{{Short description|British Liberal Democrat politician}} {{Use British English|date=October 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = [[The Right Honourable]] | name = Jenny Willott | honorific_suffix = [[OBE]] | image = Jenny Willott, September 2009 1 cropped.jpg | image_size = | caption = | office1 = [[Department for Business, Innovation and Skills|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs]] | term_start1 = 18 December 2013 | term_end1 = 30 June 2014 | prime_minister1 = [[David Cameron]] | predecessor1 = [[Jo Swinson]] | successor1 = [[Jo Swinson]] | office2 = [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to the [[Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change]] | term_start2 = 12 May 2010 | term_end2 = 9 December 2010 | prime_minister2 = [[David Cameron]] | predecessor2 = | successor2 = [[Duncan Hames]] | office3 = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] <br> for [[Cardiff Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff Central]] | majority3 = | term_start3 = 5 May 2005 | term_end3 = 30 March 2015 | predecessor3 = [[Jon Owen Jones]] | successor3 = [[Jo Stevens]] | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1974|05|29}} | birth_place = [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]], London, England | death_date = | death_place = | party = [[Welsh Liberal Democrats]] | spouse = Andrew Poole | relations = | children = 2 sons | alma_mater = [[Durham University]] <br/> [[London School of Economics]] | occupation = | profession = | signature = | website = {{URL|http://www.jennywillott.com/| www.jennywillott.com}}{{Dead link|date=February 2019}} | footnotes = }} '''Jennifer Nancy Willott''' [[OBE]] (born 29 May 1974)<ref>{{cite book|title=Dod's Parliamentary Companion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K7pDAQAAIAAJ|year=2010|publisher=Dod's Parliamentary Companion Limited|isbn=978-0-905702-89-6|page=363}}</ref> is a British politician. She was the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] Member of Parliament for [[Cardiff Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff Central]] from [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]] to [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/S14000041 | title=Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath parliamentary constituency - Election 2017| work=BBC News}}</ref> Willott became a junior minister in the [[Department for Business, Innovation and Skills]] and [[Government Equalities Office]] in December 2013, temporarily standing in for [[Jo Swinson]] while Swinson was on [[maternity leave]]. She was the first woman and first Liberal Democrat to represent her seat. Willott was a councillor in the [[London Borough of Merton]] from 1998 to 2000.
==Education== Willott was born in [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]], London. She was educated at [[Uppingham School]], studied [[Classics]] at [[St Mary's College, Durham|St Mary's College]], [[Durham University]], and attended the [[London School of Economics]], obtaining an MSc in [[Development Studies]].
==Political career== After university, Willott was chief researcher for [[Lembit Opik]], Liberal Democrat MP for [[Montgomeryshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Montgomeryshire]].
Willott's [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 campaign]] was closely linked to specific local and national issues and her support was widespread across all wards.{{citation needed|date=March 2021}}
In her [[maiden speech]], Willott pledged to "make Cardiff proud" and celebrated the [[cultural diversity]] of her constituency. She declared her priorities in parliament would be [[National Health Service|local health services]], [[Tuition fees in the United Kingdom|tuition]] and [[top-up fees]], and [[council tax]].<ref>[https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2005-05-26.881.0&s=section%3Adebates+speaker%3A11480#g912.0 Jenny Willott's maiden speech] TheyWorkForYou.com, 26 May 2006</ref> She supported [[Menzies Campbell|Sir Menzies Campbell]] in the [[2006 Liberal Democrats leadership election|leadership election in 2006]], and was later appointed Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs, Whip, and [[Deputy Chief Whip]].
In 2008 she was appointed as Shadow [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Minister for Justice]] and later Shadow [[Secretary of State for Work and Pensions]]. In January 2009 she was appointed Shadow [[Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster]].<ref>[http://www.jennywillott.com/pages/biog.html My Biography], ''Jenny Willott MP''</ref>
In December 2010 she resigned her post as [[Parliamentary Private Secretary|parliamentary aide]] to [[Chris Huhne]] shortly before a vote to increase tuition fees as recommended by the [[Browne Review]], to keep her pledge to constituents that she would vote against any increase in fees.<ref name="BBC_Resign">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11952449 |title=Lib Dems quit government to oppose tuition fees rise |date=9 December 2010 |publisher=BBC News |accessdate=9 December 2010}}</ref>
In a [[reshuffle|mini-reshuffle]] of the [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|Coalition]] Government on 3 February 2012 caused by [[R v Huhne and Pryce|Huhne's prosecution]] and subsequent resignation, Willott was appointed an [[Whip (politics)|Assistant Whip]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/new-ministerial-appointments/ |title=Press notice: New Ministerial Appointments |date=3 February 2012 |publisher=Number10.gov.uk}}</ref>
In May 2014 Willott complained about the hostile atmosphere of [[Prime Minister's Questions]] and the low number of female ministers. She called for [[all-female shortlists]] for MPs, something which was not Liberal Democrat party policy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/may/08/equalities-minister-jenny-willott-male-westminster-pmqs-gender|title=Equalities minister decries male-led Westminster and 'hateful' PMQs |date=8 May 2014|accessdate=8 May 2014}}</ref> In 2014, she left the Government but was appointed to the [[Privy Council]] by [[David Cameron]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Privy Council appointments: November 2014|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/privy-council-appointments-november-2014|website=gov.uk|publisher=United Kingdom Cabinet Office|accessdate=17 March 2015}}</ref> In 2015, she lost her seat in the House of Commons to the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]'s [[Jo Stevens]].
===Controversy=== Willott was subject to criticism from rival political parties and the media in the wake of the [[expenses scandal (UK)|expenses scandal]], as it emerged she claimed more in expenses and administration costs than any other Welsh MP. Her expenses and office costs were £57,000 in a year, including claims for a new flat and costs of moving offices in central Cardiff.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-mp-expenses-201213-5743505|title=Welsh MP expenses 2012/13 – Wales Online|author=Graham Henry|date=17 August 2013|work=walesonline|accessdate=17 March 2015}}</ref>
Willott also came under some pressure from political opponents over her support for the [[bedroom tax]]. A protest outside her Cardiff office about the issue led to her not going in to her office on that day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-7a0a-Shamed-Cardiff-MP-flees-bedroom-tax-protesters|title=Morning Star :: Shamed Cardiff MP flees bedroom tax protesters|work=morningstaronline.co.uk|accessdate=17 March 2015|date=22 November 2013}}</ref>
==After Parliament==
She is currently [https://www.reengage.org.uk/latest-news/jenny-willott-joins-re-engage-as-ceo-enews-290124/ Chief Executive Officer] for [https://www.reengage.org.uk/ Re-engage] - the charity for reducing loneliness in later life.
Willott worked as The Director of Enterprise and Innovation at [[St Mary’s University, Twickenham]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/news/2018/06/jenny-willot-2018 |title = St Mary's Director of Enterprise and Innovation Awarded OBE}}</ref> She is also a member of [[Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority|IPSA]]s board.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.theipsa.org.uk/about-us/board-and-chief-executive/ |title = Board and Chief Executive}}</ref>
She was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] (OBE) in the [[2018 Birthday Honours]], for political and public service.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=62310|supp=y|page=B14| date=9 June 2018}}</ref>
==Personal life== Willott is married to Andrew Poole and they have two children;<ref name = "WW">{{cite web|url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U45668|title=Who's Who|work=ukwhoswho.com|accessdate=17 March 2015}}</ref> the birth of her second child in February 2013 notably necessitated her absence from a vote on the [[Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/02/07/lib-dem-mp-martin-horwood-why-i-wasnt-present-for-the-equal-marriage-vote/|title=Lib Dem MP Martin Horwood: Why I wasn't present for the equal marriage vote|work=PinkNews|accessdate=17 March 2015|date=7 February 2013}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Jenny Willott}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080509193212/http://www.jennywillott.com/ Jenny Willott MP]''official constituency website'' *[https://web.archive.org/web/20081009221132/http://www.libdems.org.uk/people/jenny-willott Profile] at the Liberal Democrats *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060424084500/http://www.welshlibdems.org.uk/people_e_detail.asp?memberNo=169 Profile] at the Welsh Liberal Democrats *[http://www.cardiffld.org.uk/ Cardiff Liberal Democrats] *{{UK MP links | parliament = jenny-willott/1497 | hansard = <!--ms-jenny-willott--> | hansardcurr = 4848 | guardian = 6599/jenny-willott | publicwhip = Jennifer_Willott | theywork = jennifer_willott | record = Jenny-Willot/Cardiff-Central/1135 | bbc = 35533.stm | journalisted = }} *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4436148.stm Meet the MP: Jenny Willott] ''[[BBC News]]'', 20 December 2005
{{s-start}} {{s-par|uk}} {{s-bef|before=[[Jon Owen Jones]]}} {{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for [[Cardiff Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Cardiff Central]]|years=[[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005]]–[[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]]}} {{s-aft|after=[[Jo Stevens]]}} {{s-end}}
{{Politics and Government in Cardiff}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Willott, Jenny}} [[Category:1974 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Alumni of St Mary's College, Durham]] [[Category:Politics of Cardiff]] [[Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Cardiff constituencies]] [[Category:Liberal Democrats (UK) MPs for Welsh constituencies]] [[Category:Councillors in the London Borough of Merton]] [[Category:UK MPs 2005–2010]] [[Category:UK MPs 2010–2015]] [[Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Welsh constituencies]] [[Category:People educated at Uppingham School]] [[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics]] [[Category:21st-century British women politicians]] [[Category:Liberal Democrats (UK) councillors]] [[Category:Women councillors in England]] [[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]