Margaret BeckettMember of the House of LordsLord TemporalLife peerage14 August 2024Member of ParliamentIn office9 June 1983 – 30 May 2024Preceded byWalter JohnsonSucceeded byBaggy ShankerConstituencyDerby SouthIn office10 October 1974 – 7 April 1979Preceded byDick TaverneSucceeded byKenneth CarlisleConstituencyLincolnPersonal detailsBornMargaret Mary Jackson (1943-01-15) 15 January 1943Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, EnglandPartyLabourSpouseLionel Beckett(m. 1979; died 2021)EducationManchester College of Science and Technology (BSc)SignatureBeckett makes a statement on climate change on behalf of the European Commission and CouncilRecorded 16 November 2005Margaret Mary Beckett, Baroness Beckett (néeJackson; born 15 January 1943) is a British politician who was the United Kingdom's first female Foreign Secretary (from 2006 to 2007) and a member of Parliament (MP) for more than 45 years, first from 1974 to 1979 and then from 1983 to 2024.
Leader of the Labour Party (UK)The leader of the Labour Party is the highest political office within the British Labour Party. The current holder of the position is Andy Burnham since 17 July 2026, following his victory in the 2026 Labour Party leadership election. The position of leader was officially codified in the Labour Party's constitution in 1922.
Labour Party (UK)The Labour Party, commonly Labour, is a political party in the United Kingdom. It sits on the centre-left of the left–right political spectrum, and has historically been an alliance of democratic socialists, social democrats and trade unionists. It has been the governing party since the 2024 general election.
DerbyDerby ( DAR-bee) is a cathedral city and unitary authority area on the River Derwent in Derbyshire, England. Derbyshire is named after Derby, which was its original county town. As a unitary authority, Derby is administratively independent from Derbyshire County Council. The population of Derby is 275,344 (2025).
John Smith (Labour Party leader)Secretary of State for TradeIn office11 November 1978 – 4 May 1979Prime MinisterJames CallaghanPreceded byEdmund DellSucceeded byJohn NottMinister of State for the Privy Council OfficeIn office8 April 1976 – 11 November 1978Prime MinisterJames CallaghanPreceded byThe Lord Crowther-HuntSucceeded byThe Baroness BirkMinister of State for EnergyIn office4 December 1975 – 8 April 1976Prime MinisterHarold WilsonPreceded byThe Lord BaloghSucceeded byDickson MabonParliamentary Under-Secretary of State for EnergyIn office18 October 1974 – 4 December 1975Prime MinisterHarold WilsonPreceded byGavin StrangSucceeded byThe Lord Lovell-DavisMember of Parliamentfor Monklands EastNorth Lanarkshire (1970–1983)In office18 June 1970 – 12 May 1994Preceded byMargaret HerbisonSucceeded byHelen LiddellPersonal detailsBorn(1938-09-13)13 September 1938Dalmally, Argyll, ScotlandDied12 May 1994(1994-05-12) (aged 55)London, EnglandResting placeReilig Odhráin, Iona, ScotlandPartyLabourSpouseElizabeth Bennett(m. 1967)Children3, including Sarah and CatherineEducationDunoon Grammar SchoolAlma materUniversity of GlasgowSignatureJohn Smith (13 September 1938 – 12 May 1994) was a British politician who was Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party from July 1992 until his death in May 1994.
James CallaghanLeonard James Callaghan, Baron Callaghan of Cardiff ( KAL-ə-han; 27 March 1912 – 26 March 2005) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1979 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1976 to 1980. Callaghan is the only person to have held all four Great Offices of State, having also served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1964 to 1967, Home Secretary from 1967 to 1970 and Foreign Secretary from 1974 to 1976. He was a member of Parliament (MP) from 1945 to 1987.
Gordon BrownJames Gordon Brown (born 20 February 1951) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. Previously, he was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1997 to 2007 under Tony Blair. Brown was Member of Parliament (MP) for Dunfermline East from 1983 to 2005 and for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath from 2005 to 2015.
Baggy ShankerBhagat Singh Shanker, known as Baggy Shanker, is a British Labour and Co-operative Party politician who has been Member of Parliament for Derby South since 2024. He was elected leader of Derby City Council in 2023, making him the first Sikh council leader in Derby. He was removed from that position in June 2024 after losing a motion of no confidence.
Tony BlairMember of Parliamentfor SedgefieldIn office9 June 1983 – 27 June 2007Preceded byConstituency establishedSucceeded byPhil WilsonPersonal detailsBornAnthony Charles Lynton Blair (1953-05-06) 6 May 1953Edinburgh, ScotlandPartyLabourSpouseCherie Booth(m.1980)Children4, including Euan and NickyParentLeo Blair (father)RelativesWilliam Blair (brother)EducationSt John's College, Oxford (BA)SignatureWebsiteInstitute for Global ChangeBlair on the 10 Downing StreetYouTube channel and how web communications can improve political engagementRecorded 21 June 2007Electoral historyMP for SedgefieldBeaconsfield by-electionLeader of the OppositionLeadership electionBrown DealShadow cabinetPrime Minister of the United KingdomPremiershipPoliciesNew Labour, New Life for BritainBlairismNew LabourThird WayAppointments"Tony's Cronies""Blair Babes"First ministry and term (May 1997 – June 2001) Ministry1997 electionChancellorship of Gordon Brown1997 budget1998 budget1999 budget2000 budget2001 budgetDeath & Funeral of Princess DianaGood Friday Agreementpeace processHandover of Hong KongPeople's princessKosovo WarMilitary intervention in Sierra LeoneSecond ministry and term (June 2001 – May 2005) Ministry2001 re-election9/11War on terrorWar in Afghanistan2003 invasion of IraqIraq and weapons of mass destructionSaddam and al-Qaeda link allegationsBush memoDowning Street memoFebruary DossierSeptember DossierIraq WarState visit by George W. Bush2002 budget2003 budget2004 budget2005 budgetThird ministry and term (May 2005 – June 2007) Ministry2005 re-electionCabinet reshuffle2006 budget2007 budgetCash for HonoursLondon bombingsRespect agendaLeadership successionPost–Prime Minister2007 Sedgefield by-electionQuartet on the Middle EastA Journey (autobiography)AssociatesFaith FoundationIraq InquiryInstitute for Global ChangePeter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein scandalSir Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007.
Harold WilsonJames Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx (11 March 1916 – 23 May 1995), was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1964 to 1970 and from 1974 to 1976. He was Leader of the Labour Party from 1963 to 1976, Leader of the Opposition twice — from 1963 to 1964 and from 1970 to 1974 — and a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1945 to 1983. Wilson is the only Labour leader to have formed a government after a general election four separate times.
House of Commons of the United KingdomThe House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the upper house, the House of Lords, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. The House of Commons is an elected body consisting of 650 members known as members of Parliament (MPs), who are elected to represent constituencies by the first-past-the-post system and hold their seats until Parliament is dissolved.
Parliament of the United KingdomThe Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom. It meets at the Palace of Westminster in London. It is bicameral, consisting of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, with the sovereign forming a third constitutional element. Acting together to legislate, these constitute the King-in-Parliament.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.