Shirley Williams

Trying to change the public education system to a better one than it was, which is what Williams and others tried to do (whether one agreed with their policy is not the issue here) is good.

Sending one's own kids to a private school because it was the best available at the time (i.e. in the 'bad' or unfair system one was trying to improve for everyone), is not acting against one's principles. A lot of people don't seem to understand that. It's possible, at the same time as wanting to improve the public school system, not to object to private schools for those who choose them for whatever reason. Private schools are not automatically better than public schools but they may be a good option for very public figures who want to protect their kids' privacy (for instance; I think Harold Wilson did the same for that reason when he was PM).

Enjoy your retirement from the HoL, Shirley. All round good bloke (so to speak).

Indeed we do choose what's right for our children - mine went to Public school, but I wasn't an MP and later Secretary of State for Education!

Oh riverwalk - I do find that a really tired accusation. We all, whoever we are, as parents choose what is right for our children in the place that we find ourselves, depending on what is available there. I have never blamed any politician for doing that.

Ah, the saintly Shirley - I don't know if we need more politicians like her

The instigator of Comprehensive schools who ensured her own daughter didn't attend one!

What a wise and intelligent woman. So sensible to retire rather than to rake in the expenses.

Good for her.

I entirely agree with all the previous posters. I wish there were more politicians like her.

I met Shirley Williams at a local SDP meeting and found her to be very warm and friendly. She is a real conviction politician but didn't hector just spoke an awful lot of sense.

Shirley Williams addressed a big rally in the early days of the SDP. I have a picture of me shaking hands with her which I prize. She held her audience in the palm of her hands, speaking without notes for a good hour. She always spoke good sense on Question Time, was respected by politicians of all parties, a woman of great integrity who will be missed from the political scene. Could we have her for a web chat, please? She is a grandmother after all.

I wish her well. One of those politicians who transcended party politics.

I hadn't heard that Alea .

I agree Shirley Williams was a respected politician . A personal opinion obviously but I always thought of her style of politics was to my preference , she wasn't afraid to speak her mind but not follow the party rhetoric/spin if it did not sit well with her.

She may have retired from the House of Lords but no doubt politics will be in her blood forever . I wish there were more like Shirley Williams it didn't matter if you voted for her party or not , you always listened and took away the parts of her argument that made sense, as you should .

Yes indeed. I think she is one of the few politicians that we can trust
and admire. I wish her a happy retirement after her long career.