<p>Former housing secretary James Brokenshire has died at the age of 53.</p> <p><span>Brokenshire, who was housing secretary from </span><span>April 2018 to July 2019, passed away yesterday (October 7). He was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017 and had been in hospital since Sunday after his condition rapidly deteriorated, his family said.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>Brokenshire began his political career in 2005 as MP for Hornchurch and Rainham until the constituency was abolished in 2010. </span><span>He was then elected the Conservative MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>He was shadow minister for home affairs from 2006 to 2010</span><span>, with his other roles including parliamentary under secretary at the Home Office from May 2010 until February 2014, and Northern Ireland secretary from July 2016 to January 2018.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>In February 2020, Brokenshire was appointed minister of state at the Home Office.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>During his political career, he campaigned on issues including crime, asylum and immigration and keeping healthcare facilities at his local hospital.</span></p><p><span>Brokenshire battled lung cancer for several years, undergoing multiple operations and rounds of chemotherapy. Having been a non-smoker, he had spoken about ending the stigma surrounding lung cancer.</span></p><p></p> <p><span>Stewart Baseley, HBF’s executive chairman, said: “</span><span>I was very sad to hear this terrible news. I enjoyed …