A VETERAN Labour peer has died a week after being knocked off his mobility scooter outside Parliament.

Lord Tom Taylor of Blackburn was hurt after being struck by a van just on Wednesday last week outside the House of Lords.

The 87-year-old former council leader was taken to hospital where his condition was originally described as ‘stable’.

Lord Taylor became a member of Blackburn Council in 1954 and was its leader from 1972 to 1976.

He became a businessman after being made a life peer in 1978.

He was given an OBE in 1969 and a CBE in 1974.

Baroness Angela Smith of Basildon, Labour's leader in the House of Lords, said: "Tom Taylor had a life-long commitment to the Labour Party, through both local government and Parliament, and was held in high regard and with great affection by his party colleagues.

“He was also actively involved for many years in the education and higher education sectors.

"Tom was a committed member of the House of Lords right through to the tragic circumstances which led to his death.

“We in the Labour peers group are very sad and will miss him dearly. And I'm sure many others around Parliament will miss him too."