Gwyneth Dunwoody dies.

frogstamper · 18-04-2008, 18:50

Gwyneth Dunwoody, the longest serving female MP has died aged 77. Gwyneth really was a rare breed of politician, she stuck to her principles and didn't like so many other politicians, just echo the party line.
As Tony Benn once said, "There are two types of politician, you are either a weathercock or a signpost" and Gwyneth was definitely a signpost, much to the dismay of the Labour whips. A principled politician who will be greatly missed.

RIP Gwyneth Dunwoody.

**Maggy J** · 18-04-2008, 20:08

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7353743.stm

Another REAL and honourable politician gone...

---------- Post added at 20:08 ---------- Previous post was at 19:18 ----------

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7353780.stm

Quote:

Mrs Dunwoody always saw herself as a loyal Labour supporter, with unconventionally frank views about "New" Labour, and the values it represented.
In a 2002 interview with the Guardian newspaper she said the party under Tony Blair "appeared to have no principled core."
She added: "It appears to have no very clear idea of its perspectives or its ultimate objectives, and the things that it's done of which I would be very proud, it appears to be ashamed."

Definitely a loss to politics and the country.

tweetypie/8 · 18-04-2008, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogstamper

Gwyneth Dunwoody, the longest serving female MP has died aged 77. Gwyneth really was a rare breed of politician, she stuck to her principles and didn't like so many other politicians, just echo the party line.
As Tony Benn once said, "There are two types of politician, you are either a weathercock or a signpost" and Gwyneth was definitely a signpost, much to the dismay of the Labour whips. A principled politician who will be greatly missed.

RIP Gwyneth Dunwoody.

r.i.p.gwyneth.

BBKing · 18-04-2008, 23:31

A great loss to the Commons Transport Committee, for which she was 'Madam Chairman' for a very long time (and woe betide anyone who called her 'Chair' or 'Chairwoman'). A true British battleaxe who could reduce seasoned professionals to quivering heaps if they had the temerity not to do their homework - she'd always done hers. RIP.

frogstamper · 18-04-2008, 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBKing

A great loss to the Commons Transport Committee, for which she was 'Madam Chairman' for a very long time (and woe betide anyone who called her 'Chair' or 'Chairwoman'). A true British battleaxe who could reduce seasoned professionals to quivering heaps if they had the temerity not to do their homework - she'd always done hers. RIP.

I had to smile as I read the last bit of your post BBKing, I remember seeing her on a number of occasions on BBC Parliament when she "Madam Chairman" would verbally tear some official apart for not getting his facts straight, I imagine quite a few of these people spent a sleepless night preparing to face Mrs Dunwoody! As you say, a true British battle axe in the nicest way.