Remembering James Brokenshire

The funeral takes place at noon today for James Brokenshire, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup and a former cabinet minister, who died from with cancer a few days ago after a three-year battle with the disease.

He was 53 years old and leaves a widow, Cathy, and three children, Sophie, Jemma and Ben

James and I go back more than thirty years to when we were both Young Conservatives: he was my successor but one as Chairman of the East of England Area Young Conservatives. 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. Most people will never know of some of the things he did to protect them.

He is a great loss to politics - he will be an even greater loss to his family.

Rest in Peace.

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