Claire Ward
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Claire Ward MP
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 9 June 2009 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
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| Preceded by | Shahid Malik |
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| In office 5 October 2008 – 9 June 2009 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Liz Blackman |
| Succeeded by | Helen Jones |
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Member of Parliament
for Watford |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1 May 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Tristan Garel-Jones |
| Majority | 1,148 (2.3%) |
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| Born | 9 May 1972 North Shields |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | University of Hertfordshire |
Claire Margaret Ward, born 28 May 1972 , is a politician in the United Kingdom. She is Labour Party Member of Parliament for Watford. She is currently a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice.
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[edit] Early life
Although born in North Shields, Ward was brought up in Elstree where she attended the Loreto College, a Roman Catholic female school, in St Albans and studied at the newly-created University of Hertfordshire (Hatfield Polytechnic until 1992) where she gained an LLB in Law in 1993. From Brunel University she gained an MA in Britain and the European Union in 1994. She then qualified as a solicitor from The College of Law in London. From 1995 until 1998 she was a trainee solicitor. She was an active member of Young Labour and took the Young Labour place on the Labour Party National Executive Committee in 1995. She was also elected to Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council where she became Mayor.
[edit] Parliamentary career
She was elected to Parliament in 1997, succeeding former Deputy Chief Whip Tristan Garel-Jones who retired, and defeating Robert Gordon of the Conservative Party. Her election was notable in that she was only 24, although she was not quite the youngest MP - being beaten by a few weeks by Christopher Leslie who unexpectedly won Shipley. In 2001 she retained her seat by 5,792 votes.
The increasing dominance of local politics in Watford Borough council by the Liberal Democrats, including the election of a Liberal Democrat Mayor, led to speculation that Ward would find re-election extremely difficult. However, she managed to hold off a strong Liberal Democrat challenge, despite a 12% swing against her in the 2005 general election holding the seat with a majority of just over 1,000 (2.3% of the electorate). The Conservative candidate was narrowly forced into third place, making Watford a three way marginal seat.
She has been a member of the All Party Chocolate and Confectionery Industry Group.[citation needed]
She has claimed over £90,000 in second home allowance since 2004, despite living less than 30 miles from Westminster. In a public statement dated 20th May 2009, she defended her choice to fund a second home in Westminster from her parliamentary allowance, citing her need to balance her public duties with her duties as a mother of small children.
In the 2008 reshuffle she became Vice-Chamberlain of the Household; the lowest form of senior Government Whip in the Whips' office.
During the June 2009 reshuffle, she replaced Shahid Malik as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice.
[edit] Voting record
How Claire Ward voted on key issues since 2001 (They Work For You):
- Voted against a transparent Parliament.
- Voted for introducing a smoking ban.
- Voted for introducing ID cards.
- Voted for introducing foundation hospitals.
- Voted for introducing student top-up fees.
- Voted for Labour's anti-terrorism laws.
- Voted for the Iraq war.
- Voted against investigating the Iraq war.
- Voted for replacing Trident.
- Voted for the hunting ban.
- Voted for equal gay rights.
[edit] External links
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Claire Ward MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Claire Ward MP
- BBC Politics
- Claire Ward's website
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tristan Garel-Jones |
Member of Parliament for Watford 1997 – present |
Incumbent |
| Preceded by Liz Blackman |
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household 2008 - 2009 |
Succeeded by Helen Jones |
