Tag Archives: michael meadowcroft

Michael Meadowcroft has died at the age of 84. He had been suffering from a brain tumour in recent months and died peacefully with family present in Adel, Leeds. He continued to engage with friends throughout his last months.

Michael and his wife Liz Bee will be remembered for many reasons by many people. They have had rich and full lives. Michael’s political and philosophical contributions will be remembered and valued by most commentators, but we also celebrate the person who was happy, kind, supportive, thoughtful, incisive, inclusive, passionate about the many things he believed and engaged with, and widely-read.

Their wonderful home in Leeds welcomed many visitors and guests – Liberals, musicians, opera-singers, and a wide variety of people associated with the political and cultural life of their city.

Michael and Liz were Francophiles, particularly from their home in France and committed to the promotion of the local wines of Faugères. Their musical interests ranged from Michael’s clarinet playing in Granny Lee’s All-Stars to Opera North and the wider music scene in Leeds. I remember when Michael played to a Conference Glee Club of 8 people in a hotel room and later more than 1000 people.

Much of Michael’s life was in the Liberal Party, the continuing Liberal Party, the Liberal Democrats and the cause of Liberalism. From Chair of Merseyside Young Liberals to Liberal Party Local Government Officer to Leeds City Councillor and MP to observer and adviser on elections and democracies in many parts of the world, Michael defined and was defined by his philosophy of life and Liberalism.

Crucially, and in common with the late Tony Greaves, Michael saw no distinction between local politics, national politics and philosophical belief. They were all part of the same package: a single, coherent whole in which all the elements interact.  Philosophy underpins action; it’s not separate from everyday hard political choices. Both philosophy and action are founded in the everyday life and language of real folk.

In the late 60s when we were developing the ideas of community politics, Michael referred to “the councillor as the political arm of his people” in the same way that a butcher or a policeman had a role in a community where they were an organic part. The idea of the “community champion”, a hero or heroine who helped the little people, was anathema. Power should flow upwards, defined and limited by engaged and informed communities.