Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton

Winifred Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton, PC (born 2 July 1947) is a British politician and currently Minister of State for Defence Equipment and Support at the Ministry of Defence.

Member of Parliament

Member of Parliament for Bolton West between 1974 and 1983, then Dewsbury between 1987 and 2005. She contested Bolton North East in 1983, but lost to the Conservatives.

In government

Ann Taylor was a government whip in the Callaghan Government from 1977, and returned to Government following the 1997 election, first as Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council from 1997 to 1998, then became Chief Whip until 2001 when she was sacked from the government. From 2001 she was Chairman of the influential Intelligence and Security Committee. Her appointment was criticised by opposition Liberal Democrats.

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 elminiate 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 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 will be paid.

Personal life

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 MP Edwina Currie's 1994 proposed amendement to the Public Order and Criminal Justice Bill to equalise the age of homosexual consent to 16).

References

External links

• Guardian Politics Ask Aristotle - Ann Taylor
• They Work For You - Ann Taylor