Remembering Keith Brookman

Community was saddened to learn of the death of Lord Keith Brookman, who passed away on Wednesday 22nd January after a long illness. Keith was a former General Secretary and Assistant General Secretary of our predecessor union the Iron and Steel Trades Confederation.

A product of the industrial heartland of the Gwent Valleys, Keith began his long career at Ebbw Vale Steelworks in 1953. After a period of service in the Royal Air Force he returned to the steel industry, becoming a divisional organiser for the ISTC in 1973. He then served as the union’s Assistant General Secretary for eight years from 1985 until 1993, when he was elected General Secretary. He remained in post until 1999, when he passed the torch on to fellow Gwent steelworker Michael J. Leahy.

In 1998 Keith became a Labour peer in the House of Lords, assuming the title of Baron Brookman of Ebbw Vale. During his time in Parliament he continued to take an active interest in Welsh affairs and the steel industry in particular, and became a stalwart of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Steel until his retirement from the House of Lords in 2020.

Over the course of decades he played an active role on a range of bodies focusing on the steel sector at a domestic and international level, including the European Coal and Steel Committee; the International Metalworkers’ Federation; and the European Metalworkers’ Federation.

Away from the steel industry, Keith had also previously served as governor of the Gwent College of Higher Education, as a member the TUC Educational Advisory Committee for Wales, and as President of the Welsh Trust for Prevention of Abuse.

Community General Secretary Roy Rickhuss CBE said:

“The steel industry wasn’t just a vocation for Keith, but a passion. That was something that was evident not just in his time as ISTC General Secretary, but throughout his life.

“Keith will be warmly remembered for his humour, his straight-talking approach, and his lifelong, unwavering commitment to Labour politics and the trade union movement. He will be much missed.

“Our thoughts go out to his family and loved ones at this time.”

“Keith was the real thing – a total trade unionist and a dedicated democratic socialist. His roots ran deep and his ambitions for working class people were limitless. He had great generosity – but didn’t suffer fools and he had high integrity, which made him a perfect choice for Labour’s Constitutional Committee when we were insisting on respect for the democratic rules of the Party.

“He was also full of mischief, had a great sense of humour and terrific loyalty to his comrades.

“He is sorely missed.”

RIP David Keith Brookman, 1937-2025.