Tributes paid to 'pioneer' Welsh MP Ann Clwyd
The former Cynon Valley MP has died at the age of 86
Last updated 22nd Jul 2023
Former South Wales MP Ann Clwyd, who served her constituency as a Labour MP for 35 years, has died at the age of 86.
The former journalist was first elected to represent Cynon Valley in a by-election in 1984 and stood down at the General Election in 2019.
During her time in Parliament she became Tony Blair's special envoy for Human rights in Iraq.
Her family said she died peacefully at home in Cardiff on Friday evening.
Current Welsh Health Secretary, and Senedd Member for Mid & West Wales, Eluned Morgan, has tweeted: "Very sad to hear about the death of Ann Clwyd, a pioneer and the only political female role model for women in Wales over a long period.
"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."
The Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Angela Rayner has described her as 'courageous' and a 'determined voice for the people she represented'.
Former Labour leader Sir Tony Blair said: "Ann was 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.
"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.
"I admired her enormously and am deeply sorry at her passing. A remarkable woman with an outstanding record of service to others."
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."