Former union chief dies at 96

Former trade union leader Jack Jones has died aged 96, his son said today.

Mick Jones said his father, who led the Transport and General Workers' Union, died in London shortly after 9.30pm.

He said: "He passed away very peacefully in a very nice care home in Peckham.

"He had all the care he could possibly want. He was active until the very end and had a good innings."

Mr Jones was born in Liverpool and served as general secretary of the TGWU from 1969 to 1978 when it was one of the most powerful unions in the country.