Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were among 1000 mourners who attended a memorial service for Dame Tessa Jowell.
The cathedral was at full capacity as people queued to pay their respects at an 80-minute service at Southwark Cathedral in London.
Former Conservative prime minister David Cameron, former home secretary Amber Rudd and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry were also in attendance.
Other guests seen filing into the Southwark Cathedral memorial service for the late former MP include her former Labour colleague David Blunkett.
Orders of service laid out on each seat contained a separate photo of the smiling baroness.
Mourners fell silent as the service began at 11am.
Canon Michael Rawson, sub dean at the cathedral, opened the service by praising Baroness Jowell of Brixton.
He said: "Her desire to be 'of Brixton' gives us a clue to her character as one rooted and grounded in the care and service of the people of south-east London".
Her "immense bravery and dignity" in the face of her diagnosis "earned her respect across the political divide", he added.
Leader of Southwark Council, Peter John, remembered Dame Tessa as someone who was "prepared to have the tough conversations".
He said: "She brought the same passion and humour to local campaigns as she did to everything she did on the national stage."
He added: "In some ways it's hard to think she was ever ill because her amazing spirit just continued shining through.
"That huge and sparkling smile, those radiant eyes, that warm embrace - the Tessa hug."
Applause and laughter rang out as Mohammed Hashi, from Brixton Soup Kitchen, recalled the support Dame Tessa had shown in helping him set up the homeless charity.
He said Dame Tessa had "so much access and so much influence" yet she continued to meet with him and represent his south London community.
When he was not sure what he should wear to a launch event, she told him "you wear what you want" and he chose a tracksuit.
He said: "For me, that was a reminder to be who you are, to be comfortable and confident with who you are."
He also drew laughter when he jokingly apologised to Sadiq Khan who was sat in the pews, telling him that his lifelong ambition was to be the Mayor of London.
He added: "She was an inspiration and she will continue to be an inspiration for each one of us for the rest of our lives."
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