Jeremy Corbyn leads tributes to Labour MP Harry Harpham after his death from cancer

Tributes are flooding in to the proud socialist MP from Sheffield, who was still working to save British steel until a fortnight before he died

Labour Party MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough Harry HarphamHarry Harpham, who died yesterday after a battle with cancer

Jeremy Corbyn today led tributes to Labour MP Harry Harpham, who has died of cancer aged 61.

The father-of-five was diagnosed last year but was still tackling David Cameron about the steel crisis just two weeks ago.

Mr Harpham spent a year on picket lines during the 1984-85 miners’ strike as pitmen fought the Thatcher government’s colliery closures.

Labour leader Mr Corbyn said: “Harry was a proud socialist who had also been a proud miner.

“He was dedicated to justice for working people and, despite the undoubted hardship that his support for the miners’ strike would have caused him - as it did many thousands of miners - Harry recently told me he would have done it all again.

Lynne Cameron/PA WireLabour MP Harry Harpham, who represented Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, has died after a fight with cancer, the party has said"He was a proud socialist who had also been a proud miner"

“Harry was able to use his background and experience in energy to serve Labour in the Shadow Department for Energy and Climate Change and I was proud he agreed to serve in our team.

“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.”

Mr Harpham succeeded former Home Secretary David Blunkett as MP for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough in May, claiming the seat with a thumping 13,807 majority.

Just a fortnight before his death, he was grilling the Prime Minister over Tory support for steelworkers after Sheffield Forgemasters announced 100 job losses.

Despite only entering the Commons nine months ago, his question to the Mr Cameron bore the frustration of a Westminster veteran.

“We have had lots of warm words and hand-wringing and some crocodile tears from the Prime Minister and Ministers in this Chamber about the tsunami of job losses across the steel industry,” asked Mr Harpham.

The MP was diagnosed with cancer after September’s party conference in Brighton and was treated in hospital a short time later.

Paying tribute to “diligent” Mr Harpham, Commons Speaker John Bercow said today: “He first fought bravely his illness and then bore it with stoicism and fortitude, continuing to battle on behalf of his constituents to the very end.

“Harry will be sadly missed by us all and our thoughts are with Harry’s wife Gill and the wider family at this very sad time.”

His political career began as a committed trade unionist member of the National Union of Mineworkers who stood firm during the landmark industrial dispute.

Harry Harpham used his final speech to fight for the steel industry

He described himself as an “ordinary bloke who used to work down for the pit for a living” and spoke about how he spent a year on strike at Clipstone Colliery, Notts.

After becoming an MP he was appointed a parliamentary aide to Shadow Energy Secretary Lisa Nandy.

She said today: “Harry was such a kind, thoughtful man who made a big impact and won many friends in the short time he was in Parliament.

“He brought with him some real Yorkshire common sense and without fail made sure that the voices, worries and needs of working people were always heard in the energy debate.

“He was intensely proud not just of being an MP from a working-class background, but to be a Sheffield MP.

“He was deeply committed to his constituents and so proud of his family, as they are of him. It was a huge privilege to know and work with him. We will miss him enormously.”

Mr Harpham leaves his wife Gill and children Annie, Kieron, Dan, Emily and Victoria.

Labour deputy leader Tom Watson said: Deeply upset to learn of Harry Harpham’s death. Sheffield has lost a wonderful MP. My thoughts are with his family