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Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton

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Prime Minister
  
Gordon Brown

Succeeded by
  
Quentin Davies

Preceded by
  
The Lord Drayson


Prime Minister
  
Gordon Brown

Preceded by
  
Position established

Name
  
Ann Baroness

Succeeded by
  
Gerald Howarth (International Security Strategy)

Winifred Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton, PC (born 2 July 1947) is a British Labour Party politician, who was Minister for International Defence and Security, based at both the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, from October 2008 until 11 May 2010.

Contents

She was also the first woman to serve as Leader of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom and the first woman to serve as Lord President of the Privy Council (both in the First Blair Ministry).

Early life

She attended Bolton School and the University of Bradford, where she graduated with a BSc degree in Politics and History in 1969.

House of Commons

Taylor fought Bolton West in February 1974 (failing to win by 603 votes), then was the Member of Parliament (MP) for the seat from October 1974 to 1983. She fought the new seat of Bolton North East in 1983, being defeated by the Conservative Peter Thurnham, before representing Dewsbury from 1987 until 2005.

Frontbench roles

Ann Taylor has held the following positions:

  • 1977–1979: Assistant Government Whip in the Callaghan Government
  • 1979–1981: Opposition Spokesman for Education & Science
  • 1981–1983: Opposition Spokesman for the Environment
  • 1988–1992: Opposition Spokesman for the Environment
  • 1992–1994: Shadow Secretary of State for Education
  • 1994–1995: Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
  • 1994–1997: Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
  • 1997–1998: Leader of the House of Commons & Lord President of the Council
  • 1998–2001: Government Chief Whip (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury)
  • 2001–2005: Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee (Her appointment to this post was criticised by opposition Liberal Democrats.)

    • Backbenches and retirement

    As a backbencher, Ann Taylor sponsored a Private Member's Bill, the 'Succession to the Crown (no 2)' Bill, which sought to eliminate gender and religious discrimination in the royal succession.

    Taylor stepped down from the House of Commons at the 2005 general election. The Constituency Labour Party selected Shahid Malik to be their candidate.

    House of Lords

    On 13 May 2005 it was announced that she was to be given a Life Peerage, and she was created Baroness Taylor of Bolton, of Bolton in the County of Greater Manchester, on 13 June 2005.

    She was made Minister for Defence Procurement on 7 November 2007, following Lord Drayson's decision to resign to compete in the American Le Mans Series; unlike her predecessor, she was paid. Following the Brown reshuffle of October 2008, Lady Taylor was moved to a new post at the Ministry of Defence as Minister for International Defence and Security.

    Votes in Parliament

    The Public Whip cites her as being "Very Strongly" for the Iraq War, equal gay rights, and NHS foundation trusts (despite being noted for voting against Conservative MP Edwina Currie's 1994 proposed amendment to the Public Order and Criminal Justice Bill to equalise the age of homosexual consent to 16).

    Styles of address

  • 1947-1974: Ms Ann Taylor
  • 1974-1983: Ms Ann Taylor MP
  • 1983-1987: Ms Ann Taylor
  • 1987-1997: Ms Ann Taylor MP
  • 1997-2005: The Right Honourable Ann Taylor MP
  • 2005: The Right Honourable Ann Taylor
  • 2005-: The Right Honourable The Baroness Taylor of Bolton PC

    • The 2012 play This House about the 1970s Labour Government prominently featured Ann Taylor as the first female whip.

    References

    Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA