She was MP for Exeter 1966-1970; MP for Crewe-Nantwich 1974-2008. In 2007, she surpassed Barbara Castle's record for longest continuous service by a woman MP.
Both of her grandmothers were suffragettes. Her father was general secretary of the Labour party 1944-1962. Her mother was a life peer in the House of Lords and Lord Lieutenant of Greater London.