Margaret McDonagh, Labour’s first female general secretary dies

Margaret McDonagh, Labour’s first female general secretary, has died at the age of 61.

The politician say in the House of Lords as Baroness McDonagh and was described as an “unstoppable force of nature” and a “tireless champion for women” as tributes were paid on Saturday, June 24. 

In his tribute Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer hailed her “absolutely essential” role as election co-ordinator in the party’s 1997 general election victory.

Sharing: “Margaret may not have been as famous as some of the politicians she worked with, but they wouldn’t have got into power without her.”

Adding: “Both inside and outside of the Labour Party, Margaret was a tireless champion for women, mentoring a whole generation of political and business leaders.”

Tony Blair’s tribute to Margaret McDonagh. pic.twitter.com/UrS5pRBHSc

— Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (@InstituteGC) June 24, 2023

Margaret McDonagh dies aged 61

Margaret’s sister Siobhain McDonagh a Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden gave an emotional House of Commons speech in which she accused the NHS of “abandoning” Baroness McDonagh as she was treated for brain cancer.

Fighting back the tears, she criticised the lack of progress on brain cancer treatment since 2005 in the NHS and explained her sister was on a course of treatment which involved a monthly four-day trip to Dusseldorf, Germany.

Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair said: “Margaret was an amazing, vibrant, unstoppable force of nature. Dedicated to the country, the Labour Party and to fighting for what she believed was right.

“As general secretary of the Labour Party she was an incredible support to me and a vital element of New Labour.

“Most of all she was the most loyal friend anyone could wish for.”