Former Labour MP and sports minister Tony Banks has died in Florida after suffering a stroke, a family friend has said.
The 62-year-old former Labour MP, who became Lord Stratford when he accepted a peerage last year, was being taken to a hospice when he died.
He had been left "effectively brain dead" after suffering the massive stroke while holidaying on Sanibel Island on Thursday.
Prime Minister Tony Blair paid tribute to the peer
saying: "Tony Banks was one of the most charismatic politicians in Britain, a true man of the people.
"Whether he was campaigning for the regeneration of East London, fighting for animal welfare or expressing his enthusiasm for Chelsea football club he was someone who said what they thought and was loved by people for it.
"He worked tirelessly for his constituents in West Ham and showed them by his commitment in over 20 years as their MP how politicians can make a difference.
"I was proud to have him as a sports minister in the first term of the Government and like everyone in the Labour Party will miss him and regret that he was taken from us so soon."
Former Tory minister David Mellor paid tribute to his "immensely popular" friend.
He said Lord Stratford would be missed by politicians from all parties.
He said: "I think the great thing about Tony was that he was a man of passion in his politics and possessed of a sharp and witty tongue.
"But he exuded such joie de vivre that no-one could seriously take offence to his opinions. He delighted in living up to the old parliamentary convention that whatever was said in the chamber you would be friends outside of it.
"These days that's been forgotten, but Tony never forgot that.
"He was immensely popular on both sides of the House."
Mr Mellor said Lord Stratford had a "hinterland", including a love of Chelsea FC that had united them as unlikely friends.
"The tragedy is that this was a man who looked after himself. He exercised, and at 62 he could pass for a man several years younger. It's awful that he went with such a lot more to give."
The 62-year-old former Labour MP, who became Lord Stratford when he accepted a peerage last year, was being taken to a hospice when he died.
He had been left "effectively brain dead" after suffering the massive stroke while holidaying on Sanibel Island on Thursday.
Prime Minister Tony Blair paid tribute to the peer
saying: "Tony Banks was one of the most charismatic politicians in Britain, a true man of the people.
"Whether he was campaigning for the regeneration of East London, fighting for animal welfare or expressing his enthusiasm for Chelsea football club he was someone who said what they thought and was loved by people for it.
"He worked tirelessly for his constituents in West Ham and showed them by his commitment in over 20 years as their MP how politicians can make a difference.
"I was proud to have him as a sports minister in the first term of the Government and like everyone in the Labour Party will miss him and regret that he was taken from us so soon."
Former Tory minister David Mellor paid tribute to his "immensely popular" friend.
He said Lord Stratford would be missed by politicians from all parties.
He said: "I think the great thing about Tony was that he was a man of passion in his politics and possessed of a sharp and witty tongue.
"But he exuded such joie de vivre that no-one could seriously take offence to his opinions. He delighted in living up to the old parliamentary convention that whatever was said in the chamber you would be friends outside of it.
"These days that's been forgotten, but Tony never forgot that.
"He was immensely popular on both sides of the House."
Mr Mellor said Lord Stratford had a "hinterland", including a love of Chelsea FC that had united them as unlikely friends.
"The tragedy is that this was a man who looked after himself. He exercised, and at 62 he could pass for a man several years younger. It's awful that he went with such a lot more to give."
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