Rochdale MP Sir Tony Lloyd remembered in Commons tributes
Sir Tony died aged 73 days after announcing he had untreatable leukaemia
Sir Tony Lloyd has been remembered as a "thoroughly nice bloke" after the House of Commons observed a minute's silence in his memory.
The Labour MP, 73, died on Wednesday only days after announcing that he was suffering from an incurable form of leukaemia.
Shadow Commons leader Lucy Powell, who succeeded Sir Tony as Labour MP for Manchester Central in 2012, said: "The words spoken about Tony since his passing yesterday, and because they've come from across this House and the political divide, really are a reflection of the special person he was.
"Kind, sincere, driven by his deep values and principles, working with everyone he needed to to further a cause and always with integrity and humanity."
Ms Powell highlighted Sir Tony's work as Greater Manchester police and crime commissioner before his parliamentary return, adding: "I have to say he was an incredibly hard act to follow and I often find myself in his shadow still.
"For the first few years, I just had to accept the frequent complaint that I just wasn't as good. Some of my constituents still say: 'You're no Tony Lloyd, are you?'
"He was a proud Mancunian but we did disagree on football as he was a longstanding season ticket holder for United.
"We all knew what Tony stood for and the causes he held dear and tirelessly campaigned for, but I can't remember over all the years I knew him ever hearing him raise his voice.
"He went about his politics differently. For him, politics was all about relationships and discussion, whether in this place, internationally, on the street or in his beloved pub.
"That's what earned him so much loyalty from everyone who knew him because he was such a thoroughly nice bloke."
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt sent her "deepest sympathies" to Sir Tony's family and friends.
She said: "The tributes paid to him already illustrate the gentle and kind nature he had and the breadth and depth of his public service, and he was still doing that - as (Ms Powell) testified to - right up until the end."
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, speaking after the minute's silence in the chamber, earlier said on Thursday: "Our sympathies are with his family and friends. He will be sadly missed from all sides of the House."
Sir Tony was first elected to represent Stretford in 1983 and also served as MP for Manchester Central following boundary changes.
During his second stint in the Commons, Sir Tony represented Rochdale from 2017.
MPs will have a chance to pay further tributes to Sir Tony at a later date, Sir Lindsay said.