A former politician was accidentally declared dead during a speech in the House of Lords. Labour's Lord Blunkett referred to the "late Simon Hughes" as peers considered moves to outlaw child marriage in England and Wales.
But former cabinet minister Lord Blunkett later apologised and insisted Sir Simon, 70, a Liberal Democrat MP until 2015, is "well and alive". Despite the incident taking place before noon on April Fool's Day, it is thought to have been a genuine error rather than a prank given Lord Blunkett was seen with his head in his hands after his speech.
Lord Blunkett said: "When the late Simon Hughes suggested changing the law to make legal marriage 17, I was very supportive of that and I'm incredibly supportive of this legislation today."
He later intervened on a colleague to tell the chamber: "I need to apologise to the House and particularly to the right honourable Simon Hughes. It's been pointed out to me that he's well and alive, and I had better get that on the record."
Peers laughed as they heard the correction, with Labour frontbencher Lord Collins of Highbury replying: "Yes, I happen to know he's well and alive too having seen him fairly recently."
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