to be a little uncomfortable about the news coverage of Tessa Jowell's death

[dietofstrangeplaces]

There's quite a lot about what a wonderful person she was, as she was always thinking about other people, and always put other people first.

Would they say that about a male politician?

24 years yesterday John Smith died. I remember hearing it on the news and I burst into tears.

I am very sorry to hear of Tessa Jowell's death and yes, 70 is young nowadays. I hope she had good palliative care.

She was a long standing and compassionate woman. I’m confused by your post op. Talking of John Smith, very good things were said about him. 24 years, wow!

Well this is scraping the barrel of things to be faux concerned about.

No matter what your political beliefs, she was a thoroughly decent person. RIP Tessa.

Its sad isn't it. She was a campaigner until the end.

I wish I lived in the universe so many live where 70 is young though. I'm always surprised when people say this. I do think 70 is good innings.

I think she was compassionate in a way that few male polititians are.....

She was a wonderful politician and person.

She led the way in public health, looking at the causes not just the cures.

She started 'Sure Start' centres to give toddlers and parents in deprived areas a better start.

I am eternally grateful for the Olympic Games and the legacy they left behind. The Paralympics in particular was changed in 2012 with full stadiums and disability sport being showcased like never before.

As for males not getting the same treatment, I think when Lord Robert Winston (he sits in the Lords) or Prince Philip goes they will get similar heartfelt tributes, just like Stephen Hawkings and Tony Benn MP did.

I assume the OP means she feels uncomfortable because of the inherent sexism in talking about her feminine qualities rather than her political achievements? (Rather than because she disagrees with her politics or thinks the statements are not true).

I'm usually sensitive to that kind of stuff too, but in her case what she's best known for now is opening up about her cancer treatment and campaigning for others - so it's a kind of political achievement too.

I totally disagree.

If what you are saying is that they are talking about her personal attributes because she was female and if she was male they would have just listed her jobs/achievements. I think it is a better tribute to talk of the things that genuinely were her strongest /greatest impact, and I think moral character is important. I think if a prominent male politician dies who had good moral character we should remember this.
If you are saying the caring side of her nature was more "female" and this is detracting from her "male" achievements, then I think the opposite, her caring should be celebrated and more of this brought into politics.
I don't think anyone is listing what she wore or how she did her nails etc

I am very upset at her death. I am also taken aback that from my look at DM online, it does not seem to be mentioned at all or if it is there, it must be extremely low down.

I assume the OP means she feels uncomfortable because of the inherent sexism in talking about her feminine qualities rather than her political achievements? (Rather than because she disagrees with her politics or thinks the statements are not true).

Yes, that was my assumption too. However, I think those qualities are ones that we should be celebrating in public life, regardless of gender.

I think a male politician who was well liked, successful, and compassionate would have got a standard obituary. Here are his achievements, here are the things people were critical of.

I don't think it would ever finish with 'and the really important thing is he always put other people first'.

Must everything become a battle of the sexes, even death?

The BBC piece doesn't read like you say at all.

It's worth celebrating that a woman politician is tough and competent and compassionate as well. It would be worth saying that about a male politician. It's the self sacrifice and always putting others first bit I have a problem with.

BBC one finishes "Dame Tessa will be remembered at Westminster as someone who managed to be ideologically committed to her cause without overt sectarian bitterness."

Which isn't very fluffy at all.

BBC piece contains words

courage
clear and tough
strength
unflinching tenacity

and I can't be bothered to paste any more

maybe the written version is more balanced than the telly/radio one

Her cancer campaign - specifically the call for access to experimental treatments - was understandable, and an important issue to raise. But: anyone would think she hadn't been a health minister in the late 90s when NICE was set up specifically to restrict access to experimental treatments! There is policy-making, and then there's one's own personal experience - and reconciling the two can be hard.

What BonnieF said

She stood head and shoulders over the bitter, racist, bullying narcissistic divisive and sneering polarising incompetent self serving rabble chancers we have now.

Farrage, Abbott. Corbyn, mc Donald, Thornbury, May, Davis, Long Bailey, cable, etc God help us.

Just watched the BBC lunchtime news and didn't hear anything about her "putting others first".

TBH this just seems like a rather ghoulish, unpleasant thread. Did you start the Alex Ferguson thread that was deleted last week OP?

I'm usually very sensitive to this sort of thing, but in this case I don't agree. I think the 'putting others first' line is being said as a direct result of her reaction to her diagnosis and the speech she made in the Lords about it to improve treatment for others.

I also think her friends have been saying she put others first when ill, and tried to cheer them up when they visited her etc. Both Campbell and Falconer have been interviewed today saying this type of thing and I don't think it's for any of us to say they shouldn't be recounting these memories of a friend.

I think fairly similar things were said about Charles Kennedy when he died - friends in all parties etc.

Must we always find a reason to put the boot in?

She died of a hideous, bastard illness which I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

Have some compassion ffs. .

Main msg I got from the coverage so far is about brilliant competence, high loyalty, astute understanding of people's needs, bravery in face of her own mortality. Not fluffy soft things.

I'm really surprised that people feel that 70 is old and a 'good innings.' I really don't think it is for the U.K., at all. It's relatively young, especially compared to retirement age. Dh's parents are both I. The 70s and really aren't 'old.'I think you'd need to be into your 80s, now to be considered a good innings for the U.K. surely.

RIP Tessa.