MPs are in mourning for their colleague David Cairns, who died last night.
Cairns, 44, was Labour MP for Inverclyde.
The Scottish Labour Party issued a statement today: "It is with great regret that we have to announce that David Cairns, Member of Parliament for Inverclyde, passed away at 11 pm last night at the Royal Free, London.
"David had been suffering from acute pancreatitis after he was admitted as an emergency patient eight weeks ago. Our thoughts are with his partner Dermot, his father John, his brother Billy and all his many friends and family. David’s untimely death is a huge loss to parliament and politics in this country."
MPs have expressed their shock at his death on Twitter.
Kevin Brennan called him "the loveliest and funniest of men".
Pamela Nash said she is "devestated by the death of my friend ... only consoled by him squeezing more into his 44 years than most could do in 10 lifetimes".
In a tribute published online Tom Harris said: "David was one of my closest friends, inside or outside politics. He was incredibly clever and funny and loyal. I can’t believe I will never see him again. And I dread how much I’m going to miss him."
Ed Miliband, Leader of the Labour Party, said: "David will be missed beyond measure as a former minister, as an MP, as a friend and a colleague by many people and my heart especially goes out to his partner Dermot and his family in Scotland.
"David was an immensely talented Member of Parliament who campaigned diligently on behalf of his constituents in Greenock and Inverclyde.
"A highly effective Minister of State in the Scottish Office, he was Labour through and through and yet was much-respected across the political divide.
"He was also a man with a wide hinterland. As a former Catholic priest he brought a sensitive understanding of others and a ready wit to politics and he never shied away from saying what he believed to be true. The Labour Party will miss him profoundly. He was a good man."
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