Long-serving MP Dies

Sir Michael, 64, had represented Uxbridge, on the western outskirts of London, since 1972.

He was narrowly re-elected a week ago with a majority of 724 after a swing of almost 13% to Labour.

His friend and colleague, the Tory MP for Staffordshire South, Sir Patrick Cormack, said the news of the death had come as a complete shock.

"It was very sudden," Sir Patrick said. "Obviously it is a shattering blow for us all. We have been close friends for a quarter of a century."

"Sir Michael Shersby had served the people of Uxbridge for almost 25 years and was a dedicated and hard-working constituency MP," said the Tory Party chairman, Brian Mawhinney. "He will be sadly missed by his many friends and colleagues within the Conservative Party."

The Labour MP Tom Pendry was Sir Michael's "pair" in the Commons - which meant they could agree to miss votes without its affecting the result. He said: "I spoke to him only yesterday about the possibility of his becoming Deputy Speaker, which he hoped he would be able to do.

"We served together on Paddington Council in the early Sixties, and when he came into the Commons he and I teamed up to pair.

"He was a true gentleman and a great parliamentarian, and someone that will be missed by Members on all sides. I will miss him in particular. He was a personal friend as well as my opponent."

Sir Michael began his political life in Paddington, London, in 1959. He also served on Westminster City Council and as Deputy Lord Mayor, before being entering the Commons in 1972.

He was briefly a parliamentary private secretary under Sir Edward Heath's government but largely pursued a career as a backbencher.

Sir Michael was three times a member of British parliamentary delegations to the Falkland Islands and in 1989 became a parliamentary adviser to the Police Federation - the union representing ordinary police officers.

The cause of Sir Michael's death is not yet known. He leaves a wife and two children.