THE former Labour MP Maria Fyfe has died at the age of 82.
Nicola Sturgeon called her a "feminist icon" who had been a personal inspiration to her as a budding politician.
A trailblazer for women in politics, Ms Fyfe was the MP for Maryhill in Glasgow from 1987 to 2001.
During her time at Westminster she was a shadow minister for women, a frontbench spokesperson on Scorland, and convened the Scottish Labour MP group.
After leaving frontline politics, she chaired the Remember Mary Barbour campaign which fought for a memorial to the WWI Glasgow rent strike organiser.
She said she took greatest pride in being part of the 50-50 campaign to ensure the new Scottish Parliament started life with the goal of gender balance.
In a social media post, her family said: "She was part of the lives of so many people across the Labour Party and the wider Labour movement as well as caring so much for her beloved city and her achievements make us all so proud."
Leading tributes, Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: "Maria Fyfe was honest, principled and a pioneer, someone who fought for what she believed in to the very end.
"She was an inspiration to generations of Labour Party members, encouraging young people to become active to change the world around them, and leading by example.
"Maria believed a society built on equality, peace and socialism was possible, and it is our duty to uphold her memory by carrying on her work.
"The thoughts of the whole Scottish Labour Party are with her sons Stephen and Chris and the family."
The First Minister paid tribute to Ms Fyfe at Holyrood.
Expressing her condolences to Ms Fyfe’s family, friends and colleagues, she told MSPs: “Maria Fyfe was an inspiration to colleagues in the Labour party.
“Can I just say she wasn’t just an inspiration to colleagues in the Labour party.
“I, of course, for all of my political life have been in a different political party, but when I was a young woman starting out in politics, she was one of the very few women on the frontline of politics, and she was a feminist icon then that I looked up to.
“I didn’t agree with her on everything, but very much looked up to and found her example inspirational.
“I think many of us, particularly women in politics today, and many others owe her a great debt of gratitude, and I want to pass on my thoughts and condolences to everybody who loved her.”
Former UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Ms Fyfe had been his "friend and comrade".
He said she was "a great fighter for the people, always speaking up for women and giant of our movement.
"She continued to teach and inspire young socialists in the Labour movement right up to the end."
Former Labour First Minister Lord McConnell said Ms Fyfe was “an incredible woman who fought for the city and devolution for Scotland”.
He tweeted: “An inspiring figure for generations of women in Scottish Labour, Maria will be missed but her life’s work brought change to Scotland.”
Labour MP and former UK deputy leader Harriet Harman said that after being the only female MP among Labour's 50 Scots MPs, Ms Fyfe had brought in more women and been "a true sister to we feminists in England".
She was "a wonderful selfless woman with ambition only for the cause," Ms Harman said.
Former Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said her "beloved friend" had been thoughtful, principled, kind, and "fought with every fibre of her being for a fairer world".
She said: "Role models don’t come any smarter or inspiring or more fun. Heartsore today. My thoughts with her family - her love for them was beyond measure."
Councillor Malcolm Cunning, the leader of the opposition Labour group on Glasgow City council, tweeted: “Just heard the sad news that we have lost Maria Fyfe. She was a bonny fechter and a trail blazer her entire life. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her.”
Former Rutherglen Labour MP Ged Killen added: “Very sad to hear about the death of Maria Fyfe. She was a trailblazer, a tireless campaigner, and an inspiration to all in the Labour movement. She will be sorely missed. My thoughts are with her loved ones.”
Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn Labour Party said: “Our comrade Maria Fyfe passed away this morning.
“Maria played a crucial role in delivering devolution and remained an active party member all her life.
“We have lost a giant of our movement. Our thoughts are with her family.”
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