Theresa May

The Right Honourable Theresa Mary May (born October 1 1956 as Theresa Mary Brasier) is a British politician, former chairman of the Conservative Party, and Member of Parliament for Maidenhead.

Related Topics:
October 1 - 1956 - British - Conservative Party - Member of Parliament - Maidenhead

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She studied at St Hugh's College, Oxford and obtained a Geography MA. From 1985 to 1997, she was a consultant for a financial institution, and in the 1992 general election she stood unsucessfully for Durham North West, a safe Labour seat. In the 1997 general election she became the Conservative MP for Maidenhead.

Related Topics:
St Hugh's College, Oxford - Geography - 1985 - 1997 - 1992 general election - Durham North West - 1997 general election

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Having entered parliament she soon became a member of William Hague's team. Her first appointment was as Shadow Spokesman for Schools, Disabled People and Women (1998 – June 1999). She became the first of the 1997 intake of MPs to enter the Shadow Cabinet when in 1999 she became Shadow Education and Employment Secretary. After the 2001 election the new Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith retained her services in the Shadow Cabinet, moving her to the Transport portfolio. In this role she opposed Stephen Byers the then Transport Secretary in the period leading up to his resignation, making many media appearances and contributing to his eventual decision to resign. Her success in this role led to her appointment as the first female chairman in July 2002. Whilst holding this role, she courted controversy within the party at the 2002 Party Conference by warning that the Conservatives were perceived as the nasty party and that they needed to shed this image.

Related Topics:
William Hague - 1998 - 1999 - 1997 - Shadow Cabinet - 2001 election - Iain Duncan Smith - Stephen Byers - Chairman - 2002

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After Michael Howard became Conservative leader in 2003, he made her Shadow Secretary of State for Transport and the Environment. However in June 2004, she was moved to the new position of Shadow Secretary of State for the Family. After the 2005 election her portfolio was expanded and she became Shadow Secretary of State for the Family and for Culture, Media & Sport.

Related Topics:
Michael Howard - 2003 - Secretary of State for Transport - The Environment - 2004 - 2005 election

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May is known for her love of shoes; in the register of members interests she declared that she had ' discount card on the purchase of shoes from Russell and Bromley, which has the potential to be of registrable value.' She is married to Philip May (educated at Lincoln College, Oxford) and lives in Sonning, Berkshire.

Related Topics:
Lincoln College, Oxford - Sonning - Berkshire

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