Johnson leads tributes to ‘Liberal lion and trailblazer’ Shirley Williams
BRITISH politician Shirley Williams, who changed the country’s political landscape in 1981 by quitting the Labour party and co-founding the Social Democratic Party (SDP), died on Monday (12) at the age of 90.
Her career in politics spanned more than five decades, after she was elected as the Labour MP for Hitchin in 1964.
As education minister between 1976 and 1979 in the Labour government of James Callaghan, Williams oversaw the growth of comprehensive schools. She was known for her opposition to academically selective grammar schools.
Williams left Labour to form the SDP after becoming disillusioned with its leftist policies under leader Michael Foot. The SDP merged with the Liberal Party in 1988 to form the Liberal Democrat party, which was the junior partner in a coalition government with the Conservative party between 2010 and 2015.
She went on to become a Lib Dem peer in 1993, and an adviser on nuclear proliferation to former prime minister Gordon Brown. She remained an active member of the House of Lords until announcing her retirement in January 2016.
Williams’ mother was feminist writer Vera Brittain, the author of the acclaimed First World War memoir, Testament of Youth.
“Shirley has been an inspiration to millions, a Liberal lion and a true trailblazer. I feel privileged to have known her, listened to her and worked with her. Like so many others, I will miss her terribly,” Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said in a statement. “Political life will be poorer without her intellect, her wisdom and her generosity.
“Shirley had a limitless empathy only too rare in politics today – she connected with people, cared about their lives and saw politics as a crucial tool to change lives for the better.”
Prime minister Boris Johnson described Williams as “a kind and thoughtful member of the once radical centre left”.
“Even when we disagreed – as we often did – she had the gift of sounding so completely reasonable at all times,” Johnson said.
“I spent many happy hours sparring with her on Question Time. She will be much missed.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Williams had been “widely respected across politics and was a tireless champion for the causes she believed in”.