Shirley Williams

I admired her very much, and her mother Vera Britain, author of Testament of Youth.

I don’t blame her at all for getting the best education she could for her children. We would all like all schools to be equal, but until they are, you do the best you can for your child, surely? It would be irresponsible not to..

Varian - I believe it’s the same kind of people. I now believe they don’t want Labour in power. They’re wreckers. They demean others who don’t follow their dogma.

Sorry, that should be Vera Brittain. Autocorrect ‘corrected’ it.

So sorry to hear of her death-RIP.

I didn't always agree with her politics but I admired her as someone whose views and politics were based on conviction, and not on making herself popular.

I went to see her speak in Edinburgh once and the place was packed out. She was a great speaker but hallyracket, to use a good Scots word. That is, disorganised and didn't care. . Although I'm sure when it came to her politics, she was very organised indeed.

I worked next to the Town Hall in Hitchin and remember going out to see the results called in 1964.
We were only part of a small crowd congratulating her. Those were the days when you could get up close to politicians.
A great lady and a sad loss when she left the Labour Party.

Shirley Williams was my inspiration to leave Labour and join the newly formed SDP. I met her at a packed meeting which she addressed extempore for an hour. The audience was transfixed. I feel privileged to have met her, and I took my 12-year-old son with me to the meeting - to this day (50 tomorrow) he remembers that she shook hands with him.

I found my founder member of SDP certificate when we moved house. I joined because of Shirley Williams.

RIP. A woman of principle. A politician who believed in public service-a dying breed.

I admired and respected her. Particularly remember her as Minister of Education and Science. Because of her, I joined the newly formed SDP. Wish there were more like her these days.

Thanks for starting the thread Callistemon.

A real politician, r.i.p Shirley.

I think that people across the political spectrum had a great deal of admiration and respect for her.

There were far fewer women in politics when she first won her seat and she was a trailblazer in more ways than one.

RIP Shirley Williams
I enjoyed listening to her on Question Time many years ago.

A person with integrity- a shame we don’t have more like her today in government.

Also a supporter of comprehensive education and good schools for all.

It was interesting to hear David Owen speak about her this morning. He had wanted her as leader of the SDP but she talked to him about the difficulties women had in getting to and being in such positions. She was, I think, recently divorced. And, of course, the right-wing press threw the usual, very working-class slurs at her for her appearance and timekeeping that they do with anyone to the left who looks as if they might be popular.

I was a founder member and sat on our local Steering Committee as the party started and developed. The SDP gave me hope for the sort of Social Democracy I believe in. I went to the various 'round the country' conferences and listened to the four of them talk and I wonder now -where are the people like them.

She had a long and remarkable life as a straight talking politician. She would have made a wonderful party leader.
Shame people like Shirley Williams are in short supply in parliament these days.
May she rest in peace.

Along with all the praise we mustn’t forget that she was instrumental in abolishing Grammar schools.
Not her finest moment.

varian

I don't think she ever regretted leaving the Labour Party which was and still is bounded and restricted by vested interests of the twentieth century.

It is time for the Labour Party to waken up to the fact that we are living in different times and we can never hope to progress unless we reform our undemocratic electoral system and move to a system of proportional representation.

I completely agree.

RIP Shirley

Was saddened to hear of her death. I liked her, she seemed to be a conviction politician and able to articulate her views. I think that the book Testament of Youth is one of the most poignant I have ever read.

Daisymae

Was saddened to hear of her death. I liked her, she seemed to be a conviction politician and able to articulate her views. I think that the book Testament of Youth is one of the most poignant I have ever read.

I'm afraid her mother wrote that. Vera Brittain.

I have one of Shirley Williams' books on my bookshelf. 'Politics is for People'. Sadly, I think that people still haven't got that message.

And, of course, the right-wing press threw the usual, very working-class slurs at her for her appearance and timekeeping that they do with anyone to the left who looks as if they might be popular.

That's very odd, Pippa. She was as middle class as they come...

Or are you categorising the slurs as being 'working class'? Inverted snobbery...?

Sorry Maizie;I must not have have been clear. It sure my opinion on what motivates slurs is exceedingly unimportant in the scheme of things.

I'm sure.

PippaZ

Sorry Maizie;I must not have have been clear. It sure my opinion on what motivates slurs is exceedingly unimportant in the scheme of things.

Well, no, you weren't very clear. I was just intrigued by the idea of the MSM categorising Shirley Williams as ;working class'; then wondering if I'd interpreted your post correctly.