Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton


Winifred Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton, PC 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 served as a Member of Parliament from 1974 and 1983 and again from 1987 to 2005.
She was also the first woman to serve as Leader of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, the first woman to serve as Lord President of the Privy Council and the first woman to serve as House of Commons Chief Whip.

Early life

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

House of Commons

Taylor fought Bolton West in February 1974, then was the Member of Parliament 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:
As a backbencher, Ann Taylor sponsored a Private Member's Bill, the 'Succession to the Crown ' Bill, which sought to eliminate gender and religious discrimination in the royal succession.
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.
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. 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.

Votes in Parliament

cites her as being "Very Strongly" for the Iraq War, equal gay rights, and NHS foundation trusts.

In popular culture

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