Nigel Farage leads tributes as Brexit and Daily Express legend Patrick O'Flynn dies

Nigel Farage has led tributes to Daily Express veteran and Brexit campaigner Patrick O'Flynn, who has died aged 59. The former MEP had a successful career at the heart of Westminster, serving as the Express's political editor and spearheading the newspaper's campaign to take Britain out of the European Union.

He then turned his hand to politics, joining Nigel Farage's UKIP as director of communications before being elected an MEP in the 2014 European elections. Mr Farage said he was "so sad to hear of the passing of Patrick O'Flynn". The Reform UK leader added: "Paddy was a great journalist, a great thinker, a great patriot and a titan of our joint cause. Thank you Paddy."

Explaining his decision to leave journalism for the political front line, Mr O'Flynn wrote: "I was sure I could make my most powerful contribution to the great patriotic cause of getting Britain out of the EU and restoring it to its rightful status as a proud self-governing country by doing something else.

"I knew I would miss the camaraderie of colleagues, the buzz of daily deadlines and, of course, you - the readers. But I also knew that I had to go."

Tributes have also flooded in from former colleagues at the Express, including his current-day successor as political editor, Martyn Brown, who described Mr O'Flynn as a "wonderful man".

He added: "A journalistic legend who was incredibly to kind to me when I first joined the Lobby and, of course, the mastermind of perhaps the most consequential political newspaper campaigns of the past 50 years."

Express Deputy Editor Geoff Maynard said: "Patrick was simply a legend of the Express. A wonderful gentleman, a master of politics who had a great connection with our readers and of course he was one of the chief instigators of our successful campaign to leave the EU."

"He will be hugely missed by all his former colleagues and our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time."

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "Sad to hear of the loss of Patrick O'Flynn - a truly original conservative journalist who grasped the causes of much of the current discontent."

"His pieces were always punchy and persuasive. He will be missed."

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch said: "This is dreadful news. I can't quite believe it.

"My husband and I always enjoyed Patrick's company. He often messaged me with thoughts on politics. We'd agree on substance, then argue over tactics. I teased him about being a secret Leftie ... but my goodness, he loved this country.

"Such sad, sad news to end the day."

Mr O'Flynn often reflected on the long road to Brexit and the role he played in the fight for Britain's democracy.

Mr O'Flynn departed UKIP in 2017, citing a disagreement with Mr Farage over the party's direction. He then joined the Social Democratic Party, becoming its most high-profile supporter.

The SDP said it was "devastated" to learn the news of his passing, branding him a "great journalist, fantastic MEP, true patriot, and most of all a wonderful man, he will be sorely missed".

In December 2019, just before Britain left the EU in January 2020, he said his decade began by starting the Express campaign to get Britain out, "much to the bemusement of Lobby colleagues and the vast majority of MPs".

It was then bookended by the moment he had spent so many years campaigning for.

Mr O'Flynn is survived by his wife, Carole Ann, who also wrote for this paper, as well as his son and daughter.