The Baroness Williams of Crosby and Liberal Democrat peer, Shirley Williams, passed away on 12 April, aged 90.
Who is Baroness Shirley Williams?
Baroness Shirley Williams was a veteran of British politics with a career spanning over 50 years. The baroness passed away on 12 April at 90-years-old. Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey, described her as “an inspiration to millions, a liberal lion and a true trailblazer.”
On behalf of her family, it is with great sadness that we announce that Shirley Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby, died peacefully in the early hours of this morning. pic.twitter.com/gwzcPKAths
— Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) April 12, 2021
In his statement, Davey went on to say: “Political life will be poorer without her intellect, wisdom, and 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.”
Williams began her political career when she was elected Member of Parliament for Hitchin in the 1964 general election where she represented Labour. She remained in this seat, renamed Hertford and Stevenage during boundary changes, until 1979.
Baroness Williams was prominent within the Labour party, holding multiple Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet roles in the first two decades of her career. Williams made history as one of the first women cabinet ministers.
Williams served as Shadow Home Secretary from 1971 to 1973 and Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection in Harold Wilson’s cabinet. When Wilson was succeeded by James Callaghan, Williams assumed the role of Secretary of State for Education and Science.
Baroness Williams also ran in the leadership contest following Callaghan’s departure but lost to Michael Foot.
Very sad to hear of the death of Shirley Williams.
She was widely respected across politics and was a tireless champion for the causes she believed in. She will be hugely missed.
My thoughts are with her friends and family.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) April 12, 2021
“A dedicated egalitarian,” Williams was well known for her pursuit of the abolition of grammar schools and was a great advocate of the comprehensive school system. Her campaigning on this issue led to the eventual dropping of divisive 11-plus exams in many local authorities.
She was also passionate about Europe and was one of only three Labour MPs (of 68) who defied the whip on a 1971 vote on the membership of the European Communities.
Labour’s anti-Europe agenda, which was stoked under Foot’s leadership, drove Williams to depart the party in 1981. Williams – along with Roy Jenkins, David Owen, and Bill Rodgers, known as the Gang of Four – was a founding member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
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Baroness Williams’ political career
Williams was the first SDP candidate to be elected when she won a by-election in November 1981 in Crosby. The result was remarkable; Williams toppled a Conservative majority, winning by more than 5,000 votes.
While the SDP was relatively well-received by the electorate – considering how new parties usually fare – the decision of the four to leave Labour is often accused of enabling Thatcher’s three-term reign. Others, more delicately, argue “that it paved the path for Tony Blair’s centrist New Labour.”
Despite Williams’ popularity among voters – she was dubbed the party’s “great recruiter” – the SDP failed to make significant electoral gains and so joined forces with the Liberal Party in 1987 to form what we now know as the Liberal Democrats.
Following this, Williams was made a peer for the Liberal Democrats in 1993 and sat in the second chamber until her retirement in 2016. During her time in the Lords, Williams split her time between London and a lecturing position at Harvard University where she taught politics.
Being one of the first female ministers, Williams was subject to plenty of unjust media scrutiny. Her appearance was often criticised for her famously “unkempt” hair, but Williams was a dedicated politician who was far more interested in policy than her appearance.
Tributes paid by leading political figures
Tributes to Williams, considered a pioneer for women in British politics, poured in following the announcement of her passing.
Another extraordinary thing about Shirley Williams. As prisons minister, in 1966, she wanted to find out what life was really like for women inside: so she persuaded the authorities to lock her up in Holloway on a pretended prostitution charge. Who would do that now?
— Andrew Marr (@AndrewMarr9) April 12, 2021
Prime Minister Boris Johnson remembered Baroness Williams as “a kind and thoughtful member of the once-radical centre-left.” Johnson remarked that, while they clashed often, he “spent many happy hours sparring with her on Question Time” and that “she will be much missed.”
Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, described her as “one of a kind” and a “trailblazer for women and education”.
Former Liberal Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Sir Nick Clegg, also paid tribute to the SDP founder. Clegg said he would “forever be grateful for the support, candid advice and generosity” Williams offered him when he was the leader.
Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, declared Baroness Williams a “tireless champion for the causes she believed in”, noting that she was “widely respected across politics”.
It is undeniable that Baroness Shirley Williams made significant contributions in her career, paving the way for more female MPs to follow in her path.
Her legacy will long be remembered, and her drive for equality much missed.
Nia Thomas
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Featured image courtesy of Liberal Democrats via Flickr. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
Nia Thomas
Nia is a Gender Studies Masters student at the University of Sussex. Having recently graduated with a degree in Political Science, she is keenly interested in current affairs and stories concerning equality and diversity. Away from writing, she is an avid reader and lover of reality TV.