Ron Brown, who died on 3 August, 2007, aged 67, was a Scottish Labour MP who gained a reputation within Westminster as an eccentric and outspoken politician.

His rebellious nature led to his suspension from the House of Commons on more than one occasion and his strong left wing views earned him the nickname Red Ron. He won a seat on the Edinburgh Leith constituency in 1979 and for the following decade was a representative of the Scottish Labour Party.

Mr Brown led a fight against the introduction of Poll Tax in the 1980s, and as an active politician he felt obliged to defend public interests.

During the height of his political career he become a close ally to Libyan leader Colonel Gaddafi and campaigned for better relations between Britain and a host of foreign countries including Afghanistan and North Korea.

Ronald Brown was born on 29 June, 1940, in West Pilton, Edinburgh. After being educated at a local technical institute, Brown signed up for national service and also worked as an electrician before moving into politics.

As a member of Edinburgh Town Council during the 1970s he had a tendency to cause a stir and his outspoken views were generally met with firm opposition.

He was regularly suspended from council participation; however Mr Brown’s gesticulations were enough to secure him a seat at the 1979 general election. As MP for Edinburgh Leith he set about ruffling feathers not only in Scotland but also in Westminster.

Arriving in the Commons, he contested a number of issues introduced by the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and had hardly drawn breath in many Commons debates before he was suspended in 1981 for confronting Tory MP Nicholas Fairbairn.

Mr Brown had deemed Nicholas Fairbairn a liar and his inexcusable tirade was followed by a further suspension later in the year for protesting against a local government decision to cut spending.

His ability to cause unrest among the UK’s leading politicians came to a head in 1987 when he grabbed the House of Commons mace and heartily displayed his opposition to poll tax by throwing the mace to the floor.

Unsurprisingly, he was yet again suspended from the Commons and mounting pressure on his political career was growing.

In 1991 Mr Brown was found to have caused extensive damage to a former lover’s home and the Labour Party took drastic action to curtail any further problems he may cause. He was expelled from the Labour Party and fined £1,000 for causing criminal damage, following a court appearance.

He continued to hover around the political arena for the next couple of years and contested his Edinburgh Leith seat as an Independent at the 1992 general election, losing out to Labour MP Malcolm Chisholm.

A competent speaker he became president of the Edinburgh Trade Unions’ Council and while gradually easing himself into political retirement he decided to run for a seat at the 1999 Scottish Socialist Party elections, but was again unsuccessful.

Mr Brown was admitted to hospital in 2005 after suffering major organ failure, an illness which would eventually claim his life two years later.

In a family statement Mr Brown’s son Gavin, said: “He was affectionately dubbed 'Red Ron' by friends and foes alike for his lifelong battle against poverty and injustice. Even in illness he could be seen most Saturdays campaigning or 'chewing the fat' at the Fit o' the Walk. It is here that family plan to place a commemorative bench in his memory.”