John Burton ‘the man who discovered Tony Blair’ died age 85

Mr Burton, from Trimdon, was a Labour Party councillor in County Durham and was a member of Sedgefield Borough Council.

He served as Tony Blair’s constituency agent from 1983 and throughout his 24 years as Sedgefield MP, until Mr Blair stood down as Prime Minister in 2007.

John Burton pictured in 2010 (Image: ANDY LAMB)

Mr Burton worked tirelessly as the former prime minister’s agent, helping Mr Blair juggle his job as an MP with the demands of running the country from No. 10.

In 2013, he was awarded an MBE from the then Prince of Wales, now King Charles for his services.

Prime Minister Tony Blair, with his friend and agent John Burton, at Trimdon Village just a few hours before voting began in the 2001 general election (Image: NORTH NEWS)

Alan Strickland, MP for Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor said he sends his “deepest condolences” to Mr Burton’s family.

In a statement he said: “John’s death has come as an enormous shock to us all. I send my deepest condolences to his family at this very sad time.

“John leaves a huge legacy. As election agent to Tony Blair, chair of Sedgefield Labour Party and a Sedgefield Borough councillor, John made a major contribution to our area and the Labour movement.

“Thank you John for your public service, your kindness and your wisdom. You’ll be sadly missed.”

Prime minister Tony Blair pictured with his agent John Burton as he arrives at Trimdon Labour Club on 10 May 2007 (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

He added: “‘John was a titan of the Labour movement and at the heart of Sedgefield politics for decades. He was a warm, kind and supportive friend, whose razor sharp political mind was always available for advice and wise counsel.

 “Having been a teacher, councillor, church warden, party chairman and agent to Tony Blair, John’s public and community service touched many people’s lives. He’ll be very sadly missed.”

Tony Blair’s tribute to John Burton: “John Burton was my close friend, mentor, guide and teacher for over 40 years. Ever since shortly before the 1983 election, I stepped into his home during that year’s European Cup final which Aberdeen won under Alex Ferguson, and was told to sit quiet until the match ended, I knew I had met a fellow soul. John had an extraordinary talent for politics. No one read the game better or had clearer and almost infallible judgment. As Prime Minister I would seek his advice on anything touching public opinion or the fortunes of the government and know I would get an unvarnished and unswerving analysis worthy of the best political consultant in the country.

“He was smart. But he was also caring, enormous fun with a brilliant sense of humour and company I sought as much for the laughter as for the advice. His passing leaves me quite bereft. My deepest condolences to Caroline and Jonathan and to all the Trimdon crew who were and are my friends and support.”

His daughter Caroline said on behalf of the family, said: “It’s so difficult to put into words how much John was loved by his family who shared him with so many friends. We had the great privilege to see his example of love and kindness and Christian beliefs lived out in his life and politics and his many interests, including football, folk singing and acting as churchwarden at his beloved St Mary Magdelene in Trimdon Village.

“We were able to all be together Christmas 2025 and have fond memories of a meal at the Dun Cow in Sedgefield with his partner Glennis and myself and son-in-law Brian, Jonathan, his son, granddaughter Lily and grandson Rikki-Lee plus his partner Kimberly, and his good friend Adam luke.

“His passion for the Labour Party led to his work for Tony Blair, which was a highlight of his life’s work that he shared with his wife Lily.

“The impact he had on generations of the local community is incredible – everybody has a memory of his kindness .

“He had a great sense of humour, was a wonderful storyteller – all of us who knew him will have our favourite tales, and I hope they’ll be shared over the coming days and weeks, and in the years to come, when we’re thinking of John Burton.”

Phil Wilson, who succeeded Tony Blair as Sedgefield MP in 2007 and is now Lord Wilson of Sedgefield, said: “I knew John for more than 50 years from when he was my PE teacher at Trimdon and Sedgefield secondary schools back in the 1970s. He knew my dad and grandmother, and he has been a massive part of my life, especially my political life, for decades.

“John was the life and soul of the Labour Party, and when he spoke politics, you listened, and it was usually just common sense. There have been all these great books that have been written about how New Labour came into being, won three general elections, kept the Tories out of office for 13 years, but really it was just down to the common sense of John Burton. It came from the values of Labour which he translated into common sense.

“And when Tony became Prime Minister, he helped keep him grounded. Tony would escape from the Westminster bubble every few weeks to Sedgefield and John would be the voice of the ordinary people in the constituency.

“Whatever John turned his hand to, he did to the full, whether it was sport, music or politics – he had a passion for it and he excelled at it.

“And I will always remember that ready smile and that big deep laugh.”