3:45pm Monday 15th March 2010
Tributes have been paid to Labour MP Ashok Kumar who died aged 53 today.
Announcing the MP’s death to the Commons, Speaker John Bercow said: “Ashok was a most assiduous Member, much respected by the House and by professional background a very fine chemical engineer.
”I am sure members on all sides of the House will join me in mourning the loss of a colleague and extending our sympathy to the honourable member’s family and friends.”
A statement issued by the MP’s office said: “It is with great regret that we learned this morning that Ashok has passed away. He was found at home.
”His family have been informed.
”We all mourn our loss and all our thoughts are solely with his family at this tragic time.
”Ashok was a fine politician who served his constituency and his constituents with diligence and unswerving commitment.
”He was a natural fighter and a community leader. He first won his seat in 1991 in a by-election, only to narrowly lose it in the 1992 general election.
”Undaunted, he stood again and in 1997 regained the seat and successful defended it in following contests.”
Dr Kumar was a Commons aide to Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, who said: “I am deeply shocked and saddened by this news. It is very hard to believe that Ashok is no longer with us.
”Ashok was a pioneer, a doughty fighter for his constituents and a Labour man through and through who cared deeply for others.
”He was also fearless in pursuit of what he saw as right. I came to value his friendship, his loyalty and his sense of fun over the many years we worked together.
”It is why he will be greatly missed by so many of us.”
Fellow Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell, whose Middlesborough constituency neighboured Dr Kumar’s, said: “The death of Ashok Kumar at so young an age is tragic.
”He has been for many years a fine parliamentarian and good constituency MP.
”He built up his parliamentary majority and had every expectation of being returned to the House at the forthcoming election.
”He will be mourned by his many friends and colleagues. He leaves behind an untarnished reputation.”
Before becoming an MP, Indian-born Dr Kumar was a research fellow at Imperial College, London and a research scientist for British Steel.
Born in India, he also served as a local councillor in Middlesbrough for 10 years from 1987.
Single, he listed cricket, badminton, reading history and philosophy and listening to jazz among his interests.
A by-election for the seat, where Labour has a majority of 8,000, is very unlikely as the general election is expected on May 6 and must be held by June 3.
Fellow Labour MP Keith Vaz MP, chair of the Ethnic Minority Taskforce, said: “I am shocked at Ashok’s death.
”He has been a wonderful loyal friend and colleague and only the fifth person of Asian origin to be elected since the war. He will be greatly missed.”
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