Condolences on the passing of Tony Lloyd
Campaign News | Thursday, 18 January 2024
Tony welcoming Gerardo Hernandez, one of the Miami Five, to Manchester Town Hall in 2016
CSC statement on the passing of Tony Lloyd MP
On behalf of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign in the UK we would like to offer our deepest sympathy to Tony’s family, colleagues and friends.
Tony was a long standing friend to the Cuba Solidarity Campaign for more than thirty years. As a member of parliament he was also a committed internationalist and demonstrated his solidarity with the Cuban people by signing numerous letters and motions against the US blockade and attending parliamentary events and party fringe meetings in support of Cuba.
Tony played a major role in the long campaign for freedom of the Miami Five. In 2008 and 2009 he chaired a packed Labour Party fringe meetings which saw Olga Salanueva and Adriana Perez address more than 300 people to call for their husbands release from US jails. “Our solidarity is with you. Your struggle is our struggle,” he told them. He continued to support the women in their fight until the Five were released. In 2016, as Interim Mayor of Greater Manchester, he welcomed their husbands Gerardo Hernández and René González, to a celebration rally in Manchester Town Hall with hundreds of friends from across the North West.
More recently he joined the call for Cuba to be released from the US ‘State Sponsors of Terrorism’ list by signing EDM 1550 in 2021.
Tony will be greatly missed by all at the Cuba Solidarity Campaign and the wider labour movement. Our thoughts and solidarity go out to his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time.
Rob Miller, Director
Bernard Regan, National Secretary
