Tributes pour in for MP Jack Dromey
Tributes will be paid in the House of Commons today to Jack Dromey (pictured), the MP for Erdington who died suddenly on Friday.
His family announced that he had died in his flat hours after he had spoken in the House. Mr Dromey had been married to Harriet Harman, MP for Camberwell and Peckham, since 1982.
Henrietta Brealey, chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: "We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Jack Dromey. Jack was a good man, a true champion for his constituents and workers ' rights.
"Since becoming MP for Erdington in 2010 he had been involved in and supported a number of Chamber local business roundtables and campaigns, most recently on support for businesses and employees during the pandemic.
"As the cross-party outpouring of grief has shown, he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
"Our thoughts and sincere condolences go out his wife Harriet, his children, family and friends."
Politicians from across the political spectrum in the West Midlands have paid tribute to the 73-year-old.
"Jack was a man of the people," Perry Barr's Labour MP Khalid Mahmood said.
He added Mr Dromey was selected to stand for the Erdington seat in 2010 "purely because of his record for helping working people", winning him the respect of people across the country, from both sides of the political divide.
Fellow Birmingham MPs echoed the view of Yardley's Labour MP Jess Phillips, who tweeted his death had been a shock, adding the city would "not be the same without him".
His death came just hours after Mr Dromey had spoken in a Commons debate on Afghan refugees and soon after he had attended a speech on Tuesday by Sir Keir Starmer.
"He was a bundle of energy, he was always on to the next thing, he always had an idea," Selly Oak's Steve McCabe told BBC Radio WM, adding that Mr Dromey had always "loved" his constituency.
Andy Street, Mayor for the West Midlands, paid tribute to Mr Dromey on Twitter.
He said: “Jack was a principled politician who fervently believed that the democratic process could improve the lives of his residents.
“His natural respect for political leaders, officers and even his political adversaries revealed his own guiding principles.
“Birmingham has lost a dedicated servant. Parliament has lost a true believer. And we have all lost a generous, inclusive friend who set a fine example. ”
Liam Byrne, MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill, tweeted: “Stunned and in shock. It was a privilege of my life to work hand in glove with Jack in the West Midlands for the last decade and he chaired my Mayoral campaign brilliantly. We've lost a legend. But his legend will live on. In the countless he changed for the better. Heartbroken. ”