Remember her warmth, her passion, her goodness, her decency

Tributes to Labour giant and her legacy

TESSA Jowell died in the arms of her two children and husband, who told her she would “live forever in their souls”.

Tributes were paid from across the political spectrum to the inspirational Labour peer and former Cabinet Minister, 70, who lost her battle with an aggressive brain cancer on Saturday.

Some praised her part in securing the 2012 Olympics for London. Others hailed her role in setting up Britain’s network of Sure Start children’s centres.

But all remembered Baroness Jowell as a decent, warm, passionate and courageous woman, whether as a friend, colleague or rival.

In a moving tribute, close friend Alastair Campbell said she was “completely dedicated to other people” and represented “the best of politics, and the best of humanity.”

And her old boss, former Prime Minister Tony Blair, said: “Tessa had passion, determination and simple human decency in greater measure than any person I have ever known.” She was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme after suffering two seizures in a taxi on her way to deliver a speech on Sure Start in May last year.

She suffered a haemorrhage on Friday, and was in a coma until her death on Saturday at home near Shipston-onstour, Warks. A spokesman for her family said: “Her husband David and their children Jessie and Matthew were by her side.”

Ella Woodward, partner of Matthew, said: “Matt’s extraordinary Mum passed away.

“She was lying in Matt, his sister Jess, and their dad’s arms, as they told her she would live forever in the centre of their souls.”

She added: “I’ve never seen love like I have since becoming part of this family. Tessa was the warmest and kindest soul.”

Tessa was born in London in September 1947, but spent much of her childhood in Aberdeen, where she attended fee-paying St Margaret’s School for Girls.

She was the oldest of three children of Kenneth Palmer, a chest

PRECIOUS With son Matt