Boris and Carrie Johnson led tributes to Britain’s nicest MP James Brokenshire who died at 53 after a brave four year battle with lung cancer leaving behind his heartbroken wife and three children.
James Brokenshire, who was a Conservative minister for housing, security and Northern Ireland under David Cameron and Theresa May until he was fired by Boris Johnson in 2019, passed away surrounded by family at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, near to his Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017 despite having never smoked, and eventually had his right lung removed after another setback, and in August he posted a tragic tweet saying his cancer had progressed, along with a photo of him with his wife Cathy. He died yesterday after he was rushed to the hospital on Sunday.
Boris Johnson said today that he was desperately sorry to hear the news, as ministers and MPs from all sides gave tributes including Labour’s Christ Bryant who tweeted that cancer was a b—ard.
The Prime Minister said that James Brokenshire was the nicest, kindest and most humble of politicians but also especially effective and that he served with particular distinction in the Home Office and as Security Minister.
He added that if government needed something done well and quickly, and sensibly explained, James Brokenshire was the man to do it, and that his battle against cancer was fearless, and it was a measure of his resolve that he came back from a first bout with the disease to serve in government again, and that he would be missed by all that knew him, and that their thoughts were with his wife and family.
Boris Johnson’s wife Carrie, who was previously the Tory director of communications, tweeted that their thoughts were with Cathy, his children and all his family and friends and that James was such a kind man, and it was especially sad.
James Brokenshire’s former special advisor Peter Cardwell revealed that he’d seen him in late September, where they danced around his kitchen to Nicky Minaj. He said that Brokey was the best of politics and the best of humanity, and twice his boss and that they’d become like brothers, and that he combined integrity, humanity, diligence and fun like no one else, and that he couldn’t believe he was gone.
This was very sad and he was so incredibly young, and cancer is a terrifying disease, and it has taken this man long before his time – when will they find a cure?
And even though I’m a Labour voter, this is pretty sad because he seemed a decent fella – condolences to a rather decent politician! And it’s good to see that kind tributes have been paid to this man, who was gentle and well-liked and miles apart from the political divide, and at a time like this, it’s good to put rivalries to one side and pull together.
He was a really serious great honest politician and there are so very few of them around these days.
James Brokenshire was a rarity amongst the current crop of politicians we have because he was a man of honour and decency, as well as being well mannered – rest in peace Sir!
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 