Bestselling author and former Conservative politician Jeffrey Archer has passed away at the age of 86.
His publisher, HarperCollins, confirmed Archer died suddenly and peacefully at home on Monday between writing sessions.
Jeffrey Archer sold more than 300 million books worldwide during his career that spanned five decades. His best-known works included Kane and Abel, The Clifton Chronicles and Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less.
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Originally from London, Archer was elected Conservative MP for Louth in Lincolnshire in 1969 and later rose to become deputy chairman of the Conservative Party.
His political career was notably derailed in 2001 when he was convicted of perjury and perverting the course of justice. The charges related to a libel action against the Daily Star. Archer was found to have lied under oath and used false evidence during the case. He was sentenced to four years in prison and released in 2003.
Despite the scandal, Archer remained a hugely popular political figure and returned to the House of Lords after his release, serving until his retirement in 2024.
Archer had been due to appear at the Cheltenham Literature Festival this weekend to discuss what would have been his final novel.
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He is survived by his wife Mary, with whom he celebrated 60 years of marriage earlier this year, their two sons and five grandchildren.
