Keir Starmer has led tributes to the former Great Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell, who has died aged 86.
Mitchell was a colourful figure who represented the north-east Lincolnshire port for 38 years, from 1977 to 2015, after a career in TV during the 1970s.
After his death on Tuesday, the Labour leader said: “Austin served his constituency of Great Grimsby with remarkable commitment for 38 years. There are few MPs whose dedication to their constituents would translate into changing their surname to Haddock to promote local industry.
“His big sense of humour was matched by his deep Labour values. My thoughts are with his wife, Linda, and his children.”
Mitchell was a well-known reporter and presenter with ITV’s Calendar regional news programme for many years before winning a byelection in Grimsby in 1977.
The former Labour MP Melanie Onn, who succeeded Mitchell in the Great Grimsby seat in 2015, said: “Austin will be greatly missed by many in Grimsby’s Labour family and across the town where he was taken from the TV screen into the hearts of local people, always ready with a camera and amusing anecdote.
“He was a larger-than-life character, secured lost pensions compensation for the last generation of Grimsby’s fishermen and was a vociferous opponent of council housing stock transfers to arms-length management organisations.
“Not without controversy, he will most likely be remembered as the MP who changed his name to Austin Haddock but equally he was a tireless champion of the people and town of Grimsby, never forgetting who he was there to represent.
“On a personal level, Austin was unfailingly supportive to me as a new MP, still a bruising advocate of the Labour party and gave his time, advice and expertise generously. It was a pleasure to get to know him and I send my heartfelt condolences to Linda, his family and close friends for their loss.”
Many of those remembering Mitchell recalled his most famous moment as a TV presenter when, in 1974, he chaired a prickly encounter between the former Leeds United managers Don Revie and Brian Clough.
The former Downing Street director of communications Alastair Campbell tweeted: “Sorry to hear of the death of Austin Mitchell. Great contact when I was a journo and great company when I was with Labour, even when we disagreed.
“Best known of course as an MP but a place in history as TV Interviewer who did the ‘real life’ Brian Clough-Don Revie interview immortalised in Damned United. RIP.”
The Great Grimsby Labour party said: “His passion for Grimsby knew no bounds. His good humour, kind nature and booming laugh will never be forgotten in our town or our party.”