British political adviser and author Derek Draper has passed away at the age of 56, his wife Kate Garraway has revealed. Draper contracted COVID-19 in March 2020 and had been experiencing severe complications since then. Garraway confirmed his passing in a statement posted on Instagram. After being diagnosed with the virus, Draper was put into a coma in April 2020 and only woke up from it in October of the same year. Despite being virus-free by June, his body had suffered significant damage. Draper returned home in April 2021 on a trial basis while receiving round-the-clock care and treatment, as he had yet to regain his speech.
Garraway has thanked all the medical teams who put in a valiant effort to save Draper and make his final days as comfortable as possible. Former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, a “good colleague and great friend”, was quick to lead the tributes. Draper was an influential figure in the New Labour Movement story and a man you wanted as a friend. Blair added that it was remarkable that Draper lived such an extended life after contracting COVID-19, which was primarily due to his love for his family.
Draper’s battle with COVID-19 garnered much attention and support, including from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Royal family. Draper and Garraway married in 2005 and have two children together. Draper, who was born in Chorley, Lancashire, left politics in 1998 after getting caught up in the “Lobbygate” scandal. He then retrained as a psychotherapist; he is the author of Blair’s 100 Days and Life Support. In 2009, he founded the news website LabourList, which was independent of the Labour Party.
Garraway, who served as a presenter on BBC News and ITV’s Good Morning Britain, is taking an indefinite leave of absence and has canceled all her work on TV and radio. Last year, their family’s experience of adjusting to a new way of life caused by Draper’s rare condition was documented
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