Dennis Skinner at 80

Dennis Skinner photographed at Portcullis House in Westminster for The Observer on 10 February 2012 Photograph: Harry Borden

Dennis Skinner peeps out from amidst the wives of striking Derbyshire miners as they hand in a letter to the Coal Board in Hobart Place, London on 18 January 1972 Photograph: Evening Standard/Getty Images

Dennis Skinner MP joins an anti-apartheid demonstration on 30 October 1974 Photograph: Evening Standard/Getty Images

Dennis Skinner at a picket in Greenwich, London, on 23 June 1977 Photograph: Observer

Dennis Skinner and Neil Kinnock, MP for Bedwelty remain in the Commons during the Queens Speech on 3 November 1977 Photograph: Fox Photos/Getty Images

Dennis Skinner at a print workers' protest in London Photograph: Rex Features

Dennis Skinner at a demonstration in London in support of the miners Photograph: Steve Eason/Getty Images

Tony Benn, Arthur Scargill And Dennis Skinner at a Miners Protest March In London on 21 October 1992
Photograph: Steve Back/Daily Mail/Rex Features

Dennis Skinner in full flow at the Labour party conference in Blackpool on 15 June 1994 Photograph: Nils Jorgensen / Rex Features

From left: John Monks, the TUC general secretary, Dennis Skinner and Bill Morris (TUC president) at the Tolpuddle martyrs rally in Dorset on 15 June 2001 Photograph: IAN PATRICK / Rex Features

Prime Minister Tony Blair with Michael Foot and Dennis Skinner at the unveiling of the bust of the former prime minister Jim Callaghan on 15 May 2002
Photograph: PA

Prime Minister Tony Blair remarks upon Dennis Skinner's footwear at the memorial service for former prime minister, Lord James Callaghan and his wife at Westminster Abbey on 28 July 2005 Photograph: ZZ / GXT / GXN / Rex Features

Dennis Skinner still dishing it out during Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons on 13 May 2009
Photograph: PA

Dennis Skinner photographed at Portcullis House for The Observer on 10 February 2012 Photograph: Harry Borden