MP's daughter electrocuted

The daughter of a London MP has been electrocuted in an accident in her kitchen.

Mary Wherry, 34, daughter of Richmond Park MP Jenny Tonge, was killed at her Hampton home within earshot of one of her two small children.

Dr Tonge today paid tribute to her daughter, saying: "Mary was everything I always wanted to be."

A friend said Mrs Wherry plugged an appliance into the newly refurbished kitchen and received a powerful shock. One of her children apparently heard her screams and moments later found her slumped on the floor. The friend, who did not wish to be named, said: "This is a real tragedy for the family. Everyone's thoughts are with Mary's family and friends at this difficult time."

Dr Tonge, who also has two sons with her husband Keith, last year decided not to stand for Parliament at the next election, to allow her to spend more time with her family.

Westminster sources today confirmed that Mrs Wherry had died as a result of electrocution and that her funeral was this afternoon.

Dr Tonge has been one of the Liberal Democrats' high-profile MPs since she won Richmond Park from the Tories in 1997.

The 63-year-old former GP rose to become international development spokesman but announced she would retire last October.

Firmly on the left of the party, she was sacked from the frontbench after saying that she would consider becoming a suicide bomber if she was Palestinian.

Mary attended The Queen's School in Kew, Waldegrave School for Girls and Richmond upon Thames College, where she met her husband, Jake Wherry.

Following a degree in French from Oxford Brookes University, she worked for the Goldman Sachs bank for several years before starting a family. Mrs Wherry was actively involved in her local community and ran after-school French classes.

Her funeral service was being held at Richmond Parish Church.