James Brokenshire RIP

The Rt Hon James Brokenshire, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup and a former cabinet minister, has lost a long battle with cancer; he died peacefully at Darent Valley hospital on Thursday evening with family members by his bedside. He was 53 years old and leaves a widow, Cathy, and three children. James had been in hospital since Sunday after his condition rapidly deteriorated.

His family said

“We would like to thank all the NHS staff, particularly those at Guy’s and St Thomas’ in London, who cared for James with such warmth, diligence and professionalism over the past three-and-a-half years. We would also ask that our privacy as a family is respected at this time.”

James and I went back a long way: he was my successor but one as Chairman of the East of England area Young Conservatives a quarter of a century ago. I attended his and Cathy's wedding and a year or two later they came to mine.

James was a highly intelligent, kind, practical and reasonable man and a dedicated public servant. He is a great loss to politics - he will be an even greater loss to his family.

Rest in Peace.



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