On behalf of the House and of the Fianna Fáil group, I wish to extend a vote of sympathy to the family of the late John Smith, M. P., the leader of the British Labour Party. His tragic death came at the early age of 55. He was a man of great stature, a former shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, as well as holding office under Jim Callaghan. As leader of the British Labour Party for the past two years he did a tremendous job in restructuring and modernising that party. With his great attributes of intellect, integrity and with he made a huge impact on British politics. He leaves a great legacy of work behind him and will be a tremendous loss to the Labour Party and British politics as a whole. On behalf of the House, may I extend the sympathy of Members to his widow and daughters.
Death of John Smith, MP: Expression of Sympathy.
On behalf of the Fine Gael Party, I join in this expression of profound sympathy to the family of the late Mr. John Smith. This is the second time that the Labour Party has been robbed by sudden death of a leader who was on the brink of becoming Prime Minister. Just over 20 years ago Hugh Gaitskell's death robbed him of the ultimate prize of British politics and robbed his country of a great talent. This morning the same cruel fate has befallen John Smith. The Labour Party, the British public and European politics are very much poorer for his sudden tragic death.
We send our sympathy to his family and to his party, upon whom he was such a great and positive force. We send our sympathy to his country on the death of an honest, decent man who was a leader of real quality, a fair minded and good friend of this country and a genuine British patriot. Of all the words spoken in the many tributes this morning from friend and foe alike, one phrase was constantly repeated — John Smith was a good man. May he rest in peace.
I wish to be associated with the sentiments which have been expressed. I watched an interview with John Smith on Sky News last night. He was commenting on the Nicholas Scott debate. It is a measure of the man that he worked right to the end and was as lively yesterday as he ever was.
He made a huge contribution to British politics. He was, like us, a Celt, and we have always felt close to the Scottish people. History will say that he never ran away from change. He grasped change in society, he led change in his party, he challenged those who were afraid of change and he imposed change on those who would have the modes and beliefs of another age inappropriately imposed on the 1980s and 1990s. He brought the Labour Party forward when it was badly needed. He did it in his own style and with his own gifts. He had great debating skills and was a former winner of The Observer mace award for debating. Those skills were visible everywhere, whether in his contributions to Labour Party annual conferences or in the House of Commons, particularly during Prime Minister's questions.
John Smith was the Prime Minister in waiting. I had looked forward to him winning power. I met him and I recently visited his constituency. There was a great sense of anticipation there that John Smith was about to take power. He was, as Senator Manning said, a good man. He was also an ordinary man with ordinary pastimes and interests. He liked football and hill walking. He was a person of the people. He was articulate, a leader and a motivator of his party. He encouraged democracy and, moreover, had a solid, supportive position on Ireland and the problems in Ireland. He was a friend of this country. May he rest in peace.
I join other Senators in expressing sadness at the passing of John Smith at the age of 55. It is a great blow and grievous loss to his wife, Elizabeth, and to the Labour Party.
In the late 1980s the Irish Labour Party built up a strong rapport with the British Labour Party under the leadership of Neil Kinnock. This continued when John Smith took over as leader. I met him on a number of occasions in Dublin and London. He was a charming and kind man. He was a friend of Ireland. He followed in the tradition of Kinnock by having a tremendous interest in this country — North and South — and its future. In that respect he will be sadly missed.
The loss to the Labour Party will be enormous. Neil Kinnock changed the Labour Party in Britain and John Smith was the person people wanted to see in Downing Street. In so far as that was the case, his death will be a tremendous blow to the labour movement in Britain. Ireland has lost a very close friend.
We extend our condolences to his wife and family and convey to his deputy, Margaret Beckett, the sadness which encompasses all Members across party boundaries. As Senator Manning said, the tributes paid by other parties in Westminister this morning were indeed generous and sincere. We echo those sentiments. May he rest in peace.
Members rose in their places.
An Leas-Chathaoirleach
The Cathaoirleach will convey the message of the House to John Smith's wife and family and to the British Labour Party.