Former cabinet minister died at his home in west London surrounded by family members
Press Association
theguardian.com, Friday 14 March 2014 07.10 GMT
The former Labour minister Tony Benn
The former Labour minister Tony Benn smokes his trademark pipe during an anti-war rally in 2007. Photograph: Daniel Berehulak/Getty Images
Veteran Labour politician Tony Benn has died at home at the age of 88, his family said.
The former cabinet minister died on Friday morning at his home in west London surrounded by family members.
In a statement, his children Stephen, Hilary, Melissa and Joshua, said: "It is with great sadness that we announce that our father Tony Benn died peacefully early this morning at his home in west London surrounded by his family.
"We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the NHS staff and carers who have looked after him with such kindness in hospital and at home.
"We will miss above all his love which has sustained us throughout our lives. But we are comforted by the memory of his long, full and inspiring life and so proud of his devotion to helping others as he sought to change the world for the better.
"Arrangements for his funeral will be announced in due course."
More details soon ...