Baroness with roots in a Cypriot village

Published: 04 June 2010
by RÓISÍN GADELRAB

HER grandparents lived off the land in a tiny Cypriot village, her father worked in the kitchens of the Dorchester and now former Lib Dem councillor Meral Ece is about to become the first woman of Turkish descent to be elevated to the House of Lords.

When Ms Ece’s grandmother married in Cyprus at the age of 14, she could have had no idea that one day her granddaughter – already an OBE – would become Baroness Hussein Ece of Highbury.

Born in the borough – at the Royal Free Hospital, in Liverpool Road – Ms Ece has risen to become advisor to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Ms Ece said: “My father came first as a migrant and my mother followed. They met in Islington. He was an educated man but he’d do anything. It’s the work ethic they had. It’s a shame he didn’t live to see this. My mother’s immensely proud.

“My grandparents came from a very small village in Cyprus. They literally lived off the land. It’s quite humbling for me.” 

Ms Ece grew up in the borough, going on to study health and public health at the University of Westminster before working as an assistant at Finsbury Library.

She was a councillor for 16 years, until last month, deciding to stand down well before she received the call from Mr Clegg offering her the title in recognition of her contribution to public life.

She said: “It’s a huge honour and privilege, especially coming from a Turkish background. I’ve been inundated by well-wishers from Tur­key and Cyprus. I feel very proud. 

“Nick always promised he’d do what he could to make the party more diverse and include more ethnic minorities and women.”

Ms Ece, an equality and human rights commissioner, will be on the working peers list. “I expect to be a full-time, active member of the House of Lords,” she said. “Whatever role I’m given, I’m happy to do it.”

She is also on the Lib Dem Federal Executive, which was at the heart of talks on the Clegg-Cameron coalition deal.

She said: “It was a tense, exciting, historic time. Everyone was taking it very seriously, it was a huge responsibility. No one knew this would happen. It takes some getting used to. 

“Many of us were very keen to make some deal with Labour but they weren’t interested. I would have thought we were natural partners.

“But when you have a hung parliament you have to work together. This is the reality of the coalition. What would be the alternative – to let the Conservatives run a minority government which was very right wing? This way it’s far more balanced.”

Lib Dems were keen that their manifesto commitments – ending detention centres, abolition of ID cards and fairer taxes – were taken up, she added.

Islington Lib Dem group leader Councillor Terry Stacy said: “I’m absolutely delighted that Meral has received a life peerage. It’s a richly deserved honour and a fitting tribute to her unwavering dedication to serving the community over many years, work that has already earned her an OBE for services to local government.

“She will join the House of Lords as the first female Turkish peer, and I have no doubt she will make a great and unique contribution. I speak for all of Islington when I say how proud we are of her.”