Margaret McDonagh dead: Labour’s first female general secretary dies aged 61 as Keir Starmer leads emotional tributes
LABOUR'S first female general secretary Margaret McDonagh has died at the age of just 61.
Tributes are pouring in for the politician, who "gave her life" to the party.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer announced Margaret's death today, saying he would "miss her friendship".
In an emotional tribute, he said: "This is absolutely devastating news. Margaret McDonagh gave her life to the Labour Party.
"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.
"As general election co-ordinator, Margaret was an absolutely essential part of the 1997 Labour landslide, and as the first female general secretary led the organisation through a historic re-election campaign in 2001.
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"Both inside and outside of the Labour Party, Margaret was a tireless champion for women, mentoring a whole generation of political and business leaders."
The opposition leader said "to the very end "Margaret was fighting for better healthcare for Brits with brain tumours.
He continued: "Margaret was absolute proof that one person can make a difference in the world. The difference with Margaret is that she also built an army of change-makers along the way who will proudly carry on that fight in her name.
"You can't think about Margaret without her sister Siobhain (the Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden), campaigners together not just in Mitcham and Morden, but across the world.
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"Our thoughts and prayers are with Siobhain, and all Margaret's family and friends at this tragic time. I know I speak for many when I say I will miss her friendship and wise counsel in the years ahead.
Tony Blair called Margaret an "amazing, vibrant, unstoppable force of nature".
He said: "Dedicated to the country, the Labour Party and to fighting for what she believed was right.
"As a 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."
Peter Mandelson, who was Labour's campaign director in the 1997 general election, also paid tribute.
He said: "Margaret was a tour de force.
"She ran Millbank in 1997 with a rod of iron. Everyone was terrified including me.
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"I have never met anyone so resolute, so uncompromisingly honest and so direct.
"She almost never made it to the high command in the early 1990s, but once she arrived there was no going back. She was formidable."
