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 Monday April 12th.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said:
“This is heartbreaking for me and for our whole Liberal Democrat family.
"Shirley has been an inspiration to millions, a Liberal lion and a true trailblazer. I feel privileged to have known her, listened to her and worked with her. Like so many others, I will miss her terribly.
"Political life will be poorer without her intellect, her wisdom and her 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.
"As a young Liberal, Shirley Williams had a profound impact on me, as she did on countless others across the political spectrum. Her vision and bravery, not least in founding the SDP, continues to inspire Liberal Democrats today.
"Rest in peace, Shirley. My thoughts and prayers are with your family and your friends."
Leader of the Liberal Democrat party in the House of Lords Dick Newby said:
“Shirley Williams was a charismatic, committed and fearless politician who believed passionately in a fairer society and in Britain’s European destiny. She was an inspiration and mentor to many younger politicians and maintained her campaigning zeal to the end. She was central to the formation of the SDP and the Liberal Democrats, and will be greatly missed by many in her extended political family.” |
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Monday, April 12, 2021
Shirley Williams, Baroness Williams of Crosby
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Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael today paid a fond tribute to Baroness Shirley Williams, who passed away on Monday.
The Orkney and Shetland MP took the opportunity during Business Questions yesterday morning to eulogise a woman the Liberal Democrat Party Leader Ed Davey had called a “Liberal lion and true trailblazer”.
Addressing the House of Commons, Alistair Carmichael said:
"Thank you Mr Deputy Speaker. Can I say to the Leader of the House I hope members from all parties may be allowed to pay some tribute to my late colleague and friend Baroness Williams of Crosby.
"She was somebody who blazed a trail for women in politics for over five decades of public life in this country. She was blessed with a magic combination of both a fine political mind and a genuine political warmth, which allowed her to reach out to people across the party divide and to people with no parties.
"I realised this for myself in 1983 when I heard her address an outdoor rally at the by-election then in Darlington. There was a man behind me saying "hear hear", a lot of agreement. I turned around to see who this new convert to Liberalism was, and it was in fact none other than Screaming Lord Sutch.
"I told Shirley that story some two decades later, and I think it says a lot about her that she instinctively just loved the joke at her own expense.
"She will be enormously missed by people in all parties, but especially amongst the family of Liberal Democrats."
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