Glenys Kinnock: Former MEP, minister and wife of ex-Labour leader dies aged 79
Former MEP Glenys Kinnock, the wife of ex-Labour leader Neil Kinnock, has died aged 79.
Her husband of 56 years was with her in her final moments, her family said in a statement, adding they were “devastated” by her loss.
She represented Wales in the European Parliament for 15 years, before being appointed to the House of Lords and becoming minister for Europe under the last Labour government.
Politics live: Blair and Brown pay tribute to Glenys Kinnock
Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead went on to serve as minister for Africa.
Her Labour MP son, Stephen, who serves as the shadow immigration minister, described his mother as a “formidable” person who had a “cheeky” sense of humour, while opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer hailed the prominent politician a “true fighter for the Labour Party”.
While an “enormous support” to her husband Neil, who led the opposition from 1983 to 1992, former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said Lady Kinnock was a “leader in her own right” and her death would be “mourned in many countries and corners of the Earth”.
The Labour peer had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s six years ago.
In a statement, her family said: “It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the death of Glenys Kinnock.
“Glenys died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of Sunday morning, at home in London.
“She was the beloved wife and life partner of Neil, the cherished mother of Steve and Rachel and an adored grandmother.
“Neil was with her in her final moments. They had been married for 56 years.
“A proud democratic socialist, she campaigned, in Britain and internationally, for justice and against poverty all her life.”
The couple were married for 56 years
The family added: “She was a great friend to many people and causes and was truly loved.
“Glenys endured Alzheimer’s after being diagnosed in 2017 and, as long as she could, sustained her merriment and endless capacity for love, never complaining and with the innate courage with which she had confronted every challenge throughout her life.
“The family is of course devastated and and would ask that their privacy be respected.”
In his own tribute, her son said he was “heartbroken”.
In a post on social media, the Labour MP for Aberavon wrote: “She was a beloved Mum & Nain who was adored by her family & friends.
“A truly formidable person in every single way, and with such a cheeky sense of humour! Rest in peace.”
The peer was ‘a towering figure in the Labour movement’
Sir Keir said: “Glenys was a passionate lifelong campaigner for social justice at home and abroad.
“She supported Neil through his leadership and went on to have an impressive political career of her own as a member of the European Parliament, in the House of Lords and as a minister in the last Labour government, focused on Europe and Africa.
“Neil and Glenys had the most wonderful partnership, there for each other through thick and thin, with a love and commitment that was instantly obvious when you saw them together. As the family have detailed, in recent years that meant looking after Glenys as Alzheimer’s did its worst.
“But what we will all remember is Glenys as a true fighter for the Labour Party and the values of the Labour movement, a pioneering woman, to whom we owe an enormous debt.”
Lady Kinnock pictured with former Labour leader Michael Foot in 2002
In a statement, Sir Tony said: “She was a huge figure in progressive politics for decades: incredibly smart, brave, determined and resolute in standing up for what she believed was right.
“Whether in fighting the cause of development, and the eradication of global poverty, social justice in Britain, equality for women or making the case for a European Union of weight and influence in the world, Glenys was passionate and persuasive.
“She was of course an enormous support to Neil but she was a leader in her own right.
“And as a couple, they were a joy to be near, full of fun, the life and soul of any gathering.”
He added: “Glenys will be mourned in many countries and corners of the earth.”
On the campaign trail with her husband and then Labour leader during the 1987 election
Former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown, who appointed Lady Kinnock to his administration in 2009, said: “All who met Glenys admired her for her generosity, her warmth and her passionate support for the best of national and international causes.”
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, London mayor Sadiq Khan said: “Glenys was a towering figure in the Labour movement for decades and a thoroughly wonderful and decent human being.”
The Kinnocks ‘had the most wonderful partnership’
Leader of the Scottish Labour Party Anas Sarwar said: “Glenys was a relentless campaigner for social justice.”
Born on 7 July 1944, Lady Kinnock was educated at Holyhead High School, Anglesey, and later graduated from University College, Cardiff,
She met her future husband at university and they were married in 1967.
Lady Kinnock subsequently worked as a teacher, before becoming an MEP in 1994, and held a number of key positions.
However, her time in the role was not without controversy, becoming caught up in an expenses scandal and gaining the unenviable reputation as “the most travelled British MEP”.
With the appointment of her husband as a European Commissioner, the couple became known as Brussels’ “very own Lord and Lady Expenses”.
Lady Kinnock is survived by her husband, Neil, and her children Stephen and Rachel.
Prince Andrew was among members of the royal family who attended the traditional Easter Sunday service in Windsor.
It is the second year in a row that the Duke of York has joined the King and Queen at St George’s Chapel, appearing to enter the chapel quickly after his eldest brother’s arrival.
Other members of the royal family, including Princess Anne, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice and Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, also gathered outside the church.
The Duke of York leaving St George’s Chapel. Pic: PA
William and Kate did not attend the annual service, deciding instead to spend time with their children, George, Charlotte and Louis, in Norfolk before they go back to school.
Crowds wished the King and Queen a Happy Easter as they left the chapel, with two children presenting Camilla with a bunch of flowers, before they were driven away.
King Charles and Queen Camilla arriving at St George’s chapel. Pic: PA
The Princess Royal. Pic: PA
Andrew was seen glancing at a member of the crowd, who wished him a “Happy Easter” before the duke walked off with his ex-wife.
The duke has not been pictured at a formal royal family event since last Easter. He missed the royal family’s traditional Christmas gathering at Sandringham amid the controversy surrounding his links to an alleged Chinese spy.
He disappeared from public life after stepping down from official duties in March 2020, following his explosive TV interview with BBC’s Newsnight.
The Duchess of Edinburgh followed by Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice. Pic: PA
Sarah Ferguson. Pic: PA
The Easter sermon is traditionally led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, but was today led by the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, from York Minster.
Mr Cottrell has temporarily taken over the role after Justin Welby announced he was stepping down in November last year, after an independent review found he “could and should” have reported decades-long abuse of men and young boys by his former friend, the barrister John Smyth QC.
Mr Cottrell has also apologised for his handling of the case.
Pic: PA
The Queen waves to crowds in Windsor. Pic: PA
King’s message of ‘faith, hope and love’
Last year’s Easter Sunday service was the King’s first major public appearance after he announced his cancer diagnosis.
The 76-year-old monarch is still receiving treatment for cancer, and last month, spent a short period of time in hospital after experiencing temporary side effects.
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King and Queen attend Maundy service
In his Easter message – a tradition he started when he was the Prince of Wales – Charles reflected on the examples of “great cruelty and great kindness” that “daily come before our eyes” – saying they should remind the world of the importance of the “virtues of faith, hope and love”.
Read more from Sky News:
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He shared the message last week ahead of attending the annual Maundy service at Durham Cathedral, where he presented the Maundy recipients – 76 men and 76 women – with two purses: one red and one white, containing Maundy Money.
The ancient tradition traces back to the 13th century and is given to recipients in recognition of outstanding Christian service and work in their local communities.
Police are appealing for information after seven statues – including one of suffragette Millicent Fawcett – were daubed with graffiti during a trans rights rally in London.
The Metropolitan Police said the criminal damage took place during the protest in Parliament Square, Westminster, on Saturday.
Thousands of people had gathered for an “emergency demonstration” following the Supreme Court ruling earlier this week on the definition of a woman.
The words “Trans rights are human rights” were written on a statue of South African statesman Jan Christian Smuts.
Graffiti on the statue of South African statesman Jan Christian Smuts in Parliament Square. Pic: PA
The Met Police said officers were trawling CCTV footage and no arrests have been made as yet.
Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell said: “Criminal damage and vandalism like this has no place on the streets of London and spoils the area for locals and those visiting.
“While the police support the public’s right to protest, criminality like this is senseless and unacceptable. We are pursuing this and will take action against those responsible.”
Graffiti on the statue of Millicent Fawcett. Pic: PA
Mr Bell said there were plans to remove the graffiti “but this requires specialist equipment and we are confident this will be done shortly”.
“We are keen to speak to those who saw anything on the day and urge anyone with information, pictures or footage to come forward,” he added.
The force has not shared details of which seven statues were defaced. Parliament Square is home to 12 statues of political figures including Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi.
Thousands of protesters joined the rally on Saturday. Pic: Daniel Bregman
The Met said it was also dealing with a number of complaints from the public about signs and images shared on social media that were reportedly displayed at the protest.
The force said while officers were investigating the displayed signs and images, they had so far proved to be from historic events, did not take place in London, or did not constitute a criminal offence.
The protest followed a long-awaited judgment delivered on Wednesday, when the UK’s highest court ruled the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 “refer to a biological woman and biological sex”.
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Gender ruling – How it happened
It essentially means trans women who hold gender recognition certificates are not women in the eyes of the law.
This means transgender women with one of the certificates can be excluded from single-sex spaces if “proportionate”.
The UK government said the unanimous decision by five judges brought “clarity and confidence” for women and service providers.
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