Community Union General Secretary Michael J. Leahy OBE said:
Community Union is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Ashok Kumar. As an MP we know he was working flat out to find a long term solution for Teesside Cast Products and prevent mothballing. Very recently he organised a Parliament Debate on the subject and put a compelling emotional case alongside a razor sharp business case to save TCP - a place he worked for many years.
He was an excellent community champion for the people of Middlesbrough and Cleveland, a friend to the union and its members. As a scientist, MP and Teesside resident he was fully committed to the Steel industry and its future in the UK.
He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his family.
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