Hove MP Peter Kyle has spoken of his grief after losing his partner and mother in the space of just a few days.

In an interview the shadow science secretary spoke about his shock and despair at the sudden loss of his partner, followed by the death of his mum the next day.

Peter said that he was woken up early in the morning to a call from the police to inform him that his partner, Vlastimil Tiser had died.

“My phone hit the floor, I was so agitated,” Peter told The Times.

The couple were not yet married, so there were initial issues with the police about access to Vlas’s body and accounts.

Mr Kyle said to The Times: “They made the decision to give me spousal rights based on our long relationship.

“Their professionalism, tenacity and determination were astonishing. These were hardened investigators, but they all got how horrendous this was and how lovely Vlas had been.”

Vlas had not told his dad or brother in the Czech Republic that he was gay, so Peter wrote an email to a friend in Prague on the day he died, which said they had been flatmates and that Vlas lived a happy life in England.

Peter greeted Vlas’s dad at Heathrow the following day, who flung his arms around him and hugged him tightly. He said something to Peter in Czech, which Vlas’s brother translated: “My dad says, we know everything. You are part of our family now”.

“We were all standing there sobbing,” Peter told The Times.

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Just a day later, Peter received a call from a hospice in Exeter where his mum lived, telling him he should come and say goodbye.

“When I arrived, she was still talking a bit, though a little out of it with morphine. She kept saying ‘Where is Vlas?’. I had to say he had a work event, but she kept on asking,” Peter told The Times.

“2012, the year of the Olympics, one of the best years for many people, was the worst year of my life.”

Some 11 years on from the tragedy, Peter said he has never had another serious relationship.

“Vlas and I were together for eight years: he was the only person I’d ever loved,” he told The Times.

Peter did not say how his partner died for legal reasons and said a suspect was investigated, but no further action was taken due to insufficient evidence at the time, he said.

However, he said the suspect was later convicted for an unrelated incident.

“Justice was eventually done, but it took dogged police work,” Peter said.

Although Peter is not religious, he told The Times: “Sometimes I ask his advice. I know he would be pleased with what I am doing now."