Full Breakdown
Marion Kozak, Mother of Former Labour Leaders, Dies at 91 – Tributes and Legacy
5/31/2026, 4:31:56 AM
Family Tributes Following Marion Kozak’s Death
Marion Kozak, Holocaust survivor and human-rights activist, died on Saturday at 91. Her sons, former Labour leaders Ed Miliband and David Miliband, announced her passing and praised her as a “force field of life and love” and a “dearly beloved mother, grandmother and sister.” They highlighted her resilience, from wartime trauma in Poland to a career in teaching, campaigning and advocacy in Britain.
Early Life and Holocaust Survival
Born Dobra Jenta Kozak in 1934 in Poland, she survived the Nazi occupation as a child. In 1942 she escaped the Czestochowa Ghetto with her mother and sister, finding refuge with nuns in a convent and later with a neighbour in Warsaw. She later credited “the kindness of strangers” for her survival. After the war she settled in the UK, married academic Ralph Miliband and became an early activist for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
Key Figures and Their Roles
Marion Kozak was a Holocaust survivor, teacher and human-rights campaigner. Her husband, Ralph Miliband, was a left-wing academic. Their sons, Ed Miliband and David Miliband, both served as senior Labour politicians—Ed as party leader (2010-2015) and former Foreign Secretary, David as Foreign Secretary (2007-2010). Both have repeatedly cited their mother’s experience as shaping their political outlook.
Data & Statistics
Born 1934; died at age 91; escaped the Czestochowa Ghetto in 1942; later worked in the UK as a teacher, campaigner and human-rights activist.
Official Statements & Responses
David Miliband, during a 2009 visit to Poland, thanked the families who risked their lives to shelter his mother, saying her survival was “saved by those who risked theirs sheltering her from Nazi oppression.” Ed Miliband, in a 2012 Labour conference speech, linked his mother’s wartime experience to his politics, stating “we cannot shrug our shoulders at injustice” and urging collective action. Both brothers affirmed that Kozak’s values of kindness, generosity and justice will guide their public work.
Why It Matters: Influence on British Labour Politics
Kozak’s story has been a reference point for the Miliband brothers, informing their focus on social justice, anti-discrimination and international solidarity. Their public acknowledgment illustrates how personal histories of survival can shape political discourse within the Labour Party.
Verbatim Quotes
- “? The siblings said: “She lived an extraordinary life with a spirit of the utmost kindness, warmth and generosity.” — Ed Miliband, tribute statement.
- “The kindness of strangers.” — Ed Miliband, recalling his mother’s rescue.
- “saved by those who risked theirs sheltering her from Nazi oppression” — David Miliband, 2009 Poland visit.
- “He said: “I believe we cannot shrug our shoulders at injustice, and just say that’s the way the world is.” — Ed Miliband, 2012 Labour conference.
