Brian Walden, broadcater and politician

Brian Walden with then prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

Brian Walden, who has died at 86, was a former Labour MP who became one of the most tenacious, penetrating, ruthless and analytical TV interviewers of his generation.

His amiable style frequently beguiled his subjects, very often cabinet ministers, into straying into areas which they would rather not have discussed in public.

During his broadcasting career he had some memorable exchanges with Margaret Thatcher, who enjoyed being interviewed by him.

And although his background was as a Labour politician, Walden had a sneaking regard and admiration for her. In his biography he disclosed he had been a speechwriter for her.

Walden also once had the entire Labour Party - and others, too - up in arms when he launched a serious criticism of the “feckless” Nelson Mandela.

He was elected Labour MP for Birmingham All Saints (later to become Birmingham Ladywood) in 1964 and re-elected in the subsequent general elections of 1966, 1970 and 1974 (both in February and October).

Alastair Brian Walden was born on July 8, 1932. He was educated at West Bromwich Grammar School and won a major open scholarship to study at Queen’s College, Oxford.

In 1957, he was elected president of the Oxford Union. He completed a postgraduate course at Nuffield College, Oxford, before becoming a university lecturer.

During his parliamentary career he campaigned energetically for the liberalisation of cannabis and of the gambling laws.