A loving tribute has been paid to Oscar-winning actress and former Labour MP Glenda Jackson by the Mayor of the West of England. Dan Norris issued a statement following news of the 87-year-old's death today (June 15) after a brief illness.
Mr Norris - a former Labour MP for Wansdyke before the seat was merged into Jacob Rees-Mogg's North East Somerset constituency - said he had been left "heartbroken" by her death. He added that she was "at the very top of my list of favourite MPs" during his time in Parliament.
The Metro Mayor also recalled an incredible moment when she sang to him while in the Members' Tea Room in Parliament. He said he was "elevated to heaven" by her genius in that moment.
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Responding to the death of Jackson, Mr Norris said: "I'm heartbroken to hear about the death of Glenda Jackson. She was at the very top of my list of favourite MPs when I was in Parliament with her.
"Glenda was a very professional politician - not at all keen to talk about her double Oscar-winning acting career. But one day she floored me. We were side-by-side waiting in a very long lunchtime queue in the Members’ Tea Room in Parliament.
"Facing a long wait, I said to her 'Do you do any show songs or tunes?'. To my utter delight, and embarrassment for the attention it brought upon me, she sang ‘Mad About the Boy’ in the most beautiful and perfect way, and with a twinkle in her eye and sense of real mischief, she broke her normal strict rule.
"For 30 seconds we were all elevated to heaven in the presence of her genius. My thoughts are with her family and friends. Glenda is an irreplaceable talent - both in acting and in politics."
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