Mr Dobson also represented Holborn and St Pancras for 36 years, after stepping down at the 2015 general election. He died on Monday night. A statement from his family said: “The Dobson family is sad to announce the death of Frank Dobson, former MP for Holborn and St Pancras and Secretary of State for Health.

“His family would like to thank all the staff at the Homerton University Hospital for their outstanding expertise, commitment and care in the last few months and also the staff of York Hospital for his previous excellent care.

“He also greatly appreciated the support of his many friends and former parliamentary colleagues.”

Tributes have already started to pour in for the “thoughtful” former politican. 

Jason Beattie, head of campaigns at The Daily Mirror, wrote on Twitter: “This is very sad. When there was a round of redundancies at the Mirror a few years ago Frank rang our office to check we were OK.

“Thoughtful, ribald and learned. Could switch from telling blue jokes to quoting Shakespeare in a blink of an eye.”

The Yorkshire-born politician resigned from the House of Commons four years ago.

He was replaced by Sir Keir Starmer, now the shadow Brexit secretary.

The former leader of Camden Council was Labour’s candidate at the mayoral election in 2000 having been persuaded to go for the newly-created job by Mr Blair.

Mr Dobson came third, losing out to then-Independent Ken Livingstone. Tory Steve Norris came second.

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