TORY leader David Cameron's six-year-old disabled son Ivan died early today.
Ivan, who suffered from cerebral palsy and a rare and severe epilepsy syndrome, was taken ill overnight and died at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London.
The Steamie, Gerri Peev: Sad day at WestminsterIt is understood Mr Cameron and his wife Samantha were with him when he died.
He was the couple's eldest child and had required round-the-clock care all his life.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: "It is with great sadness that David and Samantha Cameron must confirm the death of their six-year-old son Ivan.
"Ivan, who suffered from cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy, was taken ill overnight and died at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, early this morning.
"David and Samantha would ask that their privacy is respected at this terribly difficult time."
Mr and Mrs Cameron have two other children, Nancy, five, and Arthur, three.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown, whose own daughter Jennifer Jane was born prematurely and died just 10 days later in 2002, sent a private message of condolence to the Camerons with his wife Sarah.
Mr Brown, whose son Fraser suffers from cystic fibrosis, said in a statement: "Sarah and I were very saddened to hear of the death of Ivan and we have sent our condolences to David and Samantha.
"The death of a child is a loss no parent should have to bear.
"I know Ivan was a child who brought joy to all those who knew him and his was a life surrounded by love.
"The thoughts and prayers of the whole country are with David, Samantha and their family."
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg, whose wife gave birth to their third son at the weekend, said: "My heart goes out to David and Samantha at this incredibly difficult time for them and their family."
Ivan was born at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in London on April 8 2002.
He suffered his first seizure within weeks and was in and out of hospitals all of his life.
Ivan was diagnosed with Ohtahara Syndrome – a very rare epilepsy syndrome that occurs in childhood.
Describing how he learnt of his son's illness, Mr Cameron once said: "It hits you like a freight train because all the expectations you have for your child change immediately."
Friends have previously attributed Mr Cameron's modernising leadership of the Conservatives to the NHS care Ivan received.
The illness has also helped the Tory leader realise that there is more to life than politics, they have said.
Mr Cameron was scheduled to attend Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons today, but Mr Brown swiftly offered to suspend the usual exchanges.
A Conservative Party spokesman said: "Number 10 contacted David Cameron's office and offered to suspend PMQs. We at the time were preparing for PMQs with William Hague but we have gratefully accepted Gordon Brown's offer."
Instead, MPs in the Commons heard brief statements from Gordon Brown, shadow foreign secretary William Hague and Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable.
The House then adjourned until 12.30.
Suspension of normal Commons business usually follows only the death of a party leader or former premier.
The Prime Minister also cancelled a No 10 dinner tonight to mark the unveiling of a portrait of Baroness Thatcher which Mr Cameron had been scheduled to attend.
In a statement to the House of Commons in place of the suspended Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Brown told MPs: "I know that in his all too brief life, (Ivan) brought joy to all those around him and I know that for all the days of his life he was surrounded by his family's love.
"Every child is precious and irreplaceable and the death of a child is an unbearable sorrow that no parent should have to endure."
Mr Brown said he and wife Sarah had sent their condolences to Mr and Mrs Cameron and knew that the thoughts and prayers of the whole country were with the Cameron family.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague, standing in for Mr Cameron at the despatch box, thanked Mr Brown for his "heartfelt" comments and for his decision to suspend PMQs.
Mr Hague told MPs he had spoken to Mr Cameron today, who wanted to pass on the family's thanks for their messages of condolence and say how "hugely grateful" they are to the NHS staff who have helped Ivan throughout his life.
Mr Hague said: "Ivan's six years of life were not easy ones. His parents lived with the knowledge for a long time that he could die young, but this has made their loss no less heart-breaking...
"Ivan suffered much in his short life, but he brought joy and love to those around him and, as David himself has said in the past, for him and Samantha he will always be their beautiful boy."
