Blair, Starmer and Drakeford pay tribute to 'fearless' former Labour MP Ann Clwyd after death

Sir Tony Blair, Sir Keir Starmer and First Minister Mark Drakeford have paid tribute to former Labour MP Ann Clwyd, who has died aged 86.

Having won the Cynon Valley by-election in 1984, Ms Clwyd became the fourth woman ever to have represented a Welsh constituency.

She faced many setbacks, including being on the losing side in the 1979 devolution referendum, which split the Labour party in Wales.

As an MP she made a career as a rebel, sacked twice from the front-bench but finally finding herself on the same side as Tony Blair.

He backed a Welsh Assembly and then she backed him over the Iraq war, largely because she had long campaigned to highlight the plight of the Kurds under Saddam Hussein.

Ms Clwyd was a journalist at the BBC before she served as a Member of the European Parliament.

Her family said she died peacefully at home in Cardiff on Friday evening.

In a statement, former Labour leader Sir Tony described Ms Clwyd as a “courageous, fearless, principled political campaigner, whose politics remained steadfastly wedded to representation of the poor and oppressed wherever in the world she found them."

He continued: "She didn't flinch from speaking her mind no matter what the personal or political cost. She fought the case of those employed in the coal industry persuading my Government to correct the failure to compensate former miners for the ill health they suffered through mining.

"She was a stalwart campaigner for better healthcare, typically using her own experience to advocate on behalf of others. And having spent a large part of her life standing up against the brutal repression of the Kurdish people in Iraq, she supported the removal of Saddam Hussein, not only when it was relatively easy to do so, but when the going got tough."

He added: "I admired her enormously and am deeply sorry at her passing. A remarkable woman with an outstanding record of service to others.”

Labour leader Sir Keir tweeted: “Incredibly sad to hear that Ann Clwyd, former Labour MP for Cynon Valley has passed away.

“A long standing Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Ann was a leading figure in the Labour Party, dedicating her life to our movement. My thoughts are with her family and friends.”

Beth Winter, who succeeded Ms Clwyd as MP for Cynon Valley, said: “My thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time.

“Her work over so many years for women’s rights, international justice and the miners will be remembered.”

Mark Drakeford described Ms Clwyd as a "trailblazer for female politician".

In a statement, he said: "I’m saddened to hear of the death of Ann Clwyd.

"She was a fearless campaigner, a defender of human rights and a trailblazer for female politicians, but above all of these – a long-term, dedicated servant of the people of Cynon Valley. My thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time."

Health Minister Eluned Morgan described Ms Clwyd as a "pioneer and the only political female role model for women in Wales over a long period."

She added: "She was a true radical and was inspired by her early years serving as a Euro MP before going on to make a significant impact in Westminster."

Former Labour MP for Delyn, Sir David Hanson was in parliament with Ms Clwyd and said she had "real stamina and guts".

“It’s a very sad day, Ann was a fine Labour MP, a fine colleague, a fighter for her community but also someone who had a real international outlook," he continued.

"I think she’d want me to remember her mostly though as a Halkyn girl from Holywell up here in north Wales. She never failed to remind me that she was from Delyn constituency- the constituency I was the MP for.

"She’s very much a north Wales girl who became loved in the South Wales valleys."

He added: "I know many people will remember her particular stance in the miners strike and the mining disputes in the 80s and the 90s and I remember very vividly her going down the pit at tower colliery, having the sit in, defending the pit and helping Tyrone O’Sullivan who sadly passed away  keep that pit open longer than it would’ve done so she was a real fighter and a real heroine to the communities she represented.

"She had guts, real stamina and guts. I don’t think there are many labour MPs or any MPs of any colour who’d go down a pit and stay down there until they were dragged out by the management and saving the pit in the process and she came up here back home to North Wales soon after that to help defend the Point of Ayr colliery in my constituency.

"She was welcomed with heroic applause from the mining community up here as well."

Gerald Jones, Labour MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, said the news of her death was "incredibly sad".

Councillor Andrew Morgan, Labour leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council, said Ms Clwyd was "as sharp as ever" when they last met before Christmas.

He tweeted: "Very sorry to hear Ann Clwyd has passed away over night.

"Ann was hugely supportive of myself since I entered politics. I considered Ann a good friend and someone who was passionate to help others."

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