Councillor Graeme Miller – Leader of Sunderland City Council and Labour Group:

We are all incredibly shocked and saddened to learn of Geoff’s death.

As the City’s Council Cabinet member for Healthy City, with his lead on public health and adult social care, and a member of the city’s Outbreak Control Board, Geoff was playing a key role at the forefront of our fight against Covid-19.

He was passionate about his politics, our city and, as a socialist, he believed there were many wrongs that needed correcting.

Geoff carried his beliefs into all his work for residents in Shiney Row and across Sunderland. He was a great councillor and an even better human being and will be sorely missed by all.

I know his colleagues in the Labour Party, across the council and the city are devastated and deeply shocked at such a sudden and tragic loss.

We stood shoulder to shoulder with Geoff in his beliefs, ambitions and desire to change things for the better, and we will honour Geoff’s memory by continuing to fight for the causes he believed were right and against the injustices he so vehemently opposed.

Personally, and on behalf of so many, our thoughts are with his family and all of his friends at this sad time.