Ed Miliband pays tribute to Paul Goggins as mourners gather for the former minister's funeral Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East and ex-minister died last week He collapsed while out jogging over Christmas a week earlier Mourners included shadow ministers Yvette Cooper, Ed Balls and Andy Burnham, Tory minister John Hayes and Lib Dem Sir Menzies Campbell Former minister Paul Goggins was today hailed by Labour leader Ed Miliband as "one of our best" as mourners gathered for his funeral. Mr Goggins, a former Northern Ireland and Home Office minister, died last week after collapsing while out jogging over Christmas. Dozens of family, friends and politicians gathered for the funeral service at Salford Cathedral, including Mr Miliband, shadow ministers Ed Balls, Yvette Cooper and Andy Burnham and Commons Speaker John Bercow. The order of service and a family tribute at the funeral service of Labour MP Paul Goggins in Salford The coffin of MP Paul Goggins is carried into Salford Cathedral followed by mourners Mr Goggins died last Tuesday after collapsing while out jogging on December 30 Mr Goggins, 60, was rushed to hospital after falling ill near his Salford home on December 30, where doctors diagnosed a brain haemorrhage. He was placed on a life support machine but died last Tuesday night, with his family at his bedside. He leaves behind his wife of 36 years, Wyn, 59, and three children, Matthew, 33, Theresa, 31, and Dominic, 28. Only family members spoke during today's service, but in speaking earlier Mr Miliband paid tribute to the late MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East in Greater Manchester. Labour leader Ed Miliband hailed Paul Goggins as 'one of our own' ahead of the funeral service, also attended by hadow chancellor Ed Balls and wife, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper Shadow health Secretary Andy Burnham, who like Mr Goggins is a Greater Manchester MP, appeared emotional outside Salford Cathedral Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, arrives for the funeral with Speaker's Chaplain Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin and (right) former Home Secretary David Blunkett Mr Miliband said: "Paul was a family man, a man of deep faith and one of the kindest, most decent people I have ever had the privilege of meeting. A life-long member of the Labour Party, his deeply-held principles and firm conviction shone throughout his career as social worker, councillor, MP and minister. He earned the respect, trust and affection of all communities while serving as a minister for Northern Ireland. He was one of our own and one of our best. My deepest condolences - and those of the entire Labour movement - go to his wife, Wyn, to his children, Matthew, Theresa and Dominic. John Hayes, minister without portfolio, represented Prime Minister David Cameron at the funeral and Graham Brady, Conservative MP for Altrincham and Sale West, also attended. Senior figures from the last Labour government attended, including former Culture Secretary Dame Tessa Jowell (left) and former Communities Secretary Hazel Blears Cross-party: Minister without portfolio John Hayes, left, repesented David Cameron at the service, joined by Tory MP Graham Brady (rear), Labour former Home Secretary Jack Straw and former Welsh Secretary Peter Hain (right) Home affairs select committee chairman Keith Vaz (left) andfFormer Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell Mr Goggins, who held the Greater Manchester seat of Wythenshawe and Sale East with a majority of 7,575 in 2010, served as minister of state for Northern Ireland and had previously been in the Home Office. As a young man, Mr Goggins studied at a Roman Catholic seminary but decided against entering the priesthood. Instead he became a social worker before being elected as MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East in 1997. He quickly became widely liked and admired by both colleagues and constituents for his dedicated work and served in a number of posts in Westminster, including at the Home Office and as Northern Ireland minister. Mr Goggins was also well-known as a keen runner and fundraiser and campaigned for compensation for the victims of asbestos-caused cancer. Mr Goggins also co-founded the all party parliamentary group Friends of Cafod and was an unpaid board member at the Catholic aid agency for England and Wales between 1998 and 2003.