This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34592381

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Labour MP Michael Meacher dies Labour MP Michael Meacher dies
(35 minutes later)
Veteran Labour MP and former minister Michael Meacher has died after a short illness. Veteran Labour MP and former minister Michael Meacher has died after a short illness at the age of 75.
The 75-year-old had been MP for Oldham West and Royton since 1970. Mr Meacher had been MP for Oldham West and Royton since 1970, retaining the seat with a 14,738 majority in May.
He retained the seat with a 14,738 majority at May's general election. Mr Meacher, seen as being on the left of the party, spent 29 years on Labour's frontbench including six as an environment minister under Tony Blair.
Mr Meacher was an environment minister for six years under Tony Blair and later served as shadow transport secretary and in other front bench roles. He was seen as being on the left of the party. Ex-Labour leader Ed Miliband called him "principled, kind... committed to a fairer, more just world".
He served in junior ministerial roles in the Wilson and Callaghan governments in the 1970s and at one time was spoken of as a future Labour leader.He served in junior ministerial roles in the Wilson and Callaghan governments in the 1970s and at one time was spoken of as a future Labour leader.
He stood as the left's candidate against Roy Hattersley for the deputy leadership of the party in 1983, but was defeated. Mr Meacher, an Oxford University classics graduate who had been a lecturer before becoming an MP, stood as the left's candidate against Roy Hattersley for the deputy leadership of the party in 1983, but was defeated.
He quit Tony Blair's government as a minister in June 2003 reshuffle, saying he planned to speak out on a range of issues from the back benches.
In 2007, he attempted to challenge Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership before standing aside to allow John McDonnell, now the shadow chancellor, to stand as the candidate from the party's left wing.In 2007, he attempted to challenge Gordon Brown for the Labour leadership before standing aside to allow John McDonnell, now the shadow chancellor, to stand as the candidate from the party's left wing.
He quit as a minister in June 2003 reshuffle, saying he planned to speak out on a range of issues from the back benches. Green MP Caroline Lucas said Mr Meacher was a "great politician, championing climate action".
Peter Dean, Mr Meacher's PA and office manager, told the Oldham Evening Chronicle: "We are extremely sad and it has been quite a short illness he has had and we just don't know the details at present.
"He was such a well respected person and we will just try to deal with any problems people in the area have ongoing. We will still try to assist in any way we can.
"We are extremely sad for his family but all of his staff here at his office have worked with him for 20 years so it is almost like a family bereavement for us. Our office usually deals with around 5,000 cases every year so he has impacted on an enormous amount of people's lives."
Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite, said: "He was a tremendous figure in the Labour movement, devoting his life to the advancement of working people and for that he will always be remembered with deep fondness.
"As a personal friend I always welcomed his views and guidance as well as his optimism and commitment to improving ordinary people's lives. He was a true friend of the trade union movement."
The death means a first by-election for Labour under Jeremy Corbyn.