Theresa Stewart facts for kids

Theresa Stewart (born Raisman; August 24, 1930 – November 11, 2020) was a very important British politician. She belonged to the Labour Party. Theresa Stewart made history as the first woman to lead the Birmingham City Council. She held this important role from October 1993 to May 1999. She was also the Lord Mayor of Birmingham from May 2000 to May 2001. She was only the sixth woman to become Lord Mayor.

Harriet Harman, another famous politician, called Theresa Stewart "a pioneer for women's equality." This means Theresa helped make things fairer for women.

Political Career

Theresa Stewart started her political journey in 1970. She was elected as a councillor for the Birmingham City Council. A councillor is someone who represents a local area and helps make decisions for the city. She worked as a councillor for the Billesley area until 2002. She believed her job was to help people who were struggling, much like a lawyer helps rich people.

Improving Healthcare

In the late 1960s, Theresa was part of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board. She found problems in the hospital system. For example, she discovered a hospital ward that was kept locked. It was only used by the families and friends of doctors. A local newspaper helped her share this issue, and it led to changes.

Standing Up for Rights

Theresa Stewart was a strong supporter of many important causes. She helped start BPAS, which was a group that gave advice about pregnancy. She also campaigned for CND, which works for nuclear disarmament and peace. She believed women should have the right to make their own choices about their bodies. She also welcomed striking miners and steelworkers into her home. This showed her support for workers' rights.

In the 1970s and 1980s, she was a member and later the leader of the Social Services department in Birmingham. This department helps people in need, like children and families.

Leading Birmingham

In 1991, Theresa and 20 other councillors were removed from their Labour Group. This happened because they disagreed with cuts to a children's home. They wanted to protect services for children.

However, in 1993, her fellow Labour councillors chose her to be the leader of Birmingham City Council. As leader, she changed how the council spent money. She focused more on social services and education. This meant more help for families and better schools.

In 1998, she hosted the G8 summit in Birmingham. This was a big meeting where important world leaders came together. She welcomed leaders like Tony Blair, Bill Clinton, and Boris Yeltsin. But the photo she was most proud of was one with Nelson Mandela. She kept it proudly on her mantelpiece.

Personal Life and Education

Theresa Stewart was born in Leeds in 1930. She was Jewish.

She was very smart and won a scholarship to study mathematics. She went to Somerville College at Oxford University. After university, she worked at Marconi's, a technology company. She was the only woman in her graduate group.

In 1953, she married John Stewart. They had four children together. Theresa was always active in the Labour Party. In 1966, they moved to Birmingham. Her husband became a professor at the University of Birmingham.

A tram on the Midland Metro was named in her honor. This shows how important she was to the city.

Theresa Stewart passed away on November 11, 2020, at the age of 90. She had been ill for a long time. She left behind her husband, their four children, ten grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.