Labour MP Harry Harpham, who entered the Commons only last
year, has died after a battle with cancer.
The former miner replaced David Blunkett as the member for
Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough at the last general election, winning the
seat with a majority of 13,807.
Harpham, 61, was diagnosed with cancer after his party’s
autumn conference last year and was treated in hospital a short time later.
He
was a member of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and stood firm on the
picket line for a full year during the miners’ strike at the Nottinghamshire
pit where he worked.
He then enjoyed a long career in local public service,
including a stint as deputy leader of Sheffield council.
Harpham was appointed a parliamentary aide to shadow energy secretary
Lisa Nandy after being elected with a 56.6% share of the vote – 1.2 percentage
points higher than Blunkett achieved in 2010.
Last month he backed the No Cold Homes campaign:
Labour figures paid tribute to the MP on Thursday night.
Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “The news of the death of
Harry Harpham is extremely sad and I send my deepest condolences to his family.
Harry was a proud socialist who had also been a proud miner.
“To the very end he was fighting for working people in
parliament. What a decent man he was and he will be sadly missed by all his
friends in the Labour party.
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