‘How proud she must have been’: condolences from across the aisle for Sussan Ley’s mother

Political figures have offered sympathy to Sussan Ley, telling the new Liberal leader ‘how proud’ her late mother, Angela Braybrooks, would have been. Ms Ley was with her in the last days after partyroom voted.

Sussan Ley with her mother, nurse Angela Braybrooks. Picture: supplied

Messages of condolence have begun coming from political figures after the death of new Liberal leader Sussan Ley’s mother.

Ms Ley’s mother, Angela Braybrooks, died just days after her daughter became the first woman to lead the federal Liberal Party.

Former Liberal deputy leader Julie Bishop offered her sympathies, telling Ms Ley “how proud [Angela] must have been of your achievements”.

Labor’s Minister for Climate Change, Chris Bowen, told Ms Ley “your mother lived long enough to see you elected the leader of one our country’s great political parties, something of which she would have been proud and you can be”.

“The loss of a parent is not easy, regardless of the time of our life or theirs,” he said. “You’re in our thoughts.”

NSW Liberal MP Tim James extended his condolences to Ms Ley, offering “srength, love and peace at this time”.

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, told Ms Ley her own words were a “lovely tribute to your mum’s life’’.

“Condolences to you and your family,” he said.

The Opposition Leader said on Saturday her mother – a mental health nurse for most of her life – had taught her “resilience, self-reliance and persistence”.

“Growing up in wartime Britain, Angela could never have dreamed that her daughter would become Australia’s first female Leader of the Opposition, but because of her, that happened this week,” Ms Ley said in a statement.

“Like so many of her generation, she weathered uncertain times with strength and determination. I have taken inspiration from her every single day of my life and I always will.

“It was a gift of fate that I was able to share Mother’s Day with my mum one last time on Sunday.”

Ms Ley drove back to Albury in southern NSW from Canberra on Tuesday to be with her mother in her last days, after winning the Liberal leadership against opposition treasury spokesman Angus Taylor by just four partyroom votes.

“On Monday night in Canberra, our parish priest organised a FaceTime call, telling Angela she had to ‘hang on’ to see one more special moment in her daughter’s life,” Ms Ley said.

“If she could do that, he promised her, ‘we’ll have champagne tomorrow’.

“Whilst Mum was no longer verbal, she watched every moment of my press conference. As I walked back into her room that afternoon, her eyes lit up with excitement. It was a moment I will treasure, forever.”