Brian haw, the anti-war campaigner who protested in Parliament Square for 10 years, had dies of lung cancer aged 62.
Haw had been battling lung cancer for some time and was in Germany receiving treatment when he died on Saturday.
A statement from his family on brianhaw.tv, said: “It is with deepest regret that I inform you that our father, Brian, passed away this (Saturday) morning.”
Brian Haw with his collection of hard-hitting anti-war posters.
Haw became an iconic figure in London with his ramshackle collection of tents and placards outside the Houses of Parliament. Public opinion was divided between those who thought he was a hero and those (stand up Boris Johnson) who considered him a nusciance.
Although there had been repeated attempts to evict him from Parliament Square, Haw refused to budge and spent 10 years in a protest against the war in Iraq and later Afghanistan.
Along with a display of shocking images showing casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan, Haw was equipped with a megaphone through which he could make known his anger at government policy, although he was limited to using it only during certain hours.
Haw was banned from using his megaphone during certain times.
Haw leaves behind him seven children and yesterday his family paid tribute, saying:
“It is with deepest regret that I inform you that our father, Brian, passed away this morning.
“As you know he was battling lung cancer, and was having treatment in Germany.
“He left us in his sleep and in no pain, after a long, hard fight.”
Brian Haw had many high-profile supporters including Tony Benn.
In his youth, Haw joined the merchant navy and worked as a carpenter.
However Haw had strong convictions about right and wrong and his evangelical Christian faith led him to try and help others.
Haw eventually left his family to campaign for those suffering in war zones.
“I want to go back to my own kids and look them in the face again, knowing that I’ve done all I can to try and save the children of Iraq and other countries who are dying because of my Government’s unjust, amoral, fear- and money-driven policies,” he said.
“These children and people of other countries are every bit as valuable and worthy of love as my precious wife and children.”
Brian Haw's Peace Camp stuck it out in Parliament Square through harsh winters.
There have been repeated legal attempts to remove Haw and his follow protesters from Parliament Square and this year the Greater London Authority successfully got permission to evict him from the grass area at the centre of Parliament Square.
The peace Camp then moved onto the pavement, but Westminster Council is due later this year to go to court to try to get the demonstrators moved from here too.
However other protesters have vowed to take Haw’s place and continue his anti-war vigil.
Fellow members of the Parliament Square Peace Campaign said that the authorities should take some responsibility for Haw’s deteriorated health.
“Brian showed great determination and courage during the many long hard years he led his Peace Campaign in Parliament Square, during which it is well documented that he was relentlessly persecuted by the authorities which eventually took its toll on his health, they said in a statement.
“Parliament, the police, and courts etc, should forever be ashamed of their disgraceful behaviour towards Brian.”
Tributes to Haw have flooded Twitter.
JohnEdginton said: “A Brian Haw statue would be a fitting tribute. A permanent protest and reminder to politicians that we the people aint going nowhere.”
“RIP peace campaigner Brian Haw: a man of principle,” wrote LibertyLndnGirl.
While Willhide tweeted: “Don't necessarily agree with all Brian Haw stood for, but you've got to admire a passionate individual who sticks by his guns. RIP.”
RIP Brian Haw.
