LORD Montague of Oxford, a Labour life peer, died after collapsing in the House of Lords debating chamber.

Peers rushed to the aid of the 67-year-old as he slumped in his seat shortly after taking part in a debate on energy yesterday.

A Government spokesman said later: "Everyone is in a state of shock."

Desperate attempts were made to resuscitate the millionaire businessman and former chairman of the National Consumer Council but he died on the way to hospital, a Labour Party spokesman said. The Bishop of Hereford, the Rt Rev John Oliver, was at his side with Labour's Lord Rea, a former GP, helping with attempts to resuscitate him.

A doctor and nurse working in Parliament also came to his assistance.

Lord Montague, CBE, who lived in Dorchester on Thames, gashed his head as he fell forward on the bench in front of him.

He was attended by paramedics and taken to what is believed to have been the nearest hospital to Westminster - St Thomas's.

Lord Montague was a former member of the Millennium Commission, ex-chairman of the English Tourist Board and a director of Jarvis Hotels, Planet Hollywood and Orlando. He was created a life peer in 1997.

The House was adjourned for the day with remaining business post- poned.

The incident occurred shortly after the results were announced in the hereditary peers' election. A friend of the late Labour leader John Smith, he was involved in controversy when he was made a peer as he was one of several businessmen revealed as having made donations of more than £5,000 to Labour funds.

Conservatives then accused the Government of double standards after earlier accusations of Tories linking honours to donations.

Lord Montague was born on March 10, 1932, the son of David and Eleanor Montague.

He was educated at High Wycombe Royal Grammar School and Magdalen College School, Oxford.

He founded Gatehill Beco Ltd in 1958 which was later sold to the Valor company in 1962 and held chairmanships, managing and executive directorships in a raft of other companies. He was also chairman of the Asia Committee and British National Export Council, chairman of the Henley Festival from 1992 to 1994 and Governor and Chairman of the Audit Commission, Oxford Brookes University.

Lord Montague had also been a council member for the Royal Albert Hall and a member of the Millennium Commission.

His contribution to raising the profile of tourism - one of Britain's biggest industries - was widely recognised and welcomed.

Colleagues described him as energetic, demanding, courteous and extremely well-organised. During his time as English Tourist Board chief, Lord Montague made outspoken attacks on what he regarded as second-rate hoteliers, greedy seaside impresarios and grubby motorway caterers.

Other targets included taxi drivers - whom he accused of cadging large tips out of unsuspecting tourists - miserable museum attendants and surly waiters.

He also took the side of consumers, reflecting his later role as chairman of the National Consumer Council, by telling the public to boycott places offering poor value for money.

Story date: Saturday 06 November

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