Education
Born Janet Gibson in Crewe, she was educated at the Verdin Grammar School in Winsford.
Born Janet Gibson in Crewe, she was educated at the Verdin Grammar School in Winsford.
On leaving school in 1965 she became a clerk at Barclays Bank, before moving to Bass Charrington in 1969. She was widowed in 1994. She was elected as a councillor to the Staffordshire County Council in 1981 and to the East Staffordshire District Council in 1991, becoming its mayor in 1996.
She was also elected to the Uttoxeter Town Council in 1995.
She stepped down from all three councils on her election to Westminster. Dean was selected to stand for election for Labour through an all-women shortlist.
She was elected to the House of Commons in the 1997 General Election, winning Burton from the sitting Conservative Member of Parliament, Ivan Lawrence, by 6,330 votes. She made her maiden speech on 30 July 1997.
On 20 June 2007, Dean announced her intention to stand down at the next general election.
She was the chairperson of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Lupus – an issue close to her heart, as both her mother and husband died from lieutenant
52nd United Kingdom Parliament. 53rd United Kingdom Parliament. 54th United Kingdom Parliament]
In parliament she was a member of the Catering Select Committee from her election until 2005.
She was a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee from 1999, and since the 2005 General Election she has also been a member of the Speaker"s Panel of Chairmen.
She was a loyal backbencher although rebelling against the privatisation of air traffic control in 2000, a local issue given the proximity of her constituency to the East Midlands Airport.