Sad news.
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8568583.stm
He was a very well-respected scientific researcher before he was a politician. He provided a very useful scientific perspective on legislation - a perspective which is all too lacking amongst the rafts of lawyers which tend to dominate all parties.
Whilst I don't agree with his politics, by all accounts he was a very popular and decent constituency MP.
RIP, and my thoughts go out to his family.