Maria Miller

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The Right Honourable
Maria Miller
MP
Maria Miller Official.jpg
Secretary of State for Culture,
Media and Sport
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 September 2012
Prime Minister David Cameron
Preceded by Jeremy Hunt
Minister for Women and Equalities
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 September 2012
Prime Minister David Cameron
Preceded by Theresa May
Minister for Disabled People
In office
12 May 2010 – 4 September 2012
Prime Minister David Cameron
Preceded by Jonathan Shaw
Succeeded by Esther McVey
Member of Parliament
for Basingstoke
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 May 2005
Preceded by Andrew Hunter
Majority 13,176 (26%)
Personal details
Born Maria Frances Lewis
(1964-03-26) 26 March 1964 (age 49)
Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Iain Miller (m. 1990)
Children Two sons, one daughter
Alma mater London School of Economics
Profession Politician and marketing consultant
Religion Church of England
Website www.mariamiller.co.uk

Maria Frances Lewis Miller (born 26 March 1964) is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Basingstoke since 2005.[1] She was the Minister for Disabled People from 2010 to 2012, when she was appointed to the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for Women and Equalities.[2]

Contents

Early life [edit]

The daughter of John Lewis, she was born in Wolverhampton, but was brought up in Bridgend, South Wales.[3] She was educated at the Brynteg Comprehensive School before reading Economics at the London School of Economics, graduating in 1985.[1] She joined Greys Advertising Ltd as an advertising executive, leaving in 1990 to become a marketing manager with Texaco. She rejoined Greys in 1994 and served for five years as a director, before becoming a director for the Rowland Group in 1999 for four years.[1]

Parliamentary career [edit]

Miller joined the Conservative Party in 1983 and contested Wolverhampton North East at the 2001 general election but was defeated by the sitting Labour MP, Ken Purchase. She has served as the chairman of Wolverhampton North East Conservative Association since 2001.[1] She was chair of the Wimbledon Conservative Association for a year from 2002.[1]

Miller was first elected to the House of Commons at the 2005 general election following the retirement of the former Conservative MP, Andrew Hunter, who had defected to the Northern Ireland Democratic Unionist Party before he stepped down. In Parliament she served for a year from 2005 as a member of the Trade and Industry Select Committee. Later in 2005, David Cameron appointed her a spokesperson for the Shadow Education and Skills team. She was appointed Shadow Minister for Families in 2007.[1] Following the 2010 general election she was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Disabled People at the Department for Work and Pensions.

In May 2012 she urged the Prime Minister to continue with proposals to introduce same-sex marriage in England and Wales, despite either voting against or being absent for "all major LGBT rights votes" since becoming an MP.[4]

On 4 September 2012, Miller was appointed Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for Women and Equality in David Cameron's first major Cabinet reshuffle.[5]

In February 2013 she was assessed as the 17th most powerful woman in the United Kingdom by Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4.[6]

Expenses claims [edit]

In December 2012 it was reported that, between 2005 and 2009, Miller had claimed over £90,000 in parliamentary expenses for the mortgage and upkeep of a house in south London where her parents lived.[7][8] She was subsequently reported to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards[9] and an inquiry launched into the claims.[8][10] Miller responded to the reports by stating that her "financial arrangements" had been audited on two occasions since she became an MP and no issues had been found with them[7][11] and that her parents lived with her as "dependents" under Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority rules.[12]

On 12 December it was reported that during a telephone call to The Daily Telegraph David Cameron's spokesman Craig Oliver had warned the newspaper against running a critical story concerning Miller's expenses because of her role in enacting proposals in the Leveson report.[13] Downing Street denied that any threats were made.[14]

Personal life [edit]

Miller and her husband Iain, a solicitor, were married in 1990. They have two sons and a daughter.[1][15]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g ‘MILLER, Rt Hon. Maria (Frances Lewis)’, Who's Who 2013, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2013; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012 ; online edn, Nov 2012 accessed 13 Dec 2012
  2. ^ Maria Miller MP to head Culture, Media and Sport department in UK Government, Basingstoke Gazette, 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
  3. ^ Maria Miller, The Conservative Party - profile. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
  4. ^ Britain shifts equalities role and makes gay man schools minister, Gay Star News, 2012-09-04. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
  5. ^ Maria Miller becomes culture secretary, The Guardian, 2012-09-04, Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  6. ^ BBC Radio 4, Woman's Hour Power list
  7. ^ a b MPs' expenses: Culture Secretary Maria Miller’s £90,000 claims for parents’ home, Daily Telegraph, 2012-12-10. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  8. ^ a b Maria Miller faces parliamentary investigation into her expenses, The Guardian, 2012-12-13. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
  9. ^ MPs' expenses: Maria Miller reported to MP watchdog over £90,000 expenses claims, Daily Telegraph, 2012-12-11. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  10. ^ Maria Miller expenses inquiry launched, BBC news website, 2012-12-13. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
  11. ^ Interview - PM, BBC radio 4, 2012-12-11. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  12. ^ Maria Miller Under Fire For Expense Claims, Sky news, 2012-12-11. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  13. ^ Downing Street and Daily Telegraph at war over Maria Miller allegations, The Guardian, 2012-12-12. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
  14. ^ "No 10 denies 'threats' made over Daily Telegraph probe". BBC News (BBC). 12 December 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012. 
  15. ^ Debrett's People of Today information

External links [edit]

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Andrew Hunter		 Member of Parliament for Basingstoke
2005–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by
Jonathan Shaw		 Minister for Disabled People
2010–2012		 Succeeded by
Esther McVey
Preceded by
Theresa May		 Minister for Women and Equalities
2012–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Jeremy Hunt		 Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
2012–present		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Secretary of State for National Heritage
(1992–1997)
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
(1997–present)
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