Veteran Labour MP Sir Tony Lloyd has died after a battle with leukaemia, his household has confirmed.
The Rochdale MP died peacefully at dwelling this morning after leaving hospital final week to spend time together with his household. He introduced that he had been receiving chemotherapy for blood most cancers nevertheless it was now untreatable.
His household stated in a press release: “We are absolutely devastated to announce the death of Sir Tony Lloyd MP, our beloved Joe’, ‘Dad’ and ‘Grandad’. He died peacefully this morning surrounded by his family, as was his wish.
“He was working till just a few days earlier than his dying as his ardour was serving to others. He devoted his life to serving and making a distinction to the lives of these he met together with his constituents, colleagues, mates, and household.
“We would like to thank all the dedicated doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants and other hospital staff who have provided him with care, as well as the blood and platelet donors who gave him an extra four years of life.”
Labour chief Keir Starmer stated his dying was a “terrible loss” and stated he can be remembered for his “deep commitment to Labour values and his decency”. Mr Starmer stated: “We will always be grateful for his dedication to public life, his devotion to his country and his desire to make the world a better, fairer place. In the Labour Party, we will honour his legacy of service to others and his commitment to justice. May he rest in peace.”
Labour‘s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner stated she was “heartbroken” on the information. She tweeted: “Tony was not just a kind colleague, but a dedicated friend and rock of support to so many of us, thinking of his constituents right to the end. His loss is deeply felt by the whole Labour family. My love goes out to his family and to all those who knew him.”
Sir Tony, who served as a Foreign Office minister throughout Tony Blair’s first time period as Prime Minister, first turned an MP for Stretford in 1983. He then represented Manchester Central between 1997 and 2012, when he stood right down to grow to be Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner. He was overwhelmed to the Labour nomination for Greater Manchester Mayor by Andy Burnham and afterwards returned to Parliament as MP for Rochdale in 2017.
He held quite a lot of key frontbench roles throughout Jeremy Corbyn’s management, together with Shadow Housing Minister and Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary. He was knighted within the Queen’s Birthday Honours checklist in 2021.