Speaker leads tributes to former Walsall MP who had died aged 92
Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, has led tributes to former Walsall MP David Winnick who has died aged 92
The Speaker of the House of Commons has led tributes to former Walsall MP David Winnick who died at the age of 92.
Mr Winnick represented Walsall North for 38 years, and became well-known for his strong views on human rights and his role in forcing the resignation of Speaker Michael Martin in the wake of the MPs’ expenses scandal.
Present Walsall & Bloxwich MP Valerie Vaz, who for seven years served alongside him in Parliament, praised her former colleague as a ‘doughty fighter’ for his constituents.
The Labour MP first took his seat in the Commons in 1964, representing Croydon South, but lost his seat at the 1970 General Election.
He was the Labour candidate at the 1976 Walsall North by-election, brought about by the resignation of disgraced MP John Stonehouse, but lost to Conservative Robin Hodgson.
He won the seat at the second attempt in 1979, and held it until his defeat at the 2017 General Election.
Miss Vaz said: “David was a doughty fighter for his constituents in Walsall North and played a prominent role on the Home Affairs Select Committee in Parliament. “During our seven years as neighbouring MPs in Walsall, I often met him in the House of Commons Library preparing for his regular contributions in the chamber, championing constituents and challenging ministers.
“He, along with his colleagues Richard Shepherd and Bruce George, convinced the Labour government to rebuild the Manor Hospital. My condolences to his family and may he rest in peace.”
Speaking in the Commons today (Thursday), Sir Lindsay said: “I wish to pay tribute to a former colleague, David Winnick, who died yesterday.
“David served as a Member of Parliament for 42 years, initially as the MP for Croydon South, and then, notably 1979 to 2017 as the MP for Walsall North.
“He was a dedicated member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, including its co-chair.
“David was also a long-standing member of the Home Affairs Select Committee.
“I am sure members across the House will want to join me in sending our condolences to David’s family and friends, who are very much in our thoughts today.”
During his long parliamentary career, Mr Winnick served under seven prime ministers and nine different Labour leaders.
Mr Winnick was born in a Jewish family in Brighton in June 1933, and worked as an advertising manager, and served as a branch chairman of the Clerical and Administrative Workers Union.
He unsuccessfully contested the seat of Harwich in Essex in 1964, but won the seat of Croydon South in 1970.
After completing a diploma in social administration at the London School of Economics, he unsuccessfully stood in Croydon Central in October 1974 and in Walsall North in 1976, before taking the seat at the second attempt in 1979.
In 1982 he and Labour colleague for Walsall South joined a march in Bloxwich protesting against high unemployment.
Mr Winnick was on the left of the Labour Party, and was known to speak out on issues of human rights. A strong opponent of Saddam Hussein’s regime in Iraq, he supported the invasion of the country in 2003.
He was a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary body from its formation in 1990, and British co-chair, 1997–2005.
He opposed Tony Blair’s plan to detain terror suspects without trial for up to 90 days, successfully tabling an amendment which would reduce the period to 28 days.
This became Tony Blair’s first Commons defeat on a whipped vote.
On being re-selected to fight the seat for the 2015 General Election, a month before his 82nd birthday, Mr Winnick said he did not believe his aged had any impact on his ability to represent the public.
"I am delighted to have been re-selected by the members of the constituency party and I am very grateful for their continued support,” he said.
"My commitment is no less than in previous elections. I want to see a fairer Britain and a fair deal for working people.
"If I felt any differently I wouldn't hesitate to retire. I'm looking forward to seeing a Labour government."
Mr Winnick married Bengisu Rona in Istanbul in September 1968, who he met as a student in London, but they later divorced.
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