Gwyneth Patricia Dunwoody (née Phillips; 12 December 1930 – 17 April 2008) was a British Labour Party politician, who was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Exeter from 1966 to 1970, and then for Crewe (later Crewe and Nantwich) from February 1974 until her death in 2008. She was a moderate socialist and had a reputation as an independent parliamentarian, described as ‘intelligent, obstinate, opinionated and hard-working’.

She attended the Fulham County Secondary School for Girls, now the Fulham Cross Girls' School, and the Notre Dame Convent (a girls' grammar school) in Battersea. She left school aged 16, and became a journalist with a local newspaper in Fulham,

Married life

She married John Dunwoody in 1954, the same year he qualified as a doctor. Her husband became a general practitioner based in Totnes in Devon. (later part of RMT). Dunwoody was also a Member of the European Parliament between 1975 and 1979 (alongside John Prescott and foreign affairs during the 18 years of Labour opposition from 1979 to 1997.

In 1998, she gained headlines around the world when she clashed with New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani urging the return of the original Winnie the Pooh dolls from Donnell Library Center to the British Museum after stating that she ‘detected sadness’ in their display behind bulletproof glass.

In October 2000, she was one of several candidates for the speakership of the House of Commons. The election was won by Michael Martin MP.

As a member for a constituency with a strong connection with the railway industry, she had expertise on transport matters, and was Chair of the House of Commons' Transport Committee from 1997 to 2008. In this role she was a critic of the government, and she and her committee discomfited witnesses from the rail and air transport industries.

An attempt by the government whips to remove her and Donald Anderson, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, from their positions after the 2001 general election led to a revolt by back-bench members of Parliament, which resulted in them both being reinstated.

Death

Dunwoody died during the evening of 17 April 2008 in John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, following emergency heart surgery. Her funeral was held at St Margaret's, Westminster on 8 May 2008. She is buried at North Sheen Cemetery.

Her former husband died in 2006. The by-election was announced by chief party whip Geoff Hoon on Wednesday 30 April 2008 and was held on Thursday 22 May 2008. Dunwoody lost the by-election and the Conservative candidate, Edward Timpson, became her mother's successor.

Records

In late September 2007, Dunwoody beat Irene Ward's record of the longest total service for a woman MP, at 37 years, 9 months. In early December 2007, she beat Barbara Castle's record of the longest unbroken service for a woman MP, at 33 years, 9 months. These records have since been broken by Margaret Beckett and Harriet Harman respectively.

Legacy

In January 2007, railway operator GB Railfreight named locomotive 66719 Gwyneth Dunwoody. Dunwoody Way in Crewe is named after Gwyneth Dunwoody.

Notes

References

  • Gwyneth Dunwoody official site
  • Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Gwyneth Dunwoody MP
  • TheyWorkForYou.com - Gwyneth Dunwoody MP
  • BBC Politics page
  • PDF on Leadership Elections including Labour Deputy Leadership results
  • Kindly rebel and Labour stalwart (BBC obituary)