MPs from across the political spectrum have paid tribute to Sir Gerald Kaufman, who has died aged 86.

Kaufman, an outspoken former Labour frontbencher and the father of the house, died on Sunday evening after a long illness.

Although he represented the safe Labour seat of Manchester Gorton with a majority of more than 24,000, his death sets up another potentially awkward byelection for the party.

Kaufman’s political friends and foes expressed sorrow at the loss of a politician who became an MP in 1970 and memorably described Labour’s 1983 manifesto as the “longest suicide note in history”.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown said Kaufman “gave the wisest of advice to Labour leaders who relied upon him throughout his 47 years in Westminster”.

Brown’s predecessor, Tony Blair, said: “Gerald was an extraordinary man, passionate, principled, acerbic and absolutely dedicated to the cause of social justice and the Labour Party.”

The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said Kaufman was an “iconic and irascible figure in the Labour party”. He added: “He loved life and politics. I will deeply miss him, both for his political commitment and constant friendship.”

The prime minister, Theresa May, said she had been “very sad” to learn of his death. “His was a life of remarkable commitment to his constituents in Manchester and to the political life of the nation,” she said. “He spent more than half his life as a parliamentarian having been first elected in 1970. As father of the house his wisdom and experience will be very much missed by MPs on all sides of the house.”



Former chancellor George Osborne and the communities secretary, Sajid Javid, were among many senior Conservatives to express sadness.

George Osborne (@George_Osborne) Sad to hear of the passing of Sir Gerald Kaufman, Father of House, fellow MP in the North West & champion of his Manchester constituents

Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) Sad to hear that Sir Gerald Kaufman has passed away. My condolences to his family and friends

The culture minister, Matt Hancock, said Kaufman, former chairman of the culture select committee, had “a distinctive voice and championed the arts in parliament”.

Tory MP Mark Garnier said he would miss Kaufman’s flamboyant dress sense.

Mark Garnier (@Mark4WyreForest) Sad to see Sir Gerald Kaufman passing. We've shared a corridor for over 6 years. I'll miss his cheery "good morning" and choice of clothes!

As the MP with the longest unbroken period of service, Kaufman was the father of the House of Commons, a distinction that now passes to the Tory grandee and former chancellor Ken Clarke.

Kaufman was first elected as the MP for Manchester Ardwick in 1970 and later as the MP for Manchester Gorton, made famous as the setting for the Paul Abbott comedy Shameless, following constituency boundary changes in 1983. He held the seat at the last election over the Greens with more than 67% of the vote.

Kaufman’s family said: “Sir Gerald had been suffering from a long-term illness for several months, but, in that time, remained firmly committed to, and focused on, the activities and wellbeing of his beloved constituency, which he had served since first being elected in 1970.”

Kaufman, who was shadow environment secretary in 1980, criticised Labour’s lurch to the left in the 1980s. His family’s statement contained a veiled warning to Corbyn’s leadership, which is still reeling after last week’s defeat to the Tories in the former safe Labour seat of Copeland in Cumbria.

It said: “Sir Gerald dedicated his life to serving those who he believed would benefit most from a Labour government and Labour values in action. He believed that policy and principle without power were simply not enough to deliver the better life that he fought for on behalf of his constituents for almost 50 years.”

Corbyn skirted over their differences and said he would miss Kaufman’s “constant friendship”. He added: “Gerald came from a proud Jewish background. He always wanted to bring peace to the Middle East and it was my pleasure to travel with him to many countries. I last saw him in his lovely flat in St John’s Wood in London, surrounded by film posters and a library of the film world.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Gerald Kaufman, right, and the former Labour leader John Smith with kidney transplant patients in 1992. Photograph: Skinner/ANL/Rex/Shutterstock

The Commons Speaker, John Bercow, said: “I was very saddened to learn of the death of Sir Gerald Kaufman, the father of the house and Manchester Gorton’s outstanding representative.



Gerald was a passionate campaigner for social justice, here in Britain and around the world. His passing will be mourned by his relatives, friends, constituents and colleagues.”



Former Labour leader Ed Miliband said Kaufman was an “outstanding servant of the Labour movement” who would be “sorely missed”.



Kaufman’s last spoken contribution in the Commons chamber was in a debate paying tribute to the Queen on her 90th birthday on 21 April last year, according to Hansard, the official report of proceedings in parliament. He spoke of wanting to reach a similar milestone.



“Turning 90 is a marvellous signpost in life, as I hope to experience myself before long,” Kaufman said. “Not long ago, one of my sisters turned 90 and we had a huge family celebration. Today, the national family is celebrating, and that very much includes those in this house.”

Kaufman was an industrious constituency MP, holding roving surgeries around east Manchester every week and writing several forests worth of letters each year on behalf of his largely impoverished constituents.

He was particularly active on immigration cases, and would regularly use written parliamentary questions to harangue the relevant secretary of state for not answering his letters promptly. He asked the last such question in May last year, before illness took hold.

For his diligence he was rewarded with consistently healthy majorities, peaking at 24,097 in 2015, despite him having become embroiled in the parliamentary expenses scandal, that saw him pay back £8,865 for a Bang & Olufsen TV and £1,461.83 for an antique rug.

Saleem Javed, salesman at Sanam sweet centre and curry house on Wilmslow Road, Manchester’s “curry mile”, said he had known Kaufman since arriving from Pakistan as a penniless 17-year-old in 1969, one year before Kaufman became an MP.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Gerald Kaufman in 2004. Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock

“Mr Kaufman was such a nice man, a kind person. Always very helpful when we have problems with immigration issues – he helped get my father-in-law a visa, and my daughter-in-law too,” said Javed.

Kaufman was especially beloved across the Pakistani community, which dominates the constituency Labour party (CLP). He could often be seen eating spicy lamb chops at his favourite curry houses, flattering local businessmen and speaking irreverently about parliamentary colleagues.

Last year, police were called in by the CLP amid fears for the safety of members – following claims of bullying, intimidation and voting impropriety. According to the Manchester Evening News, the claims resulted from intense rivalry to replace Kaufman. The CLP was briefly suspended, meaning it could not elect officers or take decisions.

Kaufman was not a football fan, but found a way not to offend the deeply tribal loyalties of his constituents. Asked while door-knocking if he was “red or blue”, the MP would reply: “Some of my best friends are Manchester United fans.”

He always planned to serve as an MP until his dying day, said Jonathan Reynolds, the MP for nearby Stalybridge and Hyde.

“He loved being an MP, and being a Manchester MP, more than anything. He refused to retire, and did not react well to suggestions he might consider doing so ... When the new set of police commissioners and mayors were created, he told me no one should be allowed to resign from parliament to contest them as being an MP was the highest office available (I didn’t quite agree!),” Reynolds said on Facebook.



• This article was corrected on 27 February 2017. The title of the father of the House of Commons is given to the MP with the longest unbroken period of service, not the oldest serving MP.





