ERIC Forth, the MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, has died.

Mr Forth, who was 61, passed away at Charing Cross Hospital on Wednesday night after doctors discovered that he was suffering from advanced cancer.

The former Shadow Leader of the House of Commons served in both the Thatcher and Major governments. He leaves behind his wife, Carroll, and their two grown-up daughters.

Bob Neill, London Assembly Member for Bromley and Bexley and a friend of the Conservative MP, said: "This is an absolute tragedy. Eric was a good personal friend and a magnificent parliamentarian.

"I greatly appreciated working with him over the years and know at first hand the effort he put into representing his constituents and maintaining the strength of the House of Commons as an institution. Of course my immediate thoughts are with Carol and the family."

Mr Forth was born in Glasgow, on September 9, 1944. He was educated at Jordanhill College School and Glasgow University, where he gained an MA (Hons) in Politics and Economics.

His political career began when he was elected to Brentwood Council in 1968 to 1972.

He stood for Parliament in Barking in 1974 and was elected Member of the European Parliament for Birmingham North from 1979 until 1984.

From 1983 until 1997, Mr Forth was MP for Mid Worcestershire. In 1997, he was elected MP for Bromley and Chislehurst.

He was a devout Thatcherite and loved the House of Commons.

His parliamentary appointments included Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment, from 1990 to 1992; Parliamentary Under Secretary for State for School at the Department of Trade and Industry, from 1992 to 1994; Minister of State at the Department for Education from 1994 to 1995; Minister of State at the Department for Education and Employment from 1995 to 1997; and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, from 2001 to 2003.

David Cameron, Conservative party leader, said: "Eric’s sudden and untimely death has robbed the House of Commons of one of its stars and Bromley and Chislehurst of a great constituency champion. He will be greatly missed by all of us in Parliament."

He added: "We certainly didn’t agree about everything, and the last thing he would want to be described as was a moderniser. Like so many others in the House of Commons, I will miss him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Carroll and his family at this sad time."

Mr Forth’s death will spark a by-election in the Conservative stronghold seat of Bromley and Chislehurst.