Janet Anne Royall, Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, PC (born 20 August 1955) is a British Labour politician. She is the current Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords.
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Royall was educated at the Royal Forest of Dean Grammar School and Westfield College, University of London where she gained a BA in Spanish and French in 1977.
Royall was a special adviser to Neil Kinnock, the Leader of the Labour Party, in the 1980s, and she has remained a close ally of his ever since. She sought selection as Labour's candidate for Ogmore in a 2002 by-election. However, the constituency party preferred Huw Irranca-Davies as their candidate. When in 2003 she became head of the European Union's office in Wales, there were calls for her to stand down because of her connections to the Labour party.
On 25 June 2004 she was created Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, of Blaisdon in the County of Gloucestershire.[1] In the House of Lords, she became government spokesman for Health, International Development and Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
On 24 January 2008 Baroness Royall was appointed government Chief Whip in the House of Lords, following the resignation of Lord Grocott, and was created a Privy Counsellor later in the year. On 3 October 2008, she was promoted to the cabinet by Gordon Brown, who made her Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council. On 5 June 2009, Royall was succeeded as Lord President by Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary and was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
She was married to Stuart Hercock until his death in 2010, and has a daughter, Charlie and two sons, Ned and Harry.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by The Lord Grocott |
Chief Whip in the House of Lords 2007–2008 |
Succeeded by The Lord Bassam of Brighton |
| Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms 2007–2008 |
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| Preceded by The Baroness Ashton of Upholland |
Lord President of the Council 2008–2009 |
Succeeded by The Lord Mandelson |
| Leader of the House of Lords 2008–2010 |
Succeeded by The Lord Strathclyde |
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| Preceded by Liam Byrne |
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 2009–2010 |
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| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by The Baroness Ashton of Upholland |
Leader of the Labour Party in the House of Lords 2008–present |
Incumbent |
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| House of Commons | House of Lords | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaker | John Bercow | Lord Speaker | The Baroness D'Souza |
| Leader of the House of Commons | Sir George Young, Bt. | Leader of the House of Lords | The Lord Strathclyde |
| Serjeant at Arms | Jill Pay | Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod | Lt-Gen. David Leakey |
| Clerk of the House and Chief Executive | Robert Rogers | Clerk of the Parliaments | David Beamish |
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