VETERAN Labour left MP Michael Meacher died yesterday aged 75, following a short illness.
An ally of the late Tony Benn, Mr Meacher was a member of the Socialist Campaign Group of left-wing Labour MPs.
His green campaigning, including attacks on genetically modified (GM) food, were an increasing thorn in the side of former Labour PM Tony Blair.
One of Mr Meacher’s proudest achievements as environment minister was the extension of the right to roam, which opened vast swathes of land in England and Wales to walkers.
Micheal Meacher was one of 36 Labour MPs to nominate Jeremy Corbyn as a candidate for the Labour leadership after Ed Miliband stepped down in May.
In support of the Jeremy Corbyn, Meacher hailed his victory as giving the Labour right wing “a very real threat that they’ve not encountered for the last 30 years.”
He also called for Lord Mandelson to be thrown out of the party for urging Mr Corbyn’s overthrow.
Paying his respects, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: “Michael Meacher dedicated his life to the Labour Party and all that we stand for.
Jeremy Corbyn said “Had Michael’s calls for banking regulation been properly heeded, we might have been in a very different place”
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey described Mr Meacher as “a tremendous figure in the labour movement” and “a true friend of the trade union movement.”
Friends of the Earth head Craig Bennett said: “As environment minister, he really understood the issues and fought hard for them, often in challenging political circumstances.”
Micheal Meacher increased his majority in May’s general election to 14,738.
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