Gwyneth Dunwoody, the Labour Party's longest serving woman MP, has died, her son said on Friday.
David Dunwoody said his mother died on Thursday evening after being admitted to hospital last week with an undisclosed illness. She was 77.
"She was a woman who stood up and said what she believed was true and defended those who don't have many people to defend them," Dunwoody told the BBC.
Dunwoody, known for her fierce independence, was first elected MP for Exeter in 1966 and had been member for Crewe and Nantwich since 1983. Her death will trigger a by-election in the safe Labour seat.
Veteran left-wing politician Tony Benn said Dunwoody was a very distinguished MP who was always listened to with great respect.
During her long parliamentary career, Dunwoody served as chairman of several committees and took special interest in transport, the National Health Service and the arts. She was life president of the Labour Friends of Israel group.
She leaves a daughter and two sons, and 10 grandchildren.
-
Nicaragua bans international visitors from bringing in Bibles
-
Controversial US bishop to give BBC Christmas message
-
The little-known history of the X in Xmas
-
Evangelical vicar accused of abuse won't stand trial
-
Pastor who gave sermon near abortion clinic stands trial
-
Christians protest LGBT nativity play where Jesus is 'King of the Gays'
Most Popular
News
Richard Moth appointed as new Archbishop of Westminster
Bishop Richard Moth has been confirmed as the new Archbishop of Westminster, the most senior post in the Catholic Church in England and Wales.
The mystery of the Wise Men
The carol assures us that “We three kings of Orient are…” and tells us they were “following yonder star”. Can we be sure there were three of them? Were they kings? Where in the Orient were they from? What was the star they followed? In fact, there is a lot that we just do not know. This is the story …
English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day
English Heritage has admitted it got it wrong when it shared false claims that the date of Christmas is derived from a pagan Roman festival in honour of a sun god.
Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'
Pam Knowles started helping out her church Sunday school in 1951 at the age of 13.