Candy Atherton, the former Labour MP who has died suddenly aged 62, was an indomitable campaigner who spent her life fighting inequality and injustice. Atherton had an unassailable belief in the potential for achieving change and improvement, and was tireless in pursuit of her ambitions for those she represented. Candy was born in Surrey, daughter of Denis Atherton, a journalist on the Daily Mirror, and his wife, Pamela (nee Osborne), a businesswoman. In 1979 she joined the Labour party, albeit in the politically unpromising, cushioned comforts of Conservative Petersfield, in Hampshire. • Candice (Candy) Kathleen Atherton, politician and campaigner, born 29 September 1955; died 31 October 2017

Source: The Guardian November 03, 2017 18:14 UTC