly intelligent, very motivated, funny, committed in the same way that I was and I think he was a very great public servant.

"We had many political differences... but he was a really competent, interesting man during a very difficult time in British politics."

Margaret Beckett, Labour MP for Derby South since 1983, said: "His legacy is a lifetime of service to people.

"Of course the Toyota investment is a big part of that.

"But I remember talking to one very senior colleague on the county council and she said to me 'if I had a problem, the person I would have confidence in to deal with it is David Bookbinder'."

Mr Bookbinder also stood for the Amber Valley constituency in the 1983 and 1987 general elections respectively, coming second behind the Conservative candidate on both occasions.