This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7353743.stm

The article has changed 20 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
MP Gwyneth Dunwoody dies aged 77 MP Gwyneth Dunwoody dies aged 77
(31 minutes later)
The veteran Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody has died, aged 77, the Labour party has confirmed. Veteran Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody - the longest-serving female MP in Parliament - has died at the age of 77.
Ms Dunwoody, who was MP for Crewe and Nantwich, was the longest serving female Member of Parliament. Mrs Dunwoody, MP for Crewe and Nantwich since 1974, had been ill for the past week, her son said.
Gordon Brown has reacted with sadness to the news in Washington, where he is visiting President Bush. Gordon Brown described her as "politics at its best" and said she would be sadly missed.
As well as chairing the transport select committee, Ms Dunwoody was known as a prominent and much admired fighter for backbenchers' rights.As well as chairing the transport select committee, Ms Dunwoody was known as a prominent and much admired fighter for backbenchers' rights.
Leading the tributes, the prime minister said: "So many people will be so sad to hear of the death of Gwyneth Dunwoody.
"She was always her own person. She was fiercely independent."
'Wonderful mother'
Ms Dunwoody's son David described his mother as a wonderful mother and grandmother.
He told the BBC that she had died "in a gentle and calm way" on Thursday evening after being ill for about a week.
She was an independent-minded woman who always spoke her mind and will be badly missed Tony Benn
He said: "She was a women who stood up and said what she believed was true. She defended people who didn't have anyone else to defend them.
"Everybody who knew her knew she believed passionately in everything that she did."
Former Labour MP Tony Benn said he was shocked by the news.
He said: "She was an independent-minded woman who always spoke her mind and will be badly missed.
"She was a very remarkable woman and a very powerful Member of Parliament. She was very strong on certain questions. She took a very independent stance on the European Union and was respected by the House.
"She was listened to with great attention from the House itself."