Tributes paid to ex-MP 'Red Ron'

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Mr Brown, who represented Edinburgh's Leith constituency from 1979-1987, died of liver failure at the city's Royal Infirmary.

The death of the left-wing politician followed a long battle with illness.

The Labour rebel was famous for breaking the House of Commons mace during a poll tax debate in 1987.

A statement on behalf of the family said: "He will be greatly missed not only by family and friends but by the many socialists and ordinary people whose lives he touched."

Born in West Pilton, the man dubbed "Red Ron" worked for the Electricity Board before working as a councillor for Leith from 1974-1979.

He was involved in the founding of Scotland's Anti-Poll Tax campaign.

In later life he worked as chairman of the Edinburgh Trades Council and lent his support to the Scottish Socialist Party.

Scottish Socialist Party convener Colin Fox said the politician's belief in working people and their determination to change the world "inspired us all".

Mr Fox said: "Say what you like about Ron Brown but he held true to his socialist principles to the very end. Very few of those Labour MPs he sat beside at Westminster between 1979 and 1987 can say that."