Labour MP Jack Dromey, 73, dies ‘suddenly’ in his Birmingham flat: Harriet Harman’s husband passes away as family pay tribute to ‘much loved’ politician who will be ‘greatly missed’
Labour MP Jack Dromey, husband of the party’s former deputy leader Harriet Harman, died suddenly in his flat in Birmingham this morning, a family statement has revealed.
Mr Dromey, 73, served as the MP for Birmingham Erdington from 2010 and was appointed Shadow Minister for Immigration by current leader Keir Starmer in December.
He is understood to have died from natural causes. Mr Dromey and Ms Harman, who married in 1982, share three children, two sons and a daughter.
A statement issued on behalf of Mr Dromey’s family by the Labour Party said: ‘Jack Dromey MP died suddenly this morning aged 73 in his flat in Erdington.
‘He had been a dedicated Member of Parliament for Birmingham Erdington since 2010. He was a much loved husband, father and grandfather, and he will be greatly missed.’
His son Joe tweeted today: ‘Our dad – Jack – died suddenly today. We loved him so, so much. Rest in peace big man x.’
Mr Dromey last spoke in Parliament just yesterday during a debate in Westminster Hall about the Afghanistan citizens’ resettlement scheme.
Labour MP Jack Dromey, 73, has died ‘suddenly’. He served as the MP for Birmingham Erdington from 2010
Mr Dromey was married to former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman. The couple share three children
Mr Dromey was last seen in parliament yesterday, when he spoke in a Commons debate
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to Jack Dromey as an MP who ‘lived his commitment to social justice every day’.
Sir Keir said: ‘The proud son of Irish parents, Jack Dromey dedicated his life to standing up for working people through the Labour movement, becoming deputy general secretary of the UK’s largest trade union and then a Labour MP.
‘From supporting the strike at the Grunwick film processing laboratory, when he met Harriet, through to being elected to represent Birmingham Erdington in 2010, Jack lived his commitment to social justice every day.
‘Jack was recognised for his determination to stand up for his constituents and he was highly respected and warmly regarded across Parliament.
‘My thoughts and those of the whole Labour movement are with Harriet, their children and all those who knew and loved Jack.’
Paying tribute to Mr Dromey, the speaker of the Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, said: ‘We are all in disbelief that the life-force that was Jack Dromey has died – this is another sad day for the House and a bad start to the year.
‘I have known Jack since the mid-1980s when we fought to save the Royal Ordnance Factory in Chorley — he was national officer for the Transport and General Workers’ Union, and I was chair of economic development at Chorley Council.
‘He was a great guy, down to earth, always positive and always looking to support and save jobs. At his heart he was a devoted husband, father and grandfather — so all our thoughts go to Harriet and the rest of the family at this very sad time.’
Before his career in politics, Mr Dromey was a trade unionist who held several roles in the Transport and General Workers Union which later became Unite. He was appointed Deputy General Secretary of the union in 2004.
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