The MP for Heywood and Middleton Jim Dobbin has died at the age of 73.
The Labour MP, who was on a trip to Poland organised by the Council of Europe when he died, had represented his constituency since 1997 and held a majority of nearly six thousand at the last election.
He was accompanied by former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott and fellow Labour MP Alan Meale MP and was due to fly back to the UK today. His wife Pat is believed to have been with him.
The son of a coal miner, he was born in Kincardine, in Fife and went to Napier College, Edinburgh, where he studied bacteriology and virology, before working as a microbiologist for 33 years, 22 of which were for the Royal Oldham Hospital.
He entered politics in 1983, elected as a councillor to the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale council, where he became group leader in 1994.
He made his maiden speech in the Commons on 30 July 1997, and is currently a member of Transport Scrutiny Select Committee as well one of Britain’s representatives on the Council of Europe.
He is also involved in a number of All-Party Parliamentary Groups including Involuntary Tranquillizer Addiction, Global Action Against Childhood Pneumonia, and Hospice and Palliative Care.
He was one of 14 Labour MPs to vote against same-sex marriage last year.
Labour leader Ed Miliband said :
“Jim’s death is a sad day for parliament. He was a dedicated public servant, representing the people of Rochdale on the council and at Westminster for three decades. Working in the NHS for more than 30 years, Jim had a deep passion for helping others.
“A lifelong committed Catholic, Jim always took a lead in fostering links between the church and the Labour party, and his strong faith informed every aspect of his political and public life. This was recognised by Pope Benedict XVI when he made Jim a papal knight.
“I will miss Jim’s good friendship and decency. On behalf of the Labour party, I offer our sincere condolences to his wife, Pat, and their children. We will all miss him.”
Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell tweeted:
“Really sorry to hear of the sudden death of Jim Dobbin MP. I only saw him on Friday voting against bedroom tax. He was a great MP.”
