Natalie Evans, Baroness Evans of Bowes Park


Natalie Jessica Evans, Baroness Evans of Bowes Park, is a British politician serving as Leader of the House of Lords since 2016, the first occupant of the role who has served under two prime ministers for nearly 50 years since Lord Shepherd in 1974. A member of the Conservative Party, she was made a life peer in 2014.

Early life and education

Evans was born on 29 November 1975. She was educated at Rockport School, The Henrietta Barnett School and at New Hall, Cambridge, where she studied social and political sciences and graduated in 1998.

Career

Evans worked as a researcher for the House of Commons and then for the Social Market Foundation, a public policy think tank which aims to "champion ideas that marry a pro-market orientation with concern for social justice". She moved to the Conservative Research Department in 1999, eventually becoming its deputy director. In 2002, she was appointed head of policy at the Investor Relations Society "with a remit to help the Society play a leading role in influencing UK legislation, in particular the Financial Services Authority's review of the listing rules and regulations covering analyst research." She later became its general manager. In 2004, she became head of health and protection at the Association of British Insurers, and then worked as head of policy at the British Chambers of Commerce.
In 2008, Evans became deputy director at Policy Exchange, a centre-right think tank. In May 2010, she stood for election to the London Borough of Haringey as a Conservative Party candidate to be one of three councillors in the Bounds Green ward; she achieved 647 votes and was not elected. On 5 November 2010, as deputy director at Policy Exchange, she introduced Home Secretary Theresa May at a speech about immigration hosted by the think tank.
In 2011, Evans left Policy Exchange to become chief operating officer at the New Schools Network. She was then its director from January 2013 until May 2015. The New Schools Network is a registered charity, and supports groups who wish to set up free schools.

House of Lords

She was made life peer as Baroness Evans of Bowes Park, of Bowes Park in the London Borough of Haringey, on 12 September 2014. Baroness Evans was formally introduced to the House of Lords along with Lord Cashman on 28 October 2014. She was, at the time, the youngest female peer.
Evans served as a government whip in the House of Lords during the 2015 government, and spoke briefly in January 2016 about how "education must be at the heart of our prison system if we are to rehabilitate effectively". On 14 July 2016 Baroness Evans was appointed to the post of Leader of the House of Lords by then prime minister, Theresa May. She remained in that office in July 2019 by Boris Johnson.

Personal life

Her husband James Wild was employed as a Special Adviser by Sir Michael Fallon MP, when he served as Secretary of State for Defence. He was elected the MP for North West Norfolk at the 2019 United Kingdom general election.