Jean Denise Lambert
(born Jean Denise Archer; 1 June 1950 in
Orsett
Orsett is a village, former civil parish and ecclesiastical parish located within Thurrock unitary district in Essex, England, situated around 5 km north-east of Grays. In 1931 the parish had a population of 1771.
History
It has historic ...
, Essex) is an English politician, and who served as a
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament.
When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the ECSC) first met in 1952, its ...
for the
London Region
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
between 1999 and 2019.
Early life and career
She attended
Palmer's Grammar School for Girls in
Grays, Essex. Lambert gained a
BA in Modern Languages in 1971 from
University College, Cardiff
, latin_name =
, image_name = Shield of the University of Cardiff.svg
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Coat of arms of Cardiff University
, motto = cy, Gwirionedd, Undod a Chytgord
, mottoeng = Truth, Unity and Concord
, established = 1 ...
, before taking a
Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from
St Pauls' College (Francis Close Hall), Cheltenham (now the
University of Gloucestershire
, mottoeng = In Spirit and Truth
, established =
, type = Public
, endowment = £2.4 m (2015)
, chancellor = Rennie Fritchie, Baroness Fritchie
, vice_chancellor ...
) and gaining an ADB (Ed.) in 1975. She then worked as a secondary school teacher in Waltham Forest, East London,
first from 1972–78, then from 1985–89 and finally between 1993 and 1999. She also holds a Professional Development Certificate (BTEC), which she achieved in 1998.
Political career
Green Party politician and MEP
After joining the
Ecology Party
The Green Party, also known as the Green Party UK, was a Green political party in the United Kingdom.
Prior to 1985 it was called the Ecology Party, and before that PEOPLE. In 1990, it separated into three political parties:
* the Green Part ...
in 1977
[ (later becoming the ]Green Party of England and Wales
The Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW; cy, Plaid Werdd Cymru a Lloegr, kw, Party Gwer Pow an Sowson ha Kembra, often simply the Green Party or Greens) is a green, left-wing political party in England and Wales. Since October 2021, Carla ...
), Lambert has held numerous positions, including Co-Chair of the Party Council (1982–85), Principal Speaker
The Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales is the most senior political figure within the Green Party of England and Wales. The role was introduced alongside that of deputy leader in 2008. Prior to this, the party's public spokespersons ...
(1992–93 and 1998–99), Chair of the Party Executive (1993–94), Representative to the Federation of European Green Parties (1987–89 and 1998–99) and Political Liaison to the Green Group in the European Parliament (1989–92).[ She is currently the party's spokesperson on Migration.
Lambert was first elected to the ]European Parliament
The European Parliament (EP) is one of the legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it adopts ...
in 1999 from the London Region
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, winning 87,545 votes (7.7% share). She was re-elected in 2004 with 8.4% of the vote (158,986 votes) and again in 2009 with 10.9% of the vote (190,589 votes), and again in 2014. As a Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament.
When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the ECSC) first met in 1952, its ...
, she is or has been a member or substitute of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, the Subcommittee on Human Rights, the Intergroup on Disability and Gay and Lesbian Rights[ and Delegations to South Asia, Afghanistan, Japan and India. She chaired the South Asia Delegation from 2009–2019.][ She is Vice-President of the Intergroup on Ageing, the Intergroup on Anti-poverty and the Intergroup on Anti-racism and Diversity. She was Rapporteur on the Parliament's Asylum Report. She was Vice-President of the Greens/European Free Alliance Group of MEPs from 2002 to 2007, in which she is the Spokesperson on Asylum and Refugees.][
Lambert was also engaged in EU Election Observation missions, including as Chief Observer for the 2018 elections in Sierra Leone.
She is an active campaigner for the ]London Living Wage
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major s ...
.
Non-party activism and advisory roles
Outside her work in the Green Party, Lambert is involved in numerous NGOs. Since 1991, she has been a Council Member of Charter 88
Charter 88 was a British pressure group that advocated constitutional and electoral reform and owes its origins to the lack of a written constitution. It began as a special edition of the ''New Statesman'' magazine in 1988 and it took its name ...
, the democratic reform NGO, as well as an Executive Supporter and Signatory for Charter 99
Charter 88 was a British pressure group that advocated constitutional and electoral reform and owes its origins to the lack of a written constitution. It began as a special edition of the ''New Statesman'' magazine in 1988 and it took its name ...
, described as "an initiative for global democracy". She has been Vice-President of the Waltham Forest Race Equality Council from 1999. She is a Trustee of the Dalit Solidarity Campaign
Dalit (from sa, दलित, dalita meaning "broken/scattered"), also previously known as untouchable, is the lowest stratum of the castes in India. Dalits were excluded from the four-fold varna system of Hinduism and were seen as forming a ...
UK. She is also on Advisory Boards of the Work-Life Institute and London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University, commonly known as London Met, is a public university, public research university in London, England. The University of North London (formerly the Polytechnic of North London) and London Guildhall University (f ...
.[
]
Awards
Lambert was named Justice and Human Rights MEP of the Year 2005, the first year these awards were held.
Writings
Lambert has written numerous reports and articles on her areas of interest, especially democracy and human rights, sustainable development, anti-discrimination, social inclusion, minority rights, trade union and workers' issues and asylum and refugee rights. She wrote ''No Change? No Chance'', a book on Green politics
Green politics, or ecopolitics, is a political ideology that aims to foster an ecologically sustainable society often, but not always, rooted in environmentalism, nonviolence, social justice and grassroots democracy. Wall 2010. p. 12-13. It b ...
, in 1996. Furthermore, she has made a film in 2006, ''EU4U! Your voice can make a difference!'', highlighting the ways young people can make a difference within EU structures.[
]
References
Bibliography, reports, briefings and films
* Film – ''EU4U! Your voice can make a difference!'', 2006
* Lambert, J., ''Climate Change, Climate Crisis?'', 2007
* Lambert, J., Lucas, C. P., ''European Parliament two-seat operation: Environmental costs, transport and energy'', 2007
* Lambert, J., ''Hothouses: Climate Change and London's Housing'', 2007
* Lambert, J., ''I Must Work Harder? Britain And The Working Time Directive'', 2006
* Lambert, J., ''The Bolkestein Directive: Health Warning'', 2005
* Lambert, J., ''So Much Hot Air?'', 2005
''Green Group position on the services directive''
2005
* Lambert, J., ''Flexible Working: A Work Life Balance Or A Balancing Act?'', 2004
* Lambert, J., ''What is Sustainable Development?'', 2004
* Lambert, J., ''Integrating social inclusion and environment'', 2003
* Jones, J., Lambert, J., ''Silent Slavery'', 2003
* Lambert, J., Olivier, D., Toke, D., ''The Green Party Alternative Energy Review'', 2003
* Lambert, J., ''General Agreement To Trade In Services: Response to European Commission Consultation Document'', 2003
* Lambert, J., ''General Agreement On Trade In Services: Response to UK Consultation on Requests'', 2002
* Lambert, J., Toke, D., ''Energy and Renewables'', 2002
* Lambert, J., Lucas, C. P., ''The World Summit On Sustainable Development 2002'', 2002
''Greens EFA Briefing on GMOs''
2002
* Lambert, J., ''Refugees and The Environment: The Forgotten Element Of Sustainability'', 2002
* Lambert, J., ''No Change? No Chance'', 1996
External links
Jean Lambert MEP's official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lambert, Jean
1950 births
Living people
Alumni of Cardiff University
Alumni of the University of Gloucestershire
English environmentalists
Green Party of England and Wales MEPs
Green Party of England and Wales politicians
MEPs for England 1999–2004
MEPs for England 2009–2014
MEPs for England 2014–2019
People from Orsett
20th-century women MEPs for England
21st-century women MEPs for England