Born in Glasgow, she migrated with her family to New Zealand in 1921. She was an ardent suffragette, and a member of the Theosophical Society.[1] At Labour's 1938 conference Stewart stated "I am not speaking as a feminist but as a woman who wishes to stand shoulder to shoulder with our men" in her acceptance to stand as a party candidate.[1]
She won the Wellington West electorate in the 1938 election, when she defeated long-standing MP Robert Wright.[2] She was the second woman to be elected to Parliament after Elizabeth McCombs and first to enter parliament as a result of a general election. Stewart saw herself as the "Member for Everywoman" and felt obliged to concentrate on issues in the interests of women, children and those in need.[1] In 1941, she was joined by Mary Dreaver, also of the Labour party, bringing the total of female MPs to two.[3]
Stewart was defeated in the next election held in 1943. This was seen as a result of public vilification due to two of her sons, who were conscientious objectors during World War II.[1] Later she was unsuccessfully nominated for a position on the New Zealand Legislative Council by Labour’s Karori branch in her old electorate.
In both 1941 and 1944 she unsuccessfully stood for the Wellington City Council on a Labour Party ticket.[4][5] Both elections saw all Labour candidates defeated.
After the death of her husband Charles in 1948, she returned to live in Glasgow, where she died on 2 April 1957.[1]
