Rochdale MP Sir Tony Lloyd dies just days after revealing terminal diagnosis

Rochdale MP Sir Tony Lloyd has died peacefully at home with his family (17 January), just days after revealing his blood cancer developed into an aggressive and untreatable form of leukaemia. 
 

Read more: Rochdale MP Sir Tony Lloyd to spend time with family as blood cancer develops into “aggressive and untreatable form of leukaemia”Published: 11 January 2024

Mr Lloyd, 73, who was first elected as Labour MP for Rochdale in 2017, had been an MP since 1983, first serving for Stretford before Manchester Central. He was also the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner between 2012 and 2017, and the Chair of Parliamentary Labour Party from December 2006 to May 2010.

Mr Lloyd served as Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland between 2018 and 2020, before stepping down to recover from Covid-19, and was previously the Shadow Minister for Housing before that. 

Mr Lloyd had previously been diagnosed with a rare type of blood cancer – a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma known as Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia – and was in remission as of January 2021.

A statement from Tony's family said: "We are absolutely devastated to announce the death of Sir Tony Lloyd MP, our beloved ‘Joe’, ‘Dad’ and ‘Grandad’. He died peacefully this morning surrounded by his family, as was his wish.

"He was working until a few days before his death as his passion was helping others. He devoted his life to serving and making a difference to the lives of those he met including his constituents, colleagues, friends, and family.

"We would like to thank all the dedicated doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants and other hospital staff who have provided him with care, as well as the blood and platelet donors who gave him an extra four years of life.

"Sir Anthony Joseph Lloyd MP 1950-2024, a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. A life well lived.

"May he rest in peace."

 

 

Tributes have been paid to Mr Lloyd, including by Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, and Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Borough Council.

Mr Starmer said: "The death of Sir Tony Lloyd today is a terrible loss.

"I know the entire Labour Party, and many beyond the Party join me in sending our deepest condolences to Tony’s wife, Judith, his children, Siobhan, Angharad, Kieron and Ali, and his granddaughters, Carmen and Carys.

"Like them, we will remember his deep commitment to Labour values and his decency.

"We will always be grateful for his dedication to public life, his devotion to his country and his desire to make the world a better, fairer place.

"In the Labour Party, we will honour his legacy of service to others and his commitment to justice.

"May he rest in peace."

Councillor Neil Emmott, leader of Rochdale Borough Council, said: “The council is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Sir Tony Lloyd and we send our deepest sympathies to his family, colleagues and the huge number of people who knew him as a friend.

“I was lucky enough to count myself amongst that group, as I knew Tony for a long time and will be forever grateful for his comradeship and advice, which was always invaluable to me.

“Today, our country has lost a great politician and campaigner for social justice, who was also a humble, kind and dedicated family man.”

A book of condolence has been opened for people to pay tribute to Sir Tony Lloyd MP.

The book of condolence for Sir Tony is open for tributes on the ground floor of Number One Riverside, Rochdale.

There is also an online book of condolence available on the council web site: www.rochdale.gov.uk/tributes