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My mother - Theresa Stewart - passed away this morning. She was 90, it was after a long illness (not COVID) and she was ready to leave.
I would like to pay tribute to a life of principle.
(a thread)
I would like to pay tribute to a life of principle.
(a thread)
Theresa was a feminist, an activist, a socialist and a politician.
She had been a member of the Labour Party for 72 years.
She had been a member of the Labour Party for 72 years.
Though you are unlikely to have heard of her if you live outside the West Midlands and are not involved in local government, it could be argued she was the most powerful female politician in the UK in the mid-90s.
We, her four children, are proud to have been brought up with a lived commitment to social change.
While still in my pram, I was taken on CND demos in the early 60s.
While still in my pram, I was taken on CND demos in the early 60s.
We continued to accompany my mother on demonstrations through the 60s and 70s.
This included support of civil rights – from South Africa, Rhodesia and the USA to closer to home in Northern Ireland – and issues like a womens right to choose.
This included support of civil rights – from South Africa, Rhodesia and the USA to closer to home in Northern Ireland – and issues like a womens right to choose.
When we went to secondary school, Birmingham still had the eleven-plus
But it was clear we would go to the comprehensive that was three miles away, rather than the grammar school at the end of our road.
We are still very grateful for that.
But it was clear we would go to the comprehensive that was three miles away, rather than the grammar school at the end of our road.
We are still very grateful for that.
It was a warm and loving home and I never remember my parents arguing.
“We did argue once, in 1951, and decided we didn’t like it so we didn’t do it again.”
In the summer she and John celebrated 67 years of marriage.
“We did argue once, in 1951, and decided we didn’t like it so we didn’t do it again.”
In the summer she and John celebrated 67 years of marriage.
She was elected as a councillor for Billesley in 1970 and was to keep her seat, in a marginal ward, for 31 years.
She said once that she saw her role as a Labour Councillor as doing for poor people what lawyers do for rich people.
She said once that she saw her role as a Labour Councillor as doing for poor people what lawyers do for rich people.
Still, almost 20 years after she stepped down as councillor, people come up to us and say how much she helped them.
She campaigned hard in the 70s to keep the family allowance going to the mother (and not be turned into tax relief), knowing that, for many women, it was the only income they were guaranteed.
As one of the founders of @BPAS1968 (then the Birmingham Pregnancy Advisory Service) she worked hard to ensure women in Birmingham were able to practice their right to choose.
In the 1972 and 1974 strikes, miners came to stay with us in Birmingham (and, later, steelworkers too)
I remember them returning triumphant after they successfully blocked the gates at Saltley.
I remember them returning triumphant after they successfully blocked the gates at Saltley.
As the most popular local Labour councillor, she reluctantly stood for Parliament in October 1974 and 1979 in the Hall Green constituency.
I have a very fond memory of Tony Benn drinking tea (using his very big cup) in our living room.
I have a very fond memory of Tony Benn drinking tea (using his very big cup) in our living room.
In 1991 Theresa was suspended from the Labour Group, along with 19 others, for taking a principled stand and opposing cuts to a local children’s home.
But in 1993 she was elected by her fellow Labour councillors as the first ever (and still the only) female leader of Birmingham City Council, the largest local authority in the UK – with a budget of £2 billion.
“She was an icon for all us women at the time”, read one tribute
“She was an icon for all us women at the time”, read one tribute
As leader she moved Birmingham Council away from spending on infrastructure and convention centres to a focus on social services and education.
With @brighouse_tim as Director of Education some (eg @MikeTQUB) say that Birmingham had the best schools provision in the country in the 90s.
Hosting G7 in 1998, she met with Tony Blair and Bill Clinton and had tea with Mrs Yeltsin.
However it is her photo with Nelson Mandela that has pride of place on her (and our) mantelpiece.
However it is her photo with Nelson Mandela that has pride of place on her (and our) mantelpiece.
In the 2017 General Election, at the age of 87, she was still distributing leaflets for the Labour Party and for Corbyn, a leader she strongly supported throughout.
She continued as Chair of her local LP ward until the age of 88, when her hearing forced her to step down
She continued as Chair of her local LP ward until the age of 88, when her hearing forced her to step down
And she was still there for me at my lowest points.
To a good life, and to being brought up knowing that, even in the world of politics, you can live a life of principle
RIP Theresa Stewart
To a good life, and to being brought up knowing that, even in the world of politics, you can live a life of principle
RIP Theresa Stewart
Can i also give a huge thanks to the NHS and to @brumshospice, who have been amazing.
They provided the support which allowed Theresa to pass away at home, as she wanted.
They provided the support which allowed Theresa to pass away at home, as she wanted.
