View Theresa's expense claims (opens in a new window)
Theresa believes passionately in helping more women into politics. She co-founded Women2Win which helps attract and train women to become Conservative Party candidates for Parliament. When she was Party Chairman, and latterly as a member of the Party’s Candidates Committee, Theresa has also pushed for changes to the Party’s selection procedures to ensure a level playing field for women. The changes made by the Party have been successful and there are now significantly more women in winnable seats for the next election.
Having worked in the City before becoming an MP, Theresa has experience of life outside Westminster and understands the demands that a busy career places on women. Having started her career at the Bank of England, she went on to hold posts at the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) as Head of the European Affairs Unit from 1989-1996, and Senior Adviser on International Affairs between 1996-97.
Theresa has been involved in politics at all levels for many years, starting out stuffing envelopes at her local Conservative Association before going on to be a councillor in the London borough of Merton from 1986 to 1994. During that time Theresa was Chairman of Education between 1988-1990 and Deputy Group Leader and Housing Spokesman between 1992-1994.
Theresa stood for Parliament twice - North West Durham in the 1992 General Election and Barking in the 1994 by-election - before being elected Member of Parliament for Maidenhead in May 1997. She lives in the constituency and is an active local campaigner. Among her many campaigns are ones to improve the local train service, bring a minor injuries unit to the local community hospital, get a new bridge built across the River Thames, save the resident lock keepers and stop over-development locally.
Theresa had a varied education spanning both the state and private sectors, and both grammar school and comprehensive school, and read Geography at St Hugh’s College, Oxford University.
POSITIONS HELD:
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MP for Maidenhead, May 1997 –
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Opposition Spokeswoman for Education and Employment, 1998-99
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Member of the Shadow Cabinet, 1999 -
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Spokeswoman for Women's Issues, 1999-2001
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Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Employment, 1999-2001
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Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, 2001-02
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Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, 2002
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Chairman of the Conservative Party, 2002-2003
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Shadow Secretary of State for Environment and Transport, 2003-04
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Shadow Secretary of State for the Family, 2004-05
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Shadow Secretary of State for the Family and for Culture, Media and Sport, 2005
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Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, 2005 - 2009
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Member House of Commons Commission, 2006
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Shadow Minister for Women, 2007-
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Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, 2009 -
PROUDEST POLITICAL ACHIEVEMENT:
Bringing a minor injuries unit to St Mark’s Hospital in Maidenhead
INTERESTS OUTSIDE OF POLITICS:
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Walking – holidays often spent walking in the Alps
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Cooking – she has a kitchen full of recipe books!
FAMILY LIFE: