Melanie Johnson

Melanie Jane Johnson (born 5 February 1955, in Ipswich) is a Labour politician in the United Kingdom.

Early life

Johnson 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. 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 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".

Johnson was re-elected 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.

In October 2003 Johnson attracted criticism for suggesting that the fluoridation of water should be "the preferred method of preventing tooth decay on a population basis". She suggested such a process was cheaper and had greater benefits than brushing with toothpaste. Critics such as Simon Thomas accused her of suggesting people should thrown away their toothbrushes. Thomas stated the proposals were "crazy" and "full of contradictions" . Others such as Martyn Shrewsbury accused her of failing to consider the health risk of fluoride as well as the ethics of medicating people against their will . Johnson later clarified her comments stating "we are not saying that people should stop brushing their teeth".

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):

• 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.

Johnson voted in 51% of votes in parliament from 2001-2005. She is loyal to her party in her voting, almost never rebelling (0.3% of the time)

Personal life

She has twin daughters and a son.

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