Bernie Grant, one of Britain's first black MPs and a pioneer in the fight against racial prejudice, died yesterday from a heart attack in the Middlesex Hospital, central London, at the age of 56. Bernie Grant, one of Britain's first black MPs and a pioneer in the fight against racial prejudice, died yesterday from a heart attack in the Middlesex Hospital, central London, at the age of 56. Mr Grant, who had suffered from poor health for several years, paved the way for ethnic minorities in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said in a tribute: "Bernie was an inspiration to black people throughout the country. One day I hope it will be commonplace to have black and Asian MPs at Westminster. When that happens, it will in no small measure be a tribute to Bernie Grant and the inspirational lead he gave."Mr Grant came to prominence as leader of Haringey Council in north London at the time of the Broadwater Farm riot in 1985. His comment, after the murder of PC Keith Blakelock, that "the police got a bloody good hiding" was widely criticised. The then Home Secretary, Douglas Hurd, called him "a high priest of racial conflict".But sticking to his guns was what Grant was to become famous for, and the loyalty he commanded in Tottenham ensured his election as the constituency's MP in 1987.

In the Commons, he championed the rights of blacks, but was never predictable in his views, and would criticise his own party if he thought it was deserved.Labour's general secretary, Margaret McDonagh, said yesterday: "The most striking thing about Bernie was his humanity. He treated everybody he met with the greatest respect, and people responded to that warmth."He leaves his wife, Sharon, and three sons. Last night Mrs Grant said: "We have lost a great fighter and a champion of justice for oppressed people everywhere He had a huge heart and I guess that he just wore it out.". Gateshead, on the south bank of the River Tyne, is the most efficient council in England according to an exclusive survey for the Independent on Sunday. Gateshead, on the south bank of the River Tyne, is the most efficient council in England according to an exclusive survey for the Independent on Sunday. Nearby Sunderland is second, while neighbouring South Tyneside comes in third to complete a remarkable threesome for the North-east. Their success may finally dispel the region's reputation for corruption and inefficiency - one that has stuck since the Poulson scandals of the 1970s.The clean sweep for Tyneside is a notable achievement given that they are not wealthy "leafy suburb" councils and are, in part, areas of high unemployment and deprivation.The worst performing council is the London borough of Hackney, closely followed by Lambeth, also in London, and Liverpool.The Independent on Sunday's league table is based on the way councils deliver a wide range of services and is a useful guide to voters going to the polls in the local council elections on 4 May. The figures themselves are compiled annually by the Audit Commission, the local government watchdog.Peter Chowney a former audit commissioner and now freelance consultant said: "While there may be local circumstances that contribute to poor performance in a particular council, there are big differences between similar, neighbouring councils."Why, for example, does Wyre Forest come out top of the district councils, but neighbouring Bromsgrove come 156th? Why does East Lindsey in Lincolnshire come fifth, but West Lindsey come 184th? Councils that perform badly compared with their neighbours should ask themselves if special local circumstances have led to this, or whether they really are just inefficient."The Government requires councils to compile and publish a large number of "performance indicators".

These reveal how good each council is in delivering key services, from looking after the elderly through to how quickly they answer the phone and reply to complaints.Peter Chowney said: "The survey shows the relative performance of councils compared with each other. What is really interesting is that urban, inner city councils can, and in many cases do, out-perform councils in suburban and rural areas. And it explodes the myth that councils in poorer areas cannot perform well."The variations between similar councils remain frightening. Be careful of where you eat out in Hillingdon as the council's performance at checking out restaurants and cafés for hygiene risks is appalling. It manages to inspect just over 10 per cent of high-risk premises due for a visit. Many councils manage 100 per cent.Moving children in care from home to home is considered bad practice. One indicator shows the percentage of children moved three times or more in a year.

Rutland has the worst figure, with 57 per cent of looked-after children in this category. But it defends itself by pointing out that as a very small authority it deals with a small number of children."These figures were affected by two children who were difficult to place They were asylum seeker children of Muslim background. We placed them with Muslim families but that was not successful and we have had to move them around," said Keith Franklin, the council's director of Social Services and Housing.Children with special educational needs are entitled to "statements", the formal descriptions of their requirements, within 18 weeks of their first assessment. But only a small minority of unitary and county councils - five out of 135 - was able to meet this target.