Lorely Burt

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Lorely Jane Burt (born August 10, 1954) is a British politician and the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Solihull.

After graduating in economics, Burt began her career in the Prison Service as an assistant governor, before working for several national companies in the field of personnel and training. She later set up a training company, worked as a director in the marketing and financial services sector, and moved into part-time consultancy work when she was selected as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Solihull.

Her political career began on Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, where she served for five years from 1998. She stood for election in Dudley South at the 2001 General Election, where she finished in third place and well behind the winner Ian Pearson. She also stood for the West Midlands region at the 2004 European Parliament election.

In the run up to the 2005 general election, Burt campaigned on various local issues affecting Solihull, and succeeded in overturning the large majority held by the Conservative incumbent John Taylor. This was a striking achievement as the Conservatives lost only two other seats to the Liberal Democrats, and they had both been marginal seats for the previous decade. Solihull is a traditionally Conservative constituency, and Burt was aided in her victory over Taylor by squeezing the vote of the Labour Party. Her majority over Taylor was just 279 votes, making Solihull an extremely marginal constituency for the next election.

Following her election, Lorely Burt became a Liberal Democrat spokeswoman on Northern Ireland and she also served on the Treasury Select Committee. After the election of Sir Menzies Campbell to the leadership of the party, Burt became the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Small Business and Women and Equality. She is married to Richard Burt and they have two children. Her husband fought Shrewsbury & Atcham at the 2005 election.