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Theresa Stewart

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Theresa Stewart
91st Lord Mayor of Birmingham
In office
2000–2001
Preceded byIan McArdle
Succeeded byJim Whorwhood
Leader of the Birmingham City Council
In office
1993–1999
Preceded byDick Knowles
Succeeded byAlbert Bore
Member of the Birmingham City Council
In office
1970–2002
ConstituencyBillesley
Personal details
Born
Theresa Raisman

(1930-08-24)24 August 1930[1]
Leeds, England
Died11 November 2020(2020-11-11) (aged 90)
Birmingham, England
Political partyLabour
Alma materOxford University

Theresa Stewart (née Raisman; 24 August 1930[2] – 11 November 2020[3][4]) was a British Labour Party politician and the first (and as of 2020, only) female leader of Birmingham City Council,[5] a position which she attained in October 1993, succeeding Dick Knowles,[2] and in competition for which she was beaten by Sir Albert Bore in May 1999.[6] She was also Lord Mayor of Birmingham from May 2000 to May 2001,[6] being only the sixth woman to hold that position.[6]

Harriet Harman described her as "a pioneer for women's equality & women's representation, a true sister to me and others. A truly exceptional woman".[7]

Political career

Stewart was elected as a councillor for Birmingham City Council in a by-election in 1970. She remained a councillor, for Billesley ward, until 2002.[2] She saw her role as a Labour Councillor as doing for poor people, what lawyers did for rich people.[8]

She was a founder of BPAS (then the Birmingham Pregnancy Advisory Group), campaigned for CND, for women's right to choose, for the family allowance to be paid to the mother as well as hosting striking miners and steelworkers in her home.

In 1991 she, with 20 other councillors, was expelled from the Labour Group, for opposing cuts to a children's home.

However, in 1993 she was elected, by her fellow Labour councillors, as leader of Birmingham City Council. She moved the council from spending on infrastructure and convention centres to a focus on social services and education.

She also hosted G8 in 1998, welcoming Tony Blair, Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin to the city. However the photo she was most proud of was the one with Nelson Mandela, which sat proudly on her mantelpiece.[8]

Personal life and death

Stewart was born in 1930 in Leeds.[6] She was Jewish.[3]

Stewart won a scholarship to study mathematics at Somerville College, Oxford University.[6] She moved to Birmingham in 1966[6] and was elected councillor for the Billesley ward in 1970.[6] Her husband was Professor John Stewart, professor of local government studies at the University of Birmingham.[6] They had four children.[3] Midland Metro named an AnsaldoBreda T-69 tram in her honour.[9]

She died on 11 November 2020, at the age of 90, following a long illness.[3] She was survived by her husband, their children, ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.[10]

References

  1. ^ Theresa Stewart, controversial ‘Loony Left’ leader of Birmingham city council – obituary
  2. ^ a b c Cohen, Nick (10 October 1993). "Renaissance that never was: Birmingham's new leader snubs prestige building projects". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d Haynes, Jane (11 November 2020). "Tributes to Birmingham's 'iconic' ex council leader Theresa Stewart". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Theresa Stewart: Former Birmingham council leader dies". BBC News. 11 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Women's Local Government Society". Women's Local Government Society. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Dale, Paul (15 May 2001). "Who's that with the Lord Mayor?". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 24 April 2012. (subscription required)
  7. ^ "RIP Theresa". Twitter. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Birmingham loses a political giant". themj.co.uk. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  9. ^ Midland Metro British Trams Online
  10. ^ "Birmingham loses a political giant". The Municipal Journal. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
Political offices
Preceded by Leader of Birmingham City Council
1993 to 1999 		Succeeded by


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