LABOUR MP and former top trade unionist Jack Dromey died suddenly in his flat in Birmingham yesterday, his family said.

MPs from across the political spectrum paid tribute to the 73-year-old and offered their condolences to his wife, longstanding Labour politician Harriet Harman.

The father-of-three, who had represented Birmingham Erdington since 2010, is understood to have died of natural causes, having contributed to a Parliament debate as recently as Thursday.

Mr Dromey, who was deputy general secretary of the Unite union before becoming an MP, joined the Labour front bench as shadow housing minister in 2010 under Ed Miliband’s leadership and was shadow immigration minister when he died.

TUC Midlands regional secretary Lee Barron described Mr Dromey as “a towering figure who spent a lifetime campaigning for social justice, dignity and the advancement of working people.”