Multi-Cultural funeral for Bernie Grant

The funeral of Labour MP Bernie Grant is to take place next Tuesday with a multi-cultural celebration of his life, it was announced today.

The black rights champion, who suffered a heart attack and died aged 56 on Saturday, is to be commemorated with a ceremony at London's Alexandra Palace.

The details of the arrangements came as speculation mounted that his wife Sharon - who was also his personal assistant - is to stand for his seat.

A spokesman for the family said she was "very flattered by the suggestion but at the moment is too busy to consider anything other than the funeral arrangements."

However, it is known friends of Mr Grant are urging her to consider standing and Steve King, former deputy Leader of Haringey Council who worked with Mr Grant for 20 years, said: "I for one think she should."

Mr Grant's office said the whole community was welcome at Tuesday's funeral and there will be tributes from all walks of life interspersed with music.

He said: "The occasion will be a multi-cultural celebration of his life. Bernie was a man of the people and his family would like everyone to share in remembering him."

Before the funeral there will be a cortege passing some key sites of Mr Grant's life.

It will leave Haringey Civic Centre where he was the first black leader of a local authority in Europe, passing his Tottenham offices and then go into the Broadwater Farm Estate where he was chairman of the local community centre and worked to improve relations after the riots of the 1980s.

Mr Grant's body will also lie at Freedom Hall, Tottenham Green Leisure Centre between 11am and 4pm on Sunday to allow people to pay their respects.