It was an honour to attend the very moving and uplifting memorial service for my former boss Rt Hon Ann Clwyd today in Aberdare, South Wales.
I worked for her 2003-2006 as her parliamentary researcher, supporting her in her roles as an MP, as Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group, and as Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Special Envoy to Iraq on Human Rights.
She showed through her campaigning, tenacity, strength and compassion that a backbench MP can make their constituency, the country and in Ann’s case, the world, a better place.
She always placed the human being at the centre of her political universe. She genuinely cared about people, particularly the vulnerable, and she wasn’t willing to pass by on the other side. She fought against the injustices she saw, and more often than not, she won.
The tributes were very moving and covered all elements of her political life.
Ann achieved more than most Cabinet ministers manage, despite not having served in government.
She should be an inspiration to anyone involved in politics who wants to improve our world. She is a political hero of mir. If I’m fortunate enough to ever be elected to Parliament and achieve 10% of what she did, I will have made a difference.
