Gwyneth Dunwoody MP dies at 77

Veteran Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, the longest-serving female MP in Parliament, has died at the age of 77. Mrs Dunwoody, MP for Crewe and Nantwich since 1974, had been ill for the past week, her son said. Prime Minister Gordon Brown described her as "politics at its best" and said she would be sadly missed.

As well as chairing the transport select committee, Ms Dunwoody was known as a prominent and much-admired fighter for backbenchers' rights. She is reported to have recently undergone emergency open-heart surgery. We in the PPP send our condolences to her family and friends.

In reality we were most unhappy about this lady having such an influence on transport policy in the UK. The UK transport system is chaotic gridlock with incredibly ineffective policies and practice way beyond the competence of anyone of her age, experience and expertise. Hopefully someone of significant capability will NOW take over the Transport committee. Gordom Brown et al please note ... there is now a bi-election in the offing. A very interesting test case. Crewe and Nantwich are gridlocked most of every day!. The west coast mainline is under maintenance most of the time and only the fortunate few travel 1st class from Crewe to Euston for their work!!