Piara Khabra MP Dies

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Ealing Southall MP was oldest member of the house

Piara Khabra who represented the Ealing Southall constituency at Westminster has died aged 82.

He had been admitted to Hammersmith Hospital with liver problems.

The Labour MP was due to stand down at the next election having represented the constituency since 1992. He was the oldest MP in the Commons. The all-woman shortlist for his replacement has been a source of controversy.

He was born in the Punjab region of India and served in the Indian army during the war. He came to England in 1959 and worked as a teacher and social wroker. He became a Labour councillor as well as a prominent member of the Indian Workers' Association in Southall.

A by-election will be held in the seat which is a Labour stronghold.

June 20, 2007