Straw leads tributes to Labour stalwart Gwyneth Dunwoody

May 9 2008 icWales

JACK STRAW led the tributes as MPs across the party divide paid their respects at the funeral of long-serving Parliamentarian Gwyneth Dunwoody.

Delivering a eulogy at St Margaret’s Church in Westminster, the Justice Secretary said the Labour MP would be remembered for her “spirit, humour and above all her example”.

Senior figures from all sides of politics attended the service, which followed the death of Mrs Dunwoody last month at the age of 77. Mourners were greeted by Mrs Dunwoody’s daughter Tamsin, who was Assembly Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire between 2003 and 2007 and served as a deputy economic development minister.

She will fight for her mother’s vacant seat, Crewe & Nantwich, in the forthcoming by-election.

Among those attending were the Tory and Lib Dem leaders David Cameron and Nick Clegg, in an indication of respect Mrs Dunwoody commanded in Parliament.

They rubbed shoulders with Labour stalwarts such as Frank Dobson and Dennis Skinner. The Prime Minister was unable to attend due to other commitments and Deputy Leader Harriet Harman represented the Labour Party and Government. Other mourners included Chancellor Alistair Darling and former Cabinet member Margaret Beckett.

Mr Straw said: “As we mourn, so we celebrate an extraordinary life and thank God for the gift that friends, family, constituents, Parliament and a nation received from Gwyneth, from her spirit, her humour and above all her example.”

Mr Straw said Mrs Dunwoody was Labour through and through, adding: “She was born into the Labour Party and she died in it. ”

Mr Straw also noted that she had sat in Parliament for longer than any other female MP.

She served as MP for Exeter from 1966 to 1970 before representing Crewe & Nantwich from 1974. In all she racked up a total of 38 years in the House of Commons.

Mr Straw said: “Gwyneth was Labour, she was partisan but had many friends across the party divide and will be greatly touched by the attendance today by so many from different parties than her own.”

Commenting on her combative image, Mr Straw recollected Mrs Dunwoody as saying: “I have no problem being called the battleaxe – very well made, very sharp and very efficient at what it does.”

Mr Straw added: “She was a person who would dare to speak what so many of us just thought.”