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| 'An inspiration to work with, and a joy to be near': tributes pour in for Tessa Jowell | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Theresa May and Tony Blair have led the tributes to Tessa Jowell and her achievements – ranging from her time in government through to her work to raise awareness of cancer after she was diagnosed last year with a brain tumour. | |
| The former Labour MP and cabinet minister, who died on Saturday night, was described by Blair as the first senior politician fully to understand the importance of public health and to shift health policy towards prevention of illness and not only cure. | |
| “Tessa had passion, determination and simple human decency in greater measure than any person I have ever known,” said the former prime minister, in whose cabinet she served as culture secretary, overseeing the UK’s drive to win the 2012 Olympic Games for London. | “Tessa had passion, determination and simple human decency in greater measure than any person I have ever known,” said the former prime minister, in whose cabinet she served as culture secretary, overseeing the UK’s drive to win the 2012 Olympic Games for London. |
| “She was an inspiration to work with, and a joy to be near. She was the most wise of counsellors, the most loyal and supportive of colleagues, and the best of friends.” | “She was an inspiration to work with, and a joy to be near. She was the most wise of counsellors, the most loyal and supportive of colleagues, and the best of friends.” |
| He emphasised Jowell’s role as the instigator of Sure Start – the network created by Labour to support families in the early years of their children’s development – after she became the public health minister in the wake of the party’s 1997 electoral landslide. In the process, he said, “she gave hope and opportunity to hundreds of thousands of children”. | He emphasised Jowell’s role as the instigator of Sure Start – the network created by Labour to support families in the early years of their children’s development – after she became the public health minister in the wake of the party’s 1997 electoral landslide. In the process, he said, “she gave hope and opportunity to hundreds of thousands of children”. |
| May paid tribute to Jowell’s campaigning after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May 2017, work that included making an impassioned plea in parliament for better treatments for patients. | May paid tribute to Jowell’s campaigning after she was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May 2017, work that included making an impassioned plea in parliament for better treatments for patients. |
| “The dignity and courage with which Dame Tessa Jowell confronted her illness was humbling and it was inspirational,” the prime minister said on Twitter. “My sympathies to her loving family – Dame Tessa’s campaigning on brain cancer research is a lasting tribute to a lifetime of public service.” | “The dignity and courage with which Dame Tessa Jowell confronted her illness was humbling and it was inspirational,” the prime minister said on Twitter. “My sympathies to her loving family – Dame Tessa’s campaigning on brain cancer research is a lasting tribute to a lifetime of public service.” |
| Jowell’s stoicism over the past year was also lauded by Gordon Brown, for whom she worked as one of only a handful of MPs to have served as a minister during the whole of his and Blair’s premierships. | Jowell’s stoicism over the past year was also lauded by Gordon Brown, for whom she worked as one of only a handful of MPs to have served as a minister during the whole of his and Blair’s premierships. |
| A statement tweeted on the official Twitter feed for Brown and his wife, Sarah, said: “Tessa Jowell has so many lasting achievements to her name but she will always be defined by the sheer courage and compassion for others she showed while facing cancer. Our thoughts are with her family.” | A statement tweeted on the official Twitter feed for Brown and his wife, Sarah, said: “Tessa Jowell has so many lasting achievements to her name but she will always be defined by the sheer courage and compassion for others she showed while facing cancer. Our thoughts are with her family.” |
| Sarah Lindsell, the chief executive of the Brain Tumour Charity, said: “Tessa Jowell’s courage and honesty in speaking about her brain tumour diagnosis, coupled with her fierce determination to improve the lives of others affected by the disease, has already brought hope to an often-forgotten community of patient and families. | Sarah Lindsell, the chief executive of the Brain Tumour Charity, said: “Tessa Jowell’s courage and honesty in speaking about her brain tumour diagnosis, coupled with her fierce determination to improve the lives of others affected by the disease, has already brought hope to an often-forgotten community of patient and families. |
| “As at so many times in her life, she has been an extraordinary driving force for change. Her passionate support for more flexible clinical trials for brain tumour patients, and for global data-sharing to improve understanding of the disease, will have a real and lasting impact in our quest for a cure.” | “As at so many times in her life, she has been an extraordinary driving force for change. Her passionate support for more flexible clinical trials for brain tumour patients, and for global data-sharing to improve understanding of the disease, will have a real and lasting impact in our quest for a cure.” |
| The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said he was devastated at the news of Jowell’s death, adding: “Her strength in raising awareness of her illness and fighting for better treatment for others inspired us all.” | The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said he was devastated at the news of Jowell’s death, adding: “Her strength in raising awareness of her illness and fighting for better treatment for others inspired us all.” |
| Sir Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader and member of the Olympic Board that had oversight of London 2012, said Jowell was “regarded with both admiration and affection”. | Sir Menzies Campbell, the former Liberal Democrat leader and member of the Olympic Board that had oversight of London 2012, said Jowell was “regarded with both admiration and affection”. |
| “She was universally popular and respected among politicians of all parties,” he added. | “She was universally popular and respected among politicians of all parties,” he added. |
| Other former government and Labour colleagues paying tribute included David Blunkett, who described her as one of his closest friends for more than 40 years. | Other former government and Labour colleagues paying tribute included David Blunkett, who described her as one of his closest friends for more than 40 years. |
| “In 1980s local government, Tessa in Camden and myself in Sheffield, we helped to promote an alternative to Old Labour on the one hand and the far left on the other,” said the former home secretary. | “In 1980s local government, Tessa in Camden and myself in Sheffield, we helped to promote an alternative to Old Labour on the one hand and the far left on the other,” said the former home secretary. |
| “Before the 1997 Labour victory, we worked on a programme to nurture children from the moment of their birth, but crucially also to work with parents and the wider community to transform the lives of those otherwise caught in intergenerational disadvantage.” | “Before the 1997 Labour victory, we worked on a programme to nurture children from the moment of their birth, but crucially also to work with parents and the wider community to transform the lives of those otherwise caught in intergenerational disadvantage.” |
| Among the figures from the sporting world who paid tribute, Olympic rower Matthew Pinsent tweeted: “RIP Tessa Jowell – absolutely central to the effort to win and stage the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012. Her determination and sense of humour surrounding them was infectious.” | Among the figures from the sporting world who paid tribute, Olympic rower Matthew Pinsent tweeted: “RIP Tessa Jowell – absolutely central to the effort to win and stage the Olympics and Paralympics in 2012. Her determination and sense of humour surrounding them was infectious.” |
| Sebastian Coe, the president of the IAAF and chairman of the London organising committee of the Olympic Games, described Jowell as “a life enhancer”, adding: “Without Tessa there would have been no London 2012, and without Tessa they would not have been the success they were.” | |
| Helen Hayes, who succeeded Jowell as the Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, said she hoped her family would take great comfort from knowing how many lives she had touched in the south London constituency. | Helen Hayes, who succeeded Jowell as the Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, said she hoped her family would take great comfort from knowing how many lives she had touched in the south London constituency. |
| “Tessa is much-loved across the constituency, for the things she delivered but perhaps even more for her deep empathy and compassion, and the way that she worked collaboratively to empower others,” she said. | “Tessa is much-loved across the constituency, for the things she delivered but perhaps even more for her deep empathy and compassion, and the way that she worked collaboratively to empower others,” she said. |
| Harriet Harman, the MP in the neighbouring constituency of Peckham, said: “The personal is political – that old women’s movement saying – was what Tessa was all about. Her focus on her children and stepchildren was the impetus for her putting parenting support at the heart of Sure Start children’s centres.” | Harriet Harman, the MP in the neighbouring constituency of Peckham, said: “The personal is political – that old women’s movement saying – was what Tessa was all about. Her focus on her children and stepchildren was the impetus for her putting parenting support at the heart of Sure Start children’s centres.” |
| She added: “Her politics was personal – supporting colleagues with a sick child or a dying parent. And because everything she said or did was intertwined with the personal, she was more effective. She didn’t follow the political rules of the day. She followed her personal instinct. But she was no softie. She was clever and tough.” | She added: “Her politics was personal – supporting colleagues with a sick child or a dying parent. And because everything she said or did was intertwined with the personal, she was more effective. She didn’t follow the political rules of the day. She followed her personal instinct. But she was no softie. She was clever and tough.” |
| Lisa Nandy, from a younger crop of Labour MPs and formerly Jowell’s personal private secretary, said: “As a new MP arriving at Westminster in 2010 I could not have wished for a wiser, kinder or more experienced mentor than Tessa. No matter what the pressures, she always maintained her dignity, sanity, decency and wicked sense of humour, and she was unbelievably effective.” | Lisa Nandy, from a younger crop of Labour MPs and formerly Jowell’s personal private secretary, said: “As a new MP arriving at Westminster in 2010 I could not have wished for a wiser, kinder or more experienced mentor than Tessa. No matter what the pressures, she always maintained her dignity, sanity, decency and wicked sense of humour, and she was unbelievably effective.” |
| Tessa Jowell | Tessa Jowell |
| Labour | Labour |
| Tony Blair | Tony Blair |
| Theresa May | Theresa May |
| Jeremy Corbyn | Jeremy Corbyn |
| Gordon Brown | Gordon Brown |
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