Irene Ward

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Irene Mary Bewick Ward, Baroness Ward of North Tyneside CH DBE (23 February 1895–26 April 1980) was a British Conservative politician. She was a long-serving Member of Parliament.

Ward was educated privately and at Newcastle Church High School. She contested Morpeth in 1924 and 1929 without success and was elected to the House of Commons in 1931 for Wallsend, defeating Labour's Margaret Bondfield. A strong advocate for Tyneside industry and social conditions, she lost her seat heavily in the 1945 general election.

In 1950, Ward returned to Parliament for Tynemouth, again defeating a female incumbent - Grace Colman. An active backbencher, she introduced the bill that became the Rights of Entry (Gas and Electricity Boards) Act 1954 and promoted a Bill to pay pocket money to the elderly living in institutions. She also promoted the Nurses (Amendment) Act 1961 and the Penalties for Drunkenness Act 1962. She served on the influential Public Accounts Committee from 1964.

Ward retired from the Commons in February 1974, having served a total of almost 38 years. She was the longest-serving woman MP, nicknamed the 'Mother of the House', until that record was broken by Gwyneth Dunwoody in 2007. At 79 years old at her retirement, Ward was the oldest-ever serving female Member of Parliament, the oldest-ever woman to be re-elected, and also the oldest sitting member at that time. She was made a life peer as Baroness Ward of North Tyneside, of North Tyneside in the County of Tyne and Wear in 1975.

Ward was awarded the CBE in 1929 and the DBE in 1955, and was made a Companion of Honour in 1973.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Margaret Bondfield	Member of Parliament for Wallsend 1931–1945	Succeeded by John McKay
Preceded by Grace Colman	Member of Parliament for Tynemouth 1950–1974	Succeeded by Neville Trotter
Honorary titles
Preceded by John Rankin	Oldest sitting member (nb not Father of the House) 1973 - 1974	Succeeded by David Weitzman