Dedication, ability and commitment

Tributes were paid to Michael Meacher in the House of Commons yesterday.

Speaker John Bercow said Mr Meacher will be sadly missed after serving with “dedication, ability and commitment”.

He added: “Many colleagues will have known Michael well. He served his party, his constituency and his country with dedication, ability and commitment — holding high office in government but above all cherishing Parliament, the legislature, the responsibility of members, under whichever administration, to hold the executive to account.

“In recent years he was a very prominent, active and effective contributor to the work of Parliament. I was privileged to come to know him well. He will be sadly missed and at this very unfortunate and miserable time for Lucianne and the family, we extend to them our condolences.”

Conservative MP Philip Davies (Shipley) said he shared a member of staff with Mr Meacher, noting this was unusual.

He told Mr Bercow: “He was a very great man and the words that you said are very well said indeed. I send my sympathies to his family too.”

Commons Leader Chris Grayling said of Mr Meacher: “He was a great figure in this House and even those of us who very much disagreed with his policies respected him as a great parliamentarian.”

For Labour, shadow Commons leader Chris Bryant said few MPs have had the same impact as Mr Meacher when environment minister.

Mr Bryant added: “He was an indefatigable stalwart who battled away in the intellectual trenches of politics for nearly five decades in this place.

“In his last speech in this House he delivered an absolutely excoriating attack on the Government’s economic policy. Our thoughts warmly go out to his family and all those who knew him well.”