By Tony Grew - 10th May 2011
The Speaker has led tributes in the House of Commons to David Cairns, the MP for Inverclyde who died yesterday.
Speaker Bercow said he was "a most assiduous member" who was much respected by the House.
He said all MPs will mourn his loss and send condolences to his father and his partner Dermot.
The chancellor George Osborne spoke of his "personal sadness and shock" on learning the news that Cairns, 44, had passed away.
He recalled a fact-finding visit they had made together in the United States and recalled Cairns as principled, gentle and genuinely liked and respected.
Shadow chief secretary Angela Eagle recalled "a great colleague and friend" and recalled the law was changed to allow Cairns, a former Roman Catholic priest, to run for parliament.
Pamela Nash (Lab, Airdrie and Shotts) said Cairns had "provided me with a lot of support and a lot of laughs", while Stewart Hosie (SNP, Dundee East) said he was a rare example of a man "liked and respected across the political divide" in Scotland.
Chief secretary Danny Alexander said Cairns he knew was "a very effective" minister who would be sorely missed.
Cairns passed away at 11 pm last night at the Royal Free, London.
He had been suffering from acute pancreatitis after he was admitted as an emergency patient eight weeks ago.
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