Britannist

Breaking News on Sky News at 11.50 pm:

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, the Labour MP for Crewe-Nantwich, has died.

Mrs. Dunwoody was a member of the eurosceptic group of Labour MPs (the Labour group against the EU Superstate).

What a sad loss.

May Her Soul Rest In Peace.

Britannist

Mrs. Dunwoody had a majority of 7, 078 at Crewe at the last General Election - the Conservatives could win the seat if they persuade just under 3600 people who voted Labour in the Crewe-Nantwich constituency in May 2005 to back the Conservatives instead when the Parliamentary By-Election takes place.

A Sunday Times opinion poll this week put the Conservatives 16% ahead of the Labour Government.

Mrs. Dunwoody, aged 77 and a former minister, was the longest-serving female member of the House of Commons.

"She was a troublemaker in the eyes of the Government on one or two matters)" said John Craig, reporter, on Sky News (at 0002 hours on 18.4.2008). He added "She will be sorely missed in the Commons - she was always listened to when she got up to speak." Mr. Craig mentioned that Mrs. Dunwoody was a friend of former Speaker of the Commons, Betty Boothroyd. "This is the end of an era" he said.

eublues

Can UKIP stop the Tories winning? That would be an excellent achievement.

Britannist

The result at Crewe-Nantwich at the last General Election can be found here (please click on the following link and see top right of screen):

Not updated: UK General Election results: May 2005

Britannist

There is no doubt it is going to be a very close result at Crewe-Nantwich - given the Labour Government's unpopularity. So the electoral performance of small parties such as UKIP who contest the Crewe-Nantwich Parliamentary By-Election could be the deciding factor in who is the next MP for the constituency.

This is the By-Election which Gordon Brown (currently in America) doesn't want to come home to.

If Mr. Boris Johnson is elected Mayor of London on 1.5.2008 it is possible that their could be a Parliamentary By-Election in his Henley constituency on the same day as the good folk of Crewe-Nantwich choose their next MP.

London Mayoral Election 2008 candidates: Richard Barnbrook - British National Party, Gerard Batten - UK Independence Party, Siân Berry - Green Party, Alan Craig - Christian Peoples Alliance and Christian Party , Lindsey German - Left List, Boris Johnson - Conservative Party, Ken Livingstone - The Labour Party, Winston McKenzie - Independent, Matt O'Connor - English Democrats, Brian Paddick - Liberal Democrats.

Full details of the London Mayoral and Assembly candidates for the 1.5.2008 London Elections at:

London Elects - The candidates

Full list of candidates for the 2008 London Mayoral and Asesmbly Elections 1.5.2008

arden forester

I've just logged on to see this. What a shock! She was an excellent chairman of the Transport Select Committee. Also, as a young woman a bit of a looker, which may surprise some! I really think she was respected and held in high esteem by all sides of the house.

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www.ardenforester.blogspot.com

eublues

"...held in high esteem by all sides of the house". That's not saying much.

Britannist

Tributes for eurosceptic Mrs. Dunwoody have already started pouring in:

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has just said (according to Sky News at 0014 hours on 18.4.2008) in America "So many people will be sad to hear of this - Gwyneth was always her own person." Mr. Brown added "She was a great Parliamentarian - she will be missed." He also said she was "politics at its best - she was always her own person and was fiercely independent."

Sky News said that former Labour MP and Minister 'Tony' Benn, a campaigner against the EU, was "shocked" to hear of the loss of "a remarkable woman." Mr. Benn stated "Gwyneth was a powerful member of Parliament and she was always her own woman."

Britannist

I bet there were some on all sides of the House who she didn't necessarily hold totally in "high esteem."

Britannist

More at:

"Great Sadness as veteran eurosceptic Labour MP dies - By-Election now due"