Politicians from all parties have honored the late Sir Tony Lloyd, a long-standing Labour Member of Parliament who passed away at the age of 73. According to his family, Lloyd, who represented Rochdale, peacefully passed away on Wednesday morning with his loved ones by his side, in accordance with his wishes.
Their announcement read: “He remained dedicated to helping others until just days before his passing, as it was his true passion. He committed his life to serving and positively impacting those he encountered, including his constituents, colleagues, friends, and loved ones.”
We extend our gratitude to the committed physicians, nurses, healthcare aides, and other hospital personnel who have provided him with treatment. We also thank the generous blood and platelet donors who have given him an additional four years of life.
For over four decades, Lloyd served as a representative for the Greater Manchester area and was first elected to the House of Commons in the 1983 general election.
On the past Thursday, he disclosed that he had been undergoing chemotherapy for a type of blood cancer that was both aggressive and incurable. He expressed his desire to use his remaining time to be with his loved ones.
The leader of the Labour party, Keir Starmer, honored Lloyd’s dedication to improving the world and creating fairness. Starmer expressed that the passing of Sir Tony Lloyd is a devastating loss. He extended his heartfelt sympathies to Lloyd’s wife, Judith, their children Siobhan, Angharad, Kieron, and Ali, as well as their granddaughters Carmen and Carys.
“We will forever remember his strong dedication to Labour ideals and his integrity, just like those who came before him. We are eternally thankful for his devotion to serving the public, his patriotism, and his determination to create a more equitable world. In the Labour party, we will continue to uphold his legacy of selfless service and unwavering pursuit of justice. May he rest peacefully.”
Lloyd spent 25 days in the hospital and was on life support for 10 days about four years ago due to severe coronavirus. When he was released, he expressed his disappointment to the Guardian that the then Commons leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg, required physical presence in the Commons for participation in debates, limiting him from fully fulfilling his job duties.
He stated: “There is a realization that you have a limited amount of time left…I am 70 years old, so I think, ‘I probably won’t be here in x years,’ so make the most of these years. Make the most of each day.’ That is probably sound advice for everyone.”
Lloyd had various positions in the Labour party, including being a junior minister during Tony Blair’s initial term and serving in Jeremy Corbyn’s cabinet as well. His most recent position was as the opposition’s shadow secretary for Northern Ireland.
In 2012, he temporarily left Westminster for a period of five years to act as the mayor of Greater Manchester. During the last two years of his term, he also held the position of police and crime commissioner for Greater Manchester.
Shortly after the news of his passing was made public, Jonathan Ashworth, a Labour MP, expressed his condolences on Twitter, stating, “I am deeply saddened to hear this. Tony made tremendous contributions and was an immensely influential and esteemed figure within the Labour community. My heartfelt sympathies, rest in peace.”
The shadow minister for Latin America and the Caribbean, Anna McMorrin, added: “So very sorry for your loss. A wonderful and kindhearted person and I feel very honoured to have known him xx.”
Reworded: The news of his passing has saddened all those who were acquainted with him, according to Conservative member of parliament Michael Fabricant. Nadhim Zahawi also expressed his hope for him to rest in eternal peace.
Source: theguardian.com
