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Dunwoody, the battling MP who stood up to Labour, dies
Dick Murray and Valentine Low18 Apr 2008
Gwyneth Dunwoody, the longest-serving female Labour MP who has died aged 77, was hailed today as a champion of the railways who was prepared to stand up to her own party to defend her beliefs.
Keith Norman, general secretary of Aslef the train drivers' union, said: "The railways have lost a true champion. She was the most staunch critic of government policies when she felt it necessary whether they concerned the railways or the Tube. But there was never, ever, any doubt of her absolute loyalty to Labour."
Mr Norman added: "The whole transport industry will unite in sorrow over her passing."
Former Labour MP Tony Benn said: "She was an independent-minded woman who always spoke her mind and will be badly missed."
Labour MP and former minister Frank Field said Ms Dunwoody appealed to voters at a time when MPs "don't have a high standing".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "She was one of the more acceptable faces of politicians presented to voters in the country."
It is understood Ms Dunwoody, who had been ill for a week, died after suffering a stroke yesterday evening. Her son David Dunwoody said his mother was a "wonderful woman" who stood up for the truth. He said she died "peacefully-in a gentle and calm way" adding: "She was a woman who stood up and said what she believed was true and defended those who did not have many people to defend them."
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: "So many people will be so sad to hear of the death of Gwyneth Dunwoody. She was always her own person. She was fiercely independent. She was politics at its best - a great parliamentarian."
Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the Labour Party and leader of the House of Commons, said: "Gwyneth is a great loss. She was an outstanding politician and a champion in the fight for social justice. I will sorely miss her. We shall not see her like again." Born in Fulham in 1930, Ms Dunwoody came from a family with a tradition of political activism. Her father Morgan Phillips was general secretary of the Labour Party. Her mother was a minister in the House of Lords and later became Lord Lieutenant of London.
She first entered Parliament as the MP for Exeter in 1966. From 1967 she was a minister on the former Board of Trade, before losing her seat in 1970. For the next four years she was director of the Film Production Association of Great Britain before rejoining Parliament as the MP for Crewe in 1974, a post which she held until her death.
She came to prominence as chairman of the Transport Select Committee, in which role she gave former Network Rail chief Gerald Corbett a memorable grilling after a series of rail crashes.
She was particularly critical over the way the Tube was part-privatised, criticism now proved to be well founded with the collapse of the maintenance giant Metronet.
Brian Cooke, chairman of London Travel-Watch said: "Gwyneth had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the railways. She was never frightened to speak her mind. She leaves a huge gap."
In 2001 Labour whips tried to remove her from the committee but backbenchers voted against the move. Labour MP Stephen Pound said: "The House rose as one to save our Gwyneth."
Reader views (3)
Although I tend to the right of the Conservatives, Qwyneth Dunwoody was one of the most impressive MPs on either side of the house. It was a great pleasure to watch her in action on the Transport Select Committee. She knew her stuff and no B.S. They don't make them like that these days. A great loss.
- David, Bromley, 18/04/2008 14:44
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I am not a labour voter but always admired her for speaking her mind in straightforward language full of basic common sense. If only there were more MPs like her this country would be a much better place
- J.A.Simpson, London, 18/04/2008 12:55
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We've lost one of the few politicians with conviction and integrity. A wonderful lady.
- Lilly, London, 18/04/2008 12:26
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