The former Conservative MP, Sir Julian Critchley, one of the most colourful characters in modern British politics, has died aged 69.
Sir Julian, who fought a long battle against cancer, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday morning, his son, Mr Joshua Critchley, said.
The former MP for Aldershot, who left the Commons at the 1997 general election, never achieved ministerial rank and confessed his disappointment at remaining a backbencher for the duration of his long career in Parliament.
He was MP for Rochester and Chatham from 1959 to 1964, and then became MP for Aldershot for the remainder of his time in the Commons.
Sir Julian was a boyhood friend of Mr Michael Heseltine, whom he supported in the 1990 Tory leadership contest.
The former Aldershot MP was always a keen supporter of the EU and was often dismayed at the attitude of Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister - describing her on one occasion as a "great she-elephant".
His views on Europe eventually led to his departure from the Conservative Party, as a result of his support for unofficial pro-EU Tory candidates at the 1999 European elections.
For some years, Sir Julian had been making more of an impact with his acerbic brand of political journalism than with his contributions at Westminster, the failure of Mr Heseltine to secure the party leadership sealing his fate. He had been an occasional contributor to The Irish Times.
He was knighted by Mr John Major in 1995, three years after he had contracted prostate cancer.
Earlier this year, Sir Julian was diagnosed with bone cancer and doctors also discovered he was suffering from a brain tumour.
His son Joshua said: "The last few months he had gradually lost lucidity, but he died very peacefully yesterday morning and the family were with him."
Julian Michael Gordon Critchley was born on December 8th, 1930 and educated at Shrewsbury, the Sorbonne, and Pembroke College, Oxford. At school, he joined the Labour Party and became something of a boxer of note. But his boxing career came to a sudden end when at the age of 18 he was struck by polio.
The Liberal Democrat leader, Mr Charles Kennedy, paid tribute to Sir Julian. A spokesman for Mr Kennedy said he had been "very saddened" to learn of the former MP's death.
Mr Kennedy added: "Julian was one of those rare creatures who actually made people feel better about politics. He was a great friend and mentor to me. He had that acute understanding of the fact that politics is a serious business, but the politicians to worry about are the ones that take themselves too seriously."
The Tory chairman and former Northern Ireland minister, Mr Michael Ancram, said: "Sir Julian was a colourful Conservative MP over many years, whose wit brought sparkle to the House of Commons. He will be sorely missed and I send my condolences to his family."