Tributes paid to Parliament Square campaigner Brian Haw

Tributes have been paid to Brian Haw, the Christian campaigner who sat outside the Houses of Parliament for 10 years in protest against the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Mr Haw died on Saturday in Germany where he was being treated for lung cancer, his family said.

The campaigner maintained an unrelenting vigil outside Parliament Square, despite numerous attempts by the local authority to move him off the site.

He was often joined by other protesters but remained instantly recognisable with his signature cap covered in badges promoting peace and love.

Over the years, Haw and his placards became as much of a tourist attraction as Big Ben, although his unrelenting protest took its toll on his family.

Come rain or shine, Haw felt driven to maintain a round-the-clock presence because of the children being killed by Britain's military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“[They are] every bit as valuable and worthy of love as my precious wife and children,” he once said.

“I want to go back to my own kids and look them in the face again, knowing that I’ve done all I can to try and save the children of Iraq and other countries who are dying because of my Government’s unjust, amoral, fear- and money-driven policies.”

His commitment to his cause led him to be voted Most Inspiring Political Figure in 2007 by Channel 4, beating Tony Blair and David Cameron to the accolade.

He only gave up his spot on Parliament Square in the last few weeks of his illness.

A statement by his family said the campaigner had felt “no pain” in passing.

In a statement posted to his website, Haw’s campaign representatives described him as a man of “great determination and courage” who was “relentlessly persecuted by the authorities”.

The Stop the War coalition said in a statement: “Brian's courage and persistence was an inspiration to peace campaigners across the world, and his highly visible encampment became a focus for visitors to London, wishing to register in person their admiration and support.”