TRIBUTES are to be paid this afternoon to Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Dr Ashok Kumar, who died on Monday.

The 53-year-old was found dead in his Middlesbrough home by police after his constituency staff raised the alarm when he failed to attend a meeting in London.

A commemoration ceremony takes place in Guisborough Methodist Church, Westgate, at 2pm today.

The Labour MP, who had represented the area since 1997 when the party swept to power, was discovered in his three-bedroom semi-detached house in Canberra Road, Marton.

His brother, Ravi, who issued a statement on behalf of the family, said: “We would like to thank all the members of the public, the constituency organisation, and his friends and colleagues at Westminster for supporting him and for their tributes.”

Dr Kumar, who was one of only five Asian MPs to be elected since the Second World War, died from a heart condition.

Born in India, Dr Kumar was a research scientist for British Steel before being elected as an MP in 1991. His first stint as an MP lasted a matter of months before he lost his seat in the 1992 General Election, but he was one of the many Labour MPs who took office when the party swept to victory in 1997.

During Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, Dr Kumar was praised by MPs from all parties.

Gordon Brown said: “He was a tenacious campaigner, a passionate advocate for the people of Teesside, and his expertise and his wise counsel will be sorely missed.”

Conservative leader David Cameron said: “He was respected on all sides of the House for his hard work representing a constituency he loved and campaigning for the causes in which he believed.”

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: “He had a reputation as an absolutely first-class local MP.”

The Bishop of Whitby, the Rt Rev Martin Warner, said: “Dr Kumar’s sudden death deprives us of a committed constituency MP. He gained wide respect for his intellect and hard work, and because he understood the importance of the steel industry for the people of Teesside.”

Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday that Labour Party members in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland will have no say in drawing up the shortlist to replace Dr Kumar. As the General Election is likely to be called soon, the party’s national executive committee will be responsibile for the list of candidates.