Glenys Kinnock, a campaigner and politician, passed away on Sunday due to Alzheimer’s disease. She was born in 1944 to a family of activists.
Glenys’ parents, Cyril Parry and Doris Evans, were responsible for instilling in her a strong belief in social justice and a deep appreciation for Wales. Though she was born in Northamptonshire, the family returned to their hometown of Holyhead shortly after, where Glenys became fluent in Welsh.
While attending University College in Cardiff, she focused on education and history, and it was there that she first crossed paths with Neil Kinnock. According to sources, her initial greeting to him was, “Are you the man from the Socialist society?”
In 1967, they tied the knot. This marked the beginning of a political alliance that played a key role in reshaping the public perception of the Labour party during the 1980s.
It was commonly thought that Glenys Kinnock was more progressive than her husband and may have influenced his decision to postpone abandoning Labour’s stance on nuclear disarmament.
She was a notable figure in both politics and activism. She held a seat in the European parliament for 15 years, initially winning the Wales South-east constituency in 1994 with a significant majority.
In 2009, Gordon Brown appointed her as the minister for Europe and also granted her a life peerage. Brown praised her for her kind nature, warmth, and strong advocacy for both domestic and global issues.
I am pleased to have convinced a well-regarded minister from the previous Labour administration to join our government as a member, specifically in charge of Europe.
Kinnock’s actions motivated numerous individuals to pursue careers in politics, such as Caroline Lucas, a Green Party member of parliament. While employed at Oxfam, Lucas advocated for Kinnock’s work as a Member of the European Parliament. In a 2016 interview with The Guardian, Lucas expressed her admiration for Kinnock’s efforts to improve trade policies for impoverished nations. Seeing Kinnock in action, Lucas was inspired to aspire to be in her position.
Kinnock advocated for various global causes, such as the elimination of nuclear weapons, ending apartheid in South Africa, and addressing international debt. She co-founded One World Action, a charity focused on development, in 1989. Additionally, she fought against the military dictatorship in Myanmar and advocated for the rights of torture victims.
Kinnock was a frequent contributor to the Guardian, focusing on topics related to global development. She collaborated with the late Jo Cox on an article for International Women’s Day. In her final piece in 2016, she advocated for airdrops to be used in cities that were under siege during the Syrian civil war.
She was deeply devoted to Europe and reportedly devastated by the outcome of the Brexit referendum.
Alastair Campbell, who served as Tony Blair’s director of communications, wrote about Glenys on X, stating that while many may remember her as one half of a remarkable couple, she was also a powerful political figure in her own right. Even Mandela held great admiration for her.
“She was a committed MEP heartbroken by Brexit and a brilliant minister for Europe, Africa and the UN. Many people in many parts of the world will be very sad today. A bright and beautiful light has gone out, leaving the world a sadder place, but those who knew her with so many memories of a great woman.”
Her spouse of 56 years, who was by her side during her last moments, and her children Stephen and Rachel, are the ones left behind. According to a tribute from her family, she was a beloved grandmother.
Source: theguardian.com
