REDDITCH Labour have paid tribute to the life and work of Jack Dromey MP who died last week.

Mr Dromey represented Birmingham Erdington since 2010 following distinguished career as a trade unionist.

He first came to prominence at the time of the Grunwick strike of 1976-77, one of the major industrial disputes of the 1970s and became deputy general secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union.

Bill Hartnett, former leader of Redditch Borough Council, said: “I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Jack Dromey.

“Jack visited Redditch on many occasions, and it was always a pleasure to meet him. He was a kind and gentle man.

“I particularly recall his visit to Walton Close in Winyates when he was Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government. At the time I was Chair of Redditch Co-operative Homes. He came to see our new wooden eco-home development and took time to visit a family in one of the properties.

“Jack is a great loss and will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Our thoughts and sympathies are with his widow Harriet Harman MP, all his family and also with former councillor Mark Shurmer, who was Jack’s personal assistant and case worker for more than ten years. This is a very sad day indeed.”