Former Bradford MP Marsha Singh dies four months after ceding seat to George Galloway

Mr Singh announced he was stepping down in March after representing Bradford West since the Labour landslide of 1997.

In one of the biggest UK by-election shocks, his 18,000-plus majority was then overturned by Respect’s George Galloway.

Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna wrote on Twitter: “So sad to hear of the death of our colleague and friend.

“All our thoughts go out to his family at this difficult time.”

Mr Singh, who was a ministerial aide and served on the home affairs and international development select committees, leaves two children and two stepchildren.

Penistone and Stocksbridge MP Angela Smith described him as “a lovely, warm man of great integrity”.

At the time he stepped down to fight serious illness, he described his passion for Bradford, where he grew up and his son and daughter were born.

He told a local newspaper that his proudest achievement was steering through private member’s legislation restricting the amount of capital a local authority can take into account when deciding whether someone is entitled to residential accommodation.

The Labour leader of Bradford Council, David Green, said Mr Singh was a real champion of the city.

Mr Green said: “I’ve known Marsha for 30 years - ever since I came to Bradford.

“He showed immense commitment to Bradford through all the years that I’ve known him.

“I will remember his fights for justice and how he led the fight against the racism that was around in the district in the 80s and early 90s.

“He carried on that commitment to the people of Bradford through his years as a Member of Parliament for Bradford West.

“He was always working for the city he loved and he represented.”

The council leader added: “He was a great character, he was good company. At heart he was a campaigner.”