Long-serving Manchester MP, Sir Gerald Kaufman, dies aged 86
- Tributes to long-serving Manchester MP Sir Gerald Kaufman have been pouring in
- The MP has died aged 86, after serving Manchester for nearly 50 years as a Member of Parliament
- Manchester City Council is flying the flag at half-mast, a rarity
Sir Gerald Kaufman MP, one of Manchester's longest standing MP's, has died aged 86
The Manchester Town Hall flag is being flown at half mast as a mark of respect to Sir Gerald, who had held the distinction of being the longest-serving MP in the House of Commons -known as the Father of the House – since 2015.
Sir Kaufman has represented Manchester in Parliament for 47 years, as MP for Ardwick 1970-1983 and MP for Gorton 1983-2017.
Liam Culy, 22, a musician from Gorton, paid a fitting tribute to the late MP: "Sad to hear about the passing of Sir Gerald Kaufman. He was a great guy who served the people of Gorton well. A Gorton and Labour legend!
"I met him on a few occasions and he was always incredibly kind and easy to speak to. From 1983 onwards he never lost an election, for the entirety of my life and 11 years prior to my birth, Kaufman was my MP, absolute legend!"
Books of condolence are also being opened at Manchester Town Hall, and Arcadia, Fallowfield, Gorton and Longsight libraries for those who want to pay tribute with an online version here.
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester has lost a great friend and the people of Gorton a great servant with the sad passing of Sir Gerald Kaufman. He has had a remarkable parliamentary career championing his constituency and city and it is only fitting that we pay appropriate tribute to him.
“Flying the flag at half mast is a rare honour but it reflects his stature serving Manchester people over almost half a century.”
Sir Kaufman was a long-standing critic of Israel's occupation of Palestine.