The Conservative Party have announced the death of long serving MEP Philip Bradbourn from cancer.
The 63 year old, who was first elected to the European Parliament in 1999, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in May, shortly after being reelected, the BBC reports.
Ashley Fox, leader of the Conservative MEPs, described him as a “much loved character who could always be relied on for a robust intervention and a succinct summary of a political point”.
“His no-nonsense approach to politics made him a powerful voice for the West Midlands as well as a resolute defender of the British taxpayers’ interests in Brussels and Strasbourg,” Mr Fox said.
Leader of the UKIP MEPs and former colleague of Mr Bradbourn took to twitter to offer his condolences: