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==Personal life== |
==Personal life== |
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She has twin daughters and a son. |
She has twin daughters and a son. |
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== References == |
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Revision as of 17:26, 2 February 2009
Melanie Jane Johnson (born 5 February 1955, in Ipswich) is a Labour politician in the United Kingdom.
Early life
She attended the independent Clifton High School in Clifton, Bristol. Leaving Bristol for London Johnson studied at University College London, gaining a BA in Philosophy and Ancient Greek (1976). Following this she moved to Cambridge, continuing to study Philosophy at postgraduate level Kings College, Cambridge. From the age of 19 onwards she was an active member of the Labour Party and for over a decade was a County Councillor. From 1981-88, she was Member Relations Officer for Cambridge Co-op, then Retail Administration Manager from 1988-90. She was Assistant General Manager in Quality Assurance for Cambridge FHSA from 1990-92. Johnson was a schools inspector for OFSTED from 1993-97.
Parliamentary career
Johnson was selected to stand for election for Labour through an all-women shortlist. This method of selection was subsequently declared illegal in January 1996 as it breached sex discrimination laws,[1] Despite the ruling she remained in place as the candidate for the following year's election. She was first elected in the 1997 election overturning a majority of 6,583. Johnson won her seat, Welwyn Hatfield, a traditional Conservative strong hold, following an infamous statement made by her opponent, David Evans, which made national newspaper headlines. Evans was taped by sixth-form students (at Stanborough School, Welwyn Garden City) denouncing Johnson as "a single girl, lives with her boyfriend, three bastard children" and saying she had "never done a proper job". At this time Johnson was working as a school inspector and living with her partner of 18 years, raising their young family. In this taped statement Evans claimed Johnson didn't "have a chance in hell". Evans refused to apologise about his comments to Johnson.
Johnson was returned in the 2001 elections with a reduced majority. Welwyn Hatfield had never previously been held for more than one term by a Labour MP. She was defeated in the 2005 general election on a 9.2% swing to the Conservatives. In her constituency she was a key player in securing the British Aerospace site development for the benefit of local residents.
From 1999 to 2005 Johnson was a junior minister serving first as Economic Secretary to the Treasury. Secondly in the DTI as Minister for Competition and Consumers. Finally as Minister for Public Health in the Department of Health. In this last role her responsibilities included policy on smoking, obesity, drugs, alcohol, diet and nutrition, communicable diseases, sexual health, sustainable development and health inequalities.
Post Parliamentary Work
In 2006 Melanie Johnson took the position of Deputy Chair on the Customer Impact Panel, an Association of British Insurers organisation dedicated to improving the customers' experience of the insurance industry. In 2007 she became the Chair and Mike Ross took over as Deputy Chair.
Voting Record
Johnson voted on key issues as follows (Since 2001): [2]
- Voted a mixture of for and against introducing a smoking ban.
- Voted moderately for introducing ID cards.
- Voted very strongly for introducing foundation hospitals.
- Voted strongly for introducing student top-up fees.
- Voted strongly for Labour's anti-terrorism laws.
- Voted very strongly for the Iraq war.
- Voted very strongly against an investigation into the Iraq war.
- Voted very strongly for the hunting ban.
- Voted moderately for equal gay rights.
Personal life
She has twin daughters and a son.