‘He was the nicest and kindest of politicians’
PM’s tribute as Tory MP James Brokenshire, 53, dies of cancer
BORIS Johnson last night led an outpouring of tributes to Conservative MP and former Cabinet minister James Brokenshire after his death from lung cancer aged 53.
The Prime Minister said the fatherof-three was the ‘kindest and most unassuming of politicians’ who ‘will be missed by all who knew him’.
Mr Brokenshire died in hospital on Thursday with family by his bedside after his condition rapidly deteriorated.
In a statement yesterday, his family said: ‘James was not only a brilliant government minister... but a dedicated constituency MP, first for Hornchurch from 2005 to 2010, and then for Old Bexley and Sidcup for the past 11 years.
‘But most importantly, he was a loving father to his three children, a devoted
‘A loving father to his three children’
husband to Cathy and a faithful friend to so many.’
Mr Brokenshire held several ministerial positions during his time in Parliament, most recently as security minister, and previously as Northern Ireland Secretary and Housing Secretary.
He announced he had been diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018 and underwent surgery to remove the upper lobe of his right lung.
A non-smoker, he became a vocal advocate for a national screening programme for lung cancer, saying much stigma surrounds the condition, with many incorrectly believing it is only caused by cigarettes.
In January this year, he suffered a recurrence of a tumour in his lung and later said the ‘somewhat troublesome’ lung had been removed by surgeons. But in August he said his lung cancer had ‘progressed’ and that he was starting a new line of treatment.
Mr Brokenshire resigned as security minister in July after telling Mr Johnson that his recovery from surgery was taking ‘longer than expected’.
Paying tribute, the PM said: ‘He served with particular distinction in the Home Office and as security minister. If the Government needed something done well and speedily – and sensibly explained – James was the man to do it.
‘His fight against cancer was heroic, and it is a measure of his resolve that he came back from a first bout with the disease to serve in government again. He will be missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts are with Cathy and his family.’
Former prime minister Theresa May described Mr Brokenshire as ‘an outstanding public servant, a talented minister and a loyal friend’.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said he was ‘a thoroughly decent man, dedicated and effective in all briefs he held’. Mr Brokenshire’s death will trigger a by-election in his constituency of Old Bexley and Sidcup, where he had a majority of almost 19,000.