Former Conservative cabinet minister James Brokenshire has died. He was aged 53.

The MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup revealed last August that his lung cancer “had progressed”.

He said he was starting a new course of treatment.

Mr Brokenshire had stepped down from office because his recovery was “taking longer than expected”.

In a statement, Mr Brokenshire’s family said:

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of James Brokenshire MP at the age of 53.

“James died peacefully at Darent Valley Hospital yesterday evening with family members by his bedside.

“He had been in hospital since Sunday after his condition rapidly deteriorated.

“James was not only a brilliant government minister as both Security and Immigration minister at the Home Office and secretary of state at the Northern Ireland Office and Ministry for Housing, Communities & Local Government, but a dedicated constituency MP, first for Hornchurch from 2005 to 2010, and then for Old Bexley & Sidcup for the past 11 years.

“But most importantly, he was a loving father to his three children, a devoted husband to Cathy and a faithful friend to so many.

“We would like to thank all the NHS staff, particularly those at Guy’s & St Thomas’ in London, who cared for James with such warmth, diligence and professionalism over the past three-and-a-half years.

“We would also ask that our privacy as a family is respected at this time.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said Mr Brokenshire was a man of “the highest integrity” and that he will be “greatly missed”.

His cabinet colleague, transport secretary Grant Shapps, added:

“James Brokenshire was quite simply the nicest man in politics.

“A true gentleman.

We will all miss him hugely.

“My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”