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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| RMT union general secretary Bob Crow dies | RMT union general secretary Bob Crow dies |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| General secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union Bob Crow has died aged 52 | General secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union Bob Crow has died aged 52 |
| In a statement on its website, the union said he died in the early hours of Tuesday morning. | In a statement on its website, the union said he died in the early hours of Tuesday morning. |
| London Mayor Boris Johnson, with whom he clashed over plans for the Tube, said: "I am shocked. Bob Crow was a fighter and a man of character." | London Mayor Boris Johnson, with whom he clashed over plans for the Tube, said: "I am shocked. Bob Crow was a fighter and a man of character." |
| Mr Crow was elected general secretary of the RMT in 2002 following the death of former leader Jimmy Knapp. | Mr Crow was elected general secretary of the RMT in 2002 following the death of former leader Jimmy Knapp. |
| The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Crow "was, some argue, the most successful union leader in terms of securing jobs and pay for his members". | The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Crow "was, some argue, the most successful union leader in terms of securing jobs and pay for his members". |
| Only a day before his death, he told BBC Radio 4's PM programme that MPs deserved a pay rise. | Only a day before his death, he told BBC Radio 4's PM programme that MPs deserved a pay rise. |
| The BBC's chief political correspondent Norman Smith said Mr Crow was believed to have suffered a heart attack. | |
| He is understood to have been due at a TUC executive away day in Surrey on Monday, but was unable to attend because he was feeling unwell. | |
| 'Sad day' | 'Sad day' |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband offered his condolences: "I didn't always agree with him politically but I always respected his tireless commitment to fighting for the men and women in his union. | |
| "He did what he was elected to do, was not afraid of controversy and was always out supporting his members across the country. | |
| "He was a passionate defender of and campaigner for safe, affordable public transport and was a lifelong anti-fascist activist." | |
| Mr Johnson said in a statement: "Whatever our political differences, and there were many, this is tragic news." | Mr Johnson said in a statement: "Whatever our political differences, and there were many, this is tragic news." |
| "Bob fought tirelessly for his beliefs and for his members. | "Bob fought tirelessly for his beliefs and for his members. |
| "There can be absolutely no doubt that he played a big part in the success of the Tube, and he shared my goal to make transport in London an even greater success. | "There can be absolutely no doubt that he played a big part in the success of the Tube, and he shared my goal to make transport in London an even greater success. |
| "It's a sad day." | "It's a sad day." |
| Former mayor Ken Livingstone told Sky News: "Young people will learn lessons from him and realise he stood up for his | |
| Born in 1961 in east London, Mr Crow got his first job on the underground at the age of 16, fixing rails and cutting down trees by the track. | |
| He became a local representative for the then National Union of Railwaymen at the age of 20. | |
| Last month, Mr Crow joined his members on the picket line during a Tube strike, called in protest at the mayor's plan to close ticket offices. | |
| Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA rail union, which also took part in the strike, said: "Bob Crow was admired by his members and feared by employers, which is exactly how he liked it. | Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA rail union, which also took part in the strike, said: "Bob Crow was admired by his members and feared by employers, which is exactly how he liked it. |
| "It was a privilege to campaign and fight alongside him because he never gave an inch." | "It was a privilege to campaign and fight alongside him because he never gave an inch." |
| TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said he was "an outstanding trade unionist, who tirelessly fought for his members, his industry and the wider trade union movement". | |
| Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary, added: "Even people who didn't like what he did agreed he did it very well." | |
| Kevin Maguire, associate editor at the Daily Mirror, said on Twitter: "Bob Crow was a big burly bloke with a great brain, wit, heart of gold and surprisingly soft handshake. Missing him already." | |
| A lifelong Millwall supporter, Mr Crow was not a member of any political party, and was often equally critical of Labour - especially New Labour - as he was of the Conservatives. | |
| Nevertheless, many Labour MPs gave glowing tributes to him. | |
| John McDonnell, convenor of the RMT parliamentary group, wrote on Twitter: "In Bob Crow we have lost one of the finest trade union leaders and socialists our movement has known. I am devastated by this tragic news." | |
| His colleague Jeremy Corbyn said Mr Crow was also "a very dedicated opponent of racism and fascism whenever it reared its head", as well as taking part in anti-war campaigning. |