HE WAS a politician who was always prepared for a battle.

Whether it was in the corridors of power in Mirfield, Kirklees or Europe Tom Megahy was prepared to fight for what he believed was right.

But he was also a politician who commanded respect from both his colleagues and his enemies.

Mr Megahy, of Mirfield, died on October 5 at his home after a long illness.

He was best known for his work over two decades as a Euro-MP, representing the Yorkshire South-West constituency which included Huddersfield.

But his political path had much more humble beginnings in Mirfield where, for a time, he was the only Labour member on the council.

Mr Megahy, 79, was born in Wishaw near Glasgow, but moved to Mirfield in the early 1950s after two years in the Royal Navy.

He had earned a BSc degree at London University and later studied at Ruskin College, Oxford.

He then became a lecturer in English and general studies at Huddersfield’s Ramsden Technical College. He then moved to a lecturing post at Park Lane College in Leeds, teaching government studies.

It was at that time that he also had another battle, against polio. He contracted the disease in 1958 but beat it, although he was left with a limp.

He had been a Labour Party member since 1950 and was elected to Mirfield Council in 1963, representing the Battyeford ward.

In 1968 he became chairman of Mirfield Council and then stepped up to the newly-formed Kirklees Council.

He had been appointed leader of the Labour group a year before reorganisation in 1974 and served until 1978. He was leader of the council from its inception until 1976, when the Tories took control and he was succeeded by the late Tom Cliffe.

He then switched his attention to Brussels and spent two decades as a Euro-MP, serving as VicepPresident of the European Parliament for two years.

Mr Megahy, who was involved in numerous local and regional organisations, was described as “a lifelong socialist and humanitarian”.

He leaves a widow, children and grandchildren.

His funeral was held yesterday at Dewsbury yesterday.