Tony Blair today led tributes to Lord Callaghan, the former Prime Minister, who is celebrating his 90th birthday in Sussex today.
Britain's last Labour premier before Mr Blair was having a family party near his farm at Ringmer, near Lewes.
Mr Blair described him as "one of the dominating political figures over the last half-century".
He said: "Lord Callaghan became Prime Minister at a very difficult time. Anyone who has the privilege of taking on the job quickly realises its difficulties and pressures.
"But those pressures are far greater when, in his case, he led a Government with no Commons majority.
"His leadership and personal qualities played a major role in holding the Labour Party together and in helping tackle the challenges the country faced."
The Prime Minister will be hosting a party for Lord Callaghan at 10 Downing Street some time next month.
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