Tributes as 'principled and dedicated' former Greater Manchester MP dies aged 85

Tributes are being paid to a 'principled and dedicated' former Greater Manchester MP who has sadly died aged 85.

Andrew Bennett was first elected to Parliament in February, 1974, in the Stockport North constituency, having initially contested the Knutsford seat in Cheshire for the Labour Party in 1970.

He was then elected as MP for Denton and Reddish in 1983, serving on the Labour frontbench as Shadow Education and Science Minister.

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Mr Bennett, a former teacher who lived in Stockport, retired at the 2005 general election, with sitting MP Andrew Gwynne holding the constituency for Labour. His family revealed he passed away on Sunday morning after a short illness.

His daughter, Professor Kate Bennett, paid tribute to a 'lovely, principled MP who stood up for what he believed was right'.

She said: "He instilled in me a strong sense of social justice and a determination to fight for what is right."

Mr Bennett's family said he was joint chair of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee, then served as chair of the Transport, Local Government and the Regions Select Committee, positions they said that were of huge importance to him.

Prof Bennett said he was always willing to rebel when he felt the Government or the party were in the wrong, with the family citing examples as restrictions of civil liberties and the Iraq war.

The father-of-three also championed equal opportunities, spoke out against Section 28, part of the Local Government Act 1988 that prohibited local authorities from promoting homosexuality, and was involved in the 'right to roam' legislation.

"He was a dedicated constituency MP, and his children find themselves bumping into people all over the world who he had helped," said a family spokesperson.

"Outside of politics he was President of the Ramblers Association and was made an honorary member of the association, which meant so much to him, in 1989."

Happily married to his wife Gillian for 62 years, who passed away last December, Mr Bennett leaves sister Bronwen, children Kate, Matthew and Lee and seven grandchildren.