Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP has sadly died
8 October 2021 (updated on 8 October 2021)
On 8 October it was announced that Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP had sadly passed away following a long illness.
Paying tribute, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, said:
“I will always remember James for his positivity and good sense of humour – and for being one of the most friendly, thoughtful and well-liked people in the House of Commons. His passing is a profound loss to us all.
“He was a politician who commanded affection and respect from colleagues, no matter which party they represented. In a career spanning 16 years, James’ contribution to public life was immense, serving in successive Governments in Ministerial roles across the Home Office, as well as serving as Secretary of State for Housing Communities and Local Government, and later Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. His commitment to serve his constituents in Old Bexley and Sidcup was also obvious to anybody he knew.
Today is a very sad day. My thoughts go out to his wife Cathy and their three children.'
Elected for the first time as a Conservative MP for Hornchurch in 2005, he later went on to serve as MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup from 2010. In 2013 James introduced the Modern Slavery Bill to the House of Commons, a key piece of legislation close to his heart, he championed it until it became an Act in 2015.
The impact of this loss will be felt across James’ constituency, as well as across Parliament. He will be sorely missed. As a mark of respect, the New Palace Yard flags have been lowered to half-mast in tribute.