Veteran Labour MP dies

A FIFTH parliamentary by- election was pending yesterday after the death of Ron Leighton, a veteran anti-EC Labour backbencher. Mr Leighton, a former printer, had a majority of 9,986 at the last election in his Newham North East seat.

Senior Labour sources said it was likely that by-elections in four Labour safe seats and one Tory seat would be delayed until 9 June, the date of the European elections.

Mr Leighton, 64, is believed to have died of a heart attack at his London flat. He was chairman of the cross-party Commons Select Committee on Employment for eight years.

Obituary, page 30