David Cairns MP passes away

By Mark Ferguson / @markfergusonuk

We’re hearing that David Cairns, Labour MP for Inverclyde, has passed away. The thoughts and prayers of everyone at LabourList are with David’s partner, family and friends.

He had been suffering with acute pancreatitis.

Tributes are already coming in – here are just a few of those we have seen already:

Ed Miliband: David will be missed beyond measure as a former minister, as an MP, as a friend and a colleague by many people and my heart especially goes out to his partner Dermot and his family in Scotland.

David was an immensely talented Member of Parliament who campaigned diligently on behalf of his constituents in Greenock and Inverclyde.

A highly effective minister of state in the Scotland Office, he was Labour through and through and yet was much-respected across the political divide.

He was also a man with a wide hinterland. As a former Catholic priest, he brought a sensitive understanding of others and a ready wit to politics, and he never shied away from saying what he believed to be true.

Tony Blair: The Labour Party will miss him profoundly. He was a good man.

David’s life was dedicated to public service. He was a committed and conscientious constituency MP, an excellent government minister and a passionate campaigner for social justice, equality and opportunity.

But more than that, David was, quite simply, a good man, with time for everyone and a wonderful sense of humour, which made him a delight to be around.

Westminster, politics and the Labour Party will be poorer without him. My thoughts and prayers are with Dermot and all David’s family and friends.

Jamie Glackin: David Cairns RIP. My best friend in politics for over 20 years.

Iain Dale : The news of the death of David Cairns MP is absolutely tragic. Lovely man with a waspish sense of humour. A great loss to politics.

Tim Montgomerie: I am very sad to learn from LabourList that the Labour MP David Cairns has died.

David ran the Christian Socialist Movement when I was directing the Conservative Christian Fellowship. We were often crossing swords in the media but we also met up, occasionally, for lunch and he was amusing, generous and kind company.

A Blairite, an Atlanticist and a friend of Israel he was an important voice in his party and a voice I will miss.

Rest In Peace my friend.

Peter Watt: David Cairns RIP. I don’t know what else to say. Terrible terrible news.

Jamie Reed: David Cairns was one of the best people I have ever known and ever will know. Country is poorer for his passing – he made this place better.

Johanna Baxter: Very sad to hear that David Cairns MP has passed away. Great loss. Rest peacefully.

Will Straw: Very sad to hear that David Cairns MP has passed away aged just 44. He was a wonderful man.

Julian Huppert: David Cairns MP RIP. he was one of the first MPs I met here, and was friendly and active in many areas. Great shame.

Chris Bryant: David Cairns was a truly lovely man with a great sense of what was right. In words of Thomas hardy he was a good man and he did good things.

John Mcternan: Heartbreaking news about David Cairns. Clever, witty, passionate, quotable, right. A true comrade. A huge loss. http://bit.ly/l089Gw

Stella Creasy: Went to see David Cairns in hospital – thought he was getting better so am gutted by today’s news. A lovely man-honoured to have known him.