His son, Chris Perry, said his father's last words were: "How's Blair doing?"

Mr Perry left Parliament in 1979, alleging persecution at the hands of left-wingers in his constituency.

He had held the seat of Wandsworth and Battersea South since 1964.

Mr Perry was considered a moderate within the Labour Party, far more in tune with the modernising impulses of Prime Minister Tony Blair than the leadership of the time.

While still an MP, he came out in favour of rail privatisation, insisting poor service and high prices could only be improved by a sell-off.

A life-long Labour supporter, he went to London County Council schools and served in the Royal Artillery in India and Burma during the war, reaching the rank of troop sergeant.

He became Mayor of Battersea in 1955-56 and also served as president of the Battersea Labour Party and Trades Council from 1952 to 1964.

He held the post of whip in both government and opposition from 1968 until 1975.