Background
TAYLOR, Ann was born on July 2, 1947. Daughter of the late John Walker and Doreen Walker (née Bowling).
TAYLOR, Ann was born on July 2, 1947. Daughter of the late John Walker and Doreen Walker (née Bowling).
Past student, University Bradford. Past student, University Sheffield.
She fought the new seat of Bolton North East in 1983, being defeated by the Conservative Peter Thurnham, before representing Dewsbury from 1987 until 2005. Frontbench roles
Ann Taylor has held the following positions:
1977–1979: Assistant Government Whip in the Callaghan Government
1979–1981: Opposition Spokesman for Education & Science
1981–1983: Opposition Spokesman for the Environment
1988–1992: Opposition Spokesman for the Environment
1992–1994: Shadow Secretary of State for Education
1994–1995: Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
1994–1997: Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
1997–1998: Leader of the House of Commons & Lord President of the Council
1998–2001: Government Chief Whip (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury)
Backbenches, retirement and peerage
As a backbencher, Ann Taylor sponsored a Private Member"s Bill, the "Succession to the Crown (no 2)" Bill, which sought to eliminate gender and religious discrimination in the royal succession. Taylor stepped down from the House of Commons at the 2005 general election.
The Constituency Labour Party selected Shahid Malik to be their candidate.
On 13 May 2005 it was announced that she was to be given a Life Peerage, and she was created Baroness Taylor of Bolton, of Bolton in the County of Greater Manchester, on 13 June 2005. She was made Minister for Defence Procurement on 7 November 2007, following Lord Drayson"s decision to resign to compete in the American Le Mans Series.
Unlike her predecessor, she was paid. Following the Brown reshuffle of October 2008, Lady Taylor was moved to a new post at the Ministry of Defence as Minister for International Defence and Security.
Votes
The Public Whip cites her as being "Very Strongly" for the Iraq War, equal Gay Rights, and Foundation Hospitals (despite being noted for voting against Conservative Member of Parliament Edwina Currie"s 1994 proposed amendement to the Public Order and Criminal Justice Bill to equalise the age of homosexual consent to 16).
The 2012 play This House about the 1970s Labour Government prominently featured Ann Taylor as the first female whip.
2001–2005: Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee (Her appointment to this post was criticised by opposition Liberal Democrats.
47th United Kingdom Parliament. 48th United Kingdom Parliament. 50th United Kingdom Parliament.
51st United Kingdom Parliament.
52nd United Kingdom Parliament. 53rd United Kingdom Parliament.
[{"type":"father","name":"the late John Walker"},{"type":"mother","name":"Doreen Walker (nu00e9e Bowling)"},{"type":"spouse","name":"David Taylor"}]