Baroness Glenys Kinnock, a former minister, MEP and wife of former Labor leader Lord Neil Kinnock, has died aged 79.
In a statement, her family said: “It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the death of Glenys Kinnock.
“Glenys died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of Sunday morning at her home in London.
“She was the beloved wife and life partner of Neil, beloved mother of Steve and Rachel and a beloved grandmother.
“Neil was with her in her final moments. They were married 56 years.”
“A proud democratic socialist, she campaigned throughout her life, in Britain and internationally, for justice and against poverty.”
Her family added that she was “passionate to the end about education”, working as a schoolteacher before beginning her political career.
“She was a great friend to many people and many causes and was truly loved.
“Glenys endured Alzheimer’s disease after being diagnosed in 2017 and, for as long as she could, maintained her joy and infinite capacity to love, without ever complaining and with the innate courage with which she faced all the challenges throughout his life.
“The family are of course devastated and ask that their privacy be respected. Funeral details will be communicated in due course.”
Baroness Kinnock represented Wales in the European Parliament from 1994 until 2009, when she was given a peerage to serve in Gordon Brown’s cabinet as Minister for Europe.
She held the position for only a few months before becoming Minister for Africa and the United Nations until the Labor Party lost power in the 2010 general election.
She then served as Opposition Spokesperson for the Department for International Development in the House of Lords, from which she retired in April 2021.
