During his time out of parliament, he worked as a supply teacher and market trader, developing a stronger, more community-oriented reputation.
In the 1992 Labour Party leadership election, which followed the resignation of Kinnock, he voted for Bryan Gould, seen as the left-wing candidate.
His constituency work, especially on immigration and benefit problems, won him strong personal support among local voters.
Labour party chairman Ian McCartney described him as "a hard-working and dedicated member of parliament who spoke up for his Leicester constituents and did a great deal to help to transform their communities and the opportunities open to them."
Marshall died suddenly and unexpectedly of a heart attack, precipitating a by-election dominated by the invasion of Iraq (which he had opposed).