Caroline Jackson

Caroline Jackson (born 5 November 1946 in Penzance, Cornwall) is a politician in the United Kingdom. She was a Member of the European Parliament for the Conservative Party from 1984 to 2009.

Jackson represented the Wiltshire constituency from 1984 to 1994, then the new Wiltshire North and Bath from 1994 to 1999 and from 1999 to 2009 served as an MEP for the South West England constituency. In the European Parliament, she has been a leading member of the Environment Committee and between 1999 and 2004 was Chairman of the Committee on the Environment, Consumer Protection and Public Health. She was a trustee of the National Energy Foundation from 2004 to 2010.

She is married to Robert Jackson, a former MEP for the Upper Thames and former Member of Parliament for Wantage, who defected to the Labour Party in 2005. She studied at St Hugh's College and Nuffield College, Oxford. She holds a doctorate in 19th century politics and was formerly a research fellow of St Hugh's College. She has been a member of the National Consumer Council and a board member of Peugeot Talbot UK Ltd.

Jackson has been described by Liberal Democrat MEP Chris Davies thus: "She's been here for ever: a bit 'jolly hockey sticks' but firm, fair and funny." Friends of the Earth Europe have nominated her for a "worst EU lobbying award" in the category "worst conflict of interest" due to her dual roles working as an advisor to waste company Shanks and as an elected representative dealing with environmental issues. She is the only UK politician to be nominated.

She retired at the 2009 European Parliament Elections.

Publications

• Europe and Animal Welfare (1988)
• A Young Person's Guide to Europe (1996)
• The End of the Throwaway Society? (1998)

External links

• Official website
• Profile on European Parliament website