Tributes paid to MI6 ‘trailblazer’ and ‘proper spy’ Baroness Meta Ramsay
Cross-party tributes to Scot hailed as ‘a remarkable woman, who led an extraordinary life’
The former chief of MI6 has paid tribute to “trailblazer” and “proper spy” Baroness Meta Ramsay, the woman once tipped to be the first female head of the service who died on Thursday.
Lady Ramsay’s 22-year career saw her become the most senior officer in MI6 and take part in the 1985 extraction of KGB double agent Oleg Gordievsky from the Soviet Union – one of the most audacious operations of the Cold War.
On news of her death, former MI6 chief Sir Richard Moore described her as “wise, kind, fun”.
He said: “She was a trailblazer for women in MI6 and so thrilled that Blaise Metreweli, first woman ‘C’, like her, was a proper spy who had run operations.”
Politicians also paid tribute to Lady Ramsay, who entered politics after leaving MI6 in the early 1990s, becoming foreign policy adviser to Labour leader John Smith and then a government minister under Sir Tony Blair.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: “Meta had an incredible life and was highly respected in her career in the Secret Intelligence Service and as a member of the House of Lords.
“She was a valued friend to my father, myself and my wife and will be missed.”
Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell described her as “a remarkable woman, who led an extraordinary life, but throughout remained humble and gracious” and “always gave the best advice and particularly supported women in politics and Parliament”.
Former Labour deputy leader Lord Tom Watson said Lady Ramsay was “a true servant of the people”, while former health secretary Wes Streeting said her life was “the epitome of public service”.
Lord Speaker Michael Forsyth said he was “deeply saddened” by Lady Ramsay’s death, saying she “served our country, protecting our freedom and values, with great courage” and was “a valued member of the House of Lords for 30 years”.
He added: “I count myself very fortunate to have spent time with her recently and reflect with her on her formidable career and contribution. Her legacy will be felt by all those who follow her.”
A lifelong socialist, she said her proudest achievement in office was helping to steer the 1998 Scotland Act – which established the Scottish Parliament – through the upper chamber.
Margaret Mildred “Meta” Ramsay was born in 1936 in Glasgow into a solidly working class family – her father was an engineering pattern-maker, while her mother was the daughter of a Jewish refugee from Ukraine.
Determined that she should have a good education, her parents saved up so they could afford the £10-a-term fees to send her to Hutchesons’ Grammar School where she won prizes for debating.
From there she won a place at Glasgow University, reading for a general degree covering the arts, languages, philosophy and science.
She quickly established herself as a star of the debating society, going on to win election as the first woman president of the Scottish Union of Students. As well as Mr Smith, her circle of friends included Donald Dewar, Scotland’s founding first minister.
After graduating, she moved into international student politics, joining the International Student Conference which had been set up in the early 1950s to counter the influence of the communist-controlled International Union of Students.
At that time, she was not yet working for British intelligence but it was on one of her trips abroad, she said, that she was first approached by someone from the Ministry of Defence.
From there it was “a natural progression” to enter the Foreign Office and then MI6 – or the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), as it is more formally known.
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