Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton

The Right Honourable
The Baroness Taylor of Bolton
PC
Minister of State for International Defence and Security
In office
5 October 2008  11 May 2010
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Gerald Howarth (International Security Strategy)
Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support
In office
7 November 2007  5 October 2008
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Preceded by The Lord Drayson
Succeeded by Quentin Davies
Government Chief Whip in the Commons
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
In office
27 July 1998  8 June 2001
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Preceded by Nick Brown
Succeeded by Hilary Armstrong
Leader of the House of Commons
Lord President of the Council
In office
2 May 1997  27 July 1998
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Preceded by Tony Newton
Succeeded by Margaret Beckett
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
In office
20 October 1994  2 May 1997
Leader Tony Blair
Preceded by Margaret Beckett
Succeeded by Alastair Goodlad
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Shadow Minister for the Citizen's Charter
In office
20 October 1994  19 October 1995
Leader Tony Blair
Preceded by Michael Meacher
Succeeded by Derek Foster
Shadow Secretary of State for Education
In office
18 July 1992  20 October 1994
Leader John Smith
Margaret Beckett (Acting)
Preceded by Jack Straw
Succeeded by David Blunkett
Member of Parliament
for Bolton West
In office
10 October 1974  9 June 1983
Preceded by Robert Redmond
Succeeded by Tom Sackville
Member of Parliament
for Dewsbury
In office
12 June 1987  11 April 2005
Preceded by John Whitfield
Succeeded by Shahid Malik
Personal details
Born (1947-07-02) 2 July 1947
London, United Kingdom
Political party Labour
Alma mater University of Bradford

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.

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).[1]

Early life

She attended Bolton School and the University of Bradford, where she graduated with a BSc degree in Politics and History in 1969. [2]

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:

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.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

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).[8]

Styles of address

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

References

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Robert Redmond
Member of Parliament
for Bolton West

19741983
Succeeded by
Tom Sackville
Preceded by
John Whitfield
Member of Parliament
for Dewsbury

19872005
Succeeded by
Shahid Malik
Political offices
Preceded by
Jack Straw
Shadow Secretary of State for Education
1992–1994
Succeeded by
David Blunkett
Preceded by
Michael Meacher
Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
1994–1995
Succeeded by
Derek Foster
Shadow Minister for the Citizen's Charter
1994–1995
Preceded by
Margaret Beckett
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
1994–1997
Succeeded by
Alastair Goodlad
Preceded by
Tony Newton
Leader of the House of Commons
1997–1998
Succeeded by
Margaret Beckett
Lord President of the Council
1997–1998
Preceded by
Nick Brown
Government Chief Whip in the Commons
1998–2001
Succeeded by
Hilary Armstrong
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
1998–2001
Preceded by
Tom King
Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee
2001–2005
Succeeded by
Paul Murphy
Preceded by
The Lord Drayson
Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support
2007–2008
Succeeded by
Quentin Davies
New office Minister of State for International Defence and Security
2008–2010
Succeeded by
Gerald Howarth
as Minister of State for International Security Strategy
Party political offices
Preceded by
Nick Brown
Chief Whip of the Labour Party in the Commons
1998–2001
Succeeded by
Hilary Armstrong
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