abcWorldwide Guide to Women in
Leadership
United Kingdom Parties
The following titles are used in the
parties:
Chairperson of Labour National Executive Committee
President of the Liberal Party Organisation
Chairperson and President of the National Union of Conservative and Unionist
Associations' Annual Conference (1867-1998) when replaced by the National
Conservative Convention
1918-19 and 1926 Chairperson of the
Conservatives Dame Caroline Bridgeman
Also known as Viscountess
Bridgeman. She lived /1875-1981)
1929-30 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Susan
Laurence
Parliamentary Secretary in the Government. She lived (1871-1947)
1930 Chairperson of the Conservatives The
Countess of Iveagh
Gwendolen Guiness was elected MP in succession to her
husband who inherited the title of Count 1927-35. She lived (1881-1966).
1934 Chairperson of the Conservatives Regina Evans
1937 President of the Conservatives Clara Fyfie
1936 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Jennie
Adamson
MP 1938-46 and Parliamentary Private Secretary 1940-45 and
Parliamentary Secretar of Pensions 1945-46. She lived (1882-1962)
1939-40 Chairperson of Labour Barbara
Ayrton-Gould
MP 1945-50. She lived (1886-1950)
1940 Chairperson of the Conservatives Lady
Hillington
Dame Edith Mills was married to the 3rd Baron Hillingdon, and lived (1895-1969).
1944 President of the Conservatives L. Whitehead
1944-45 Chairperson of Labour Ellen
Wilkinson
MP 1924-31 and 1935-47, Minister of Education 1945-47. She lived
(1891-1947)
1945-47 President of the Liberals Lady V.
Bonham Carter, Baroness Asquith of Yarnbug
Maried several times, she lived
(1887-1969)
1947 President of the Conservatives Mary
Christina Hornyold-Strickland
She was daughter of Gerald Strickland, 1. Baron
Strickland, 6. Count of Catena, Prime Minister and Governor of Malta and Lady
Edeline Sackville-West
1949-51 Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party Lady
Megan Lloyd-George
Liberal MP 1929-51, Labour MP 1957-66. She lived (1902-66)
1950-51 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Alice Bacon
Labour MP 1945-70, Baroness Bacon, of the City of Leeds and of Normanton in the
West Riding of the County of York in 1970 and lived (1909-66)
1951 Chairperson of Conservatives Lorna Sayers
1955 President of the Conservatives
1953 President of the Conservatives J. Warde
1954-55 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Edith Summerskill
1955-56 President of the Conservatives Evelyn
Emmet
MP 1955-65, as Baroness Emmett of Amberly she was Deputy Speaker of the House of
Lords 1968-77. She lived (1899-1980)
1956-57 President of the Conservatives
Katharine Elliott
She was appointed Baroness Elliot of Harwood in 1958 as one
of the first four female life peers. She lived (1903-94)
1956-57 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Margaret
McCrovie Herbison
She lived (1907-96)
1958-59 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Barbara Castle
1963 President of the Conservatives T. Shepard
1964 Chairperson of the Conservatives
Viscountess Davidson
1964 and 1965 President of the Conservatives
1964 President of The Liberals Nancy Seear
1984-87 Leader of the Liberals in the House of Lords as Baroness Seear
1987-97 (†) Deputy Leader
1967-68 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee
Jennie Lee
Labour MP and Minister. She lived (1904-88)
1967-68 Chairperson of the Conservatives Dame
Adelaide Doughty
1978 President of the Conservatives
1967 Chairperson of the Conservatives Lady Brooke
1969 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Eirene
Lloyd White
She lived (1909-99)
1969 President of the Conservatives Baroness Brook of Ystradfelte
Joint Vice Chairperson of the Conservative Party Organisation under the name of Dame Barbara Brooke (d. 2000)
1970-71 President of the Liberals Inga-Stina
Robson
Baroness Robson of Kiddington né Arvidsson she was a Magistrate
1955-89. She lived (1919-99)
1970-71 Chairperson of the Conservatives Dame
Unity Lister
Deputy Chair of the Greater London Council 1963-64 and lived
(1913-98)
1971-72 Acting President of the Provisorial Sin
Feín Maire Drum
1972-76 (†) Vice President
Assassinated
1972-73 President of the Conservatives Dame Margaret Sheperd
1973-74 Chairperson of the Conservatives Dame Sally Oppenhein-Barnes
1973-73 Deputy Chief Opposition
Whip, Baroness-in-Waiting in House of Lords (Labour)
1974-79 Captain of the Gentleman at-Arms, Leader of Labour in the House of Lords
1979-82 Chief Opposition Whip, Baroness-in-Waiting in House of Lords (Labour) Baroness
Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe
1974-95 Convenor of the Crossbench Peers (Independents) Baroness Hylton-Foster
1974 Chairperson of the Conservatives R. Smith
1974-95 Convenor of the Crossbench Peers
Baroness Hylton-Foster
Crossbench Peers are the politically independent.
She lived (1908-2002)
1974-79 Deputy Leader of Scottish National
Party, SNP Margo MacDonald
SNP and independent Member of the Scottish Parliament 1999-2014. Candidate for the post of Presiding Officer in 2007.
She lived (1944-2014)
1975-79 Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition
Margaret Thatcher
1975-90 Leader of the Conservative Party
Prime Minister 1979-90.
She lived
(1925-2013).
1975-76 President of the Liberals Margaret Wingfield
She lived (1912-2002)
Circa 1975- Vice-President of the Democratic Unionist
Party Baroness Paisley of St
George
Eileen Emily Paisley née Cassells is married to the Northern Ireland First
Minister, Ian Paisley and was Member of the Belfast City Council 1967-73 and the
Norterne Ireland Assembly from 1973, created a Baroness in 2006. (b. 1934)
1976-81 Leader of Unionist Party of Northern Ireland Annie L. Dickson
1976 Chairperson of the Conservatives S. Roberts
1977 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Joan Lestor
MP from 1966, a Junior Minister 1969-70 and created Baroness Lestor of Eccles
and lived (1931-98)
1977-88 Scottish Secretary of the Labour Party Helen Liddell
1979-80 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Lady Jeger
(Lena Jeger)
1980-81 Chairperson of the Conservatives Dame
Ann Springman
1980 Chairperson of the Liberals J. Rose
1983-84 Chairperson of the Party Organization
1981-82 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Judy Hart
1982-88 President of Social Democratic Party
(SPD) Shirley Williams
2001-04 Leader of the Liberal Peers in the House of Lords (As Baroness
Williams of Crosby)
She was Member of the Government 1966-70 and 1974-79. (b. 1930-)
1982-87 Secretary of the 1922 Committee (Conservative
Bach Benchers) Dame Jill Knight
1987-88 and 1992-97 Vice Chairperson
She was a MP 1966-97 and Member of the Executive 1979-97. Created Baroness
Knight
1983-89 Opposition Whip, Baroness-in-Waiting in
House of Lords (Labour) Baroness Nicol
1985-87 Deputy Chief Opposition Whip
1984-85 Chairperson of the Conservatives Dame Pamela Hunter
1984-87 Senior Vice Chairperson and Deputy
Leader of SNP Margaret McAdam Bain
Ewing
1987-99 Parliamentary Leader in the House of Commons
1987-2001 Deputy Party Leader
1987-90 and 1999-2006 Deputy President of SNP
1999-2006 Parliamentary Group Conveyer in the Scottish Parliament
Margaret Ewing was
MP 1974-79 and 1987-2001, Member of the Scottish Parliament 1999-2006. She lived
(1945-2006).
1986-88 Chairperson of the 1922 Committee (Conservative Bach Benchers) Joan Peacok
1987-2005 President of
Scottish National Party Winifred Ewing
Winnie Ewing was
MP 1967-70 and 1974-79, Member of the European Parliament 1975-99,
Vice-President of SNP 1979-87 Member of the Sottish Parliament 1999-2003, where she was President-By-Age. (b. 1929-).
1987-88 Chairperson of the Conservatives (as Baroness Seccombe of Kineton)
1998-2001 Opposition Whip, Baroness-in-Waiting in House of Lords
2001-10 Opposition Deputy Chief Whip
Vice-Chairperson of the Conservative
Party Organization 1984-92
1987/88-circa 92 Chairperson of Communist Party of Great Britain Marion Parke
1988-91 Leader of the Social Democratic Party in the House of Lords Baroness Stedman
1988 President of the Conservatives Dame S. Roberts
1988-90 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Jo
Richardson
MP 1974-94 and lived (1923-94)
1989-91 Chair of the Federal Executive of the Liberal Democrats Sally Rachel Hamwee
1989-90 Co-Chairperson of The
Green Party Caroline Lucas
2003-06 and 2007-08 Joint Principal Speaker
2008-12 Leader
2016- Co-Leader
MEP 1999-2010 and MP from 2010. From 2008 the party has got only one leader.
1990-91 Spokesperson of the Green Party Sandra
Perkins
1991-92 Chairperson
1990 Chairperson of the Conservatives M. Fry
1992-94 Deputy Leader of Labour Margaret
Beckett
1994 Acting Leader of Labour and Leader of Her Majesty's
Opposition (12.5-21.7)
She took over as interim leader after the former leader died. She chose to stand
as candidate for both the leadership and deputy leadership but lost both. A
number of high Cabinet posts.
1992- Secretary General of Democratic Left Nina Temple
1992-93 Chairperson of Scottish Labour Anne McGuire
1992-96 Deputy Chairperson of the Conservative
Party of Scotland Annabel Goldie
1997-99 Chairperson
1999-2005 Deputy Leader of the Conservatives in the Scottish Parliament
2005-11 Leader of the Conservatives
(b. 1950-).
1993 President of the Conservatives Dame W. Mitchell
1995-96 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Diane Jeuda
1995-97 Chairperson of The Green Party Jenny Jones
1996-2006 Leader of the
Northern Ireland Women's Coalition Monica McWilliams
The party was dissolved
in 2006.
1998-2000 Federal President of the Liberal Democrat Party
Baroness Maddock
Diane was created a Baroness in 1997.
1998-99 Chairperson of the Labour
National Executive Committee Brenda Etchells
1999-2004 Vice-convener for Publicity of SNP Nicola
Sturgeon
2004-14 Deputy Leader
of SNP
2014-07 Leader of the Party in the
Scottish Parliament
2014- Leader of the SNP
She lead the party in Scotland because it's leader was a MP in
London and not a member of the local parliament until 2007.
Deputy First Minister 2007-14, Cabinet Secretary for Health 2007-12
and for Infrastructure, Investment and Citiesand 2012-14, First Minister from
2014. (b. 1970-).
1999-2000 President of the Liberal
Democrats Diana Maddock, Baroness Maddock, Lady Beith
MP 1993-97 (b. 1947-)
1999-2001 Secretary General of
Labour Margaret McDonagh
Created a Baroness in 2004.
2000-2005 Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords The
Baroness Blatch
Emily May Blatch was created Baroness Blatch, of Hinchingbrooke in 1987,
1990 Baroness-in Waiting, 1992-94 Minister of State of Education and 1994-97 Minister of State of the Home
Office. She lived (1937-2005)
2001-2005 Chairperson of Labour Parliamentary Party
Jean Corston
The LPL is the Labour Backbencher's representation. She was
Labour MP 1992-2005, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the
Secretary of State for Education and Employment
1997-2001 and was created Baroness Corston of
Bristol East in 2005.
2000-01 Chairperson of the Labour
National Executive Committee Maggie Jones
Baroness Jones of Withchurch from
2006 (b. 1955-)
2001-02 Chairperson of the Labour
National Executive Committee Margaret Wall
Baroness Wall of New Barnet
from 2004 (b. 1941-)
2001- Deputy Leader of SDLP
Bríd Rodgers
Former Senator in the Republic of Ireland, 1998-99 Chairperson of SDLP
Negotiation Team during the devolution negotiations, 1999-2000 and again
from later in 2000 Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Northern
Ireland Executive. Mother of 6 children. (b. 1931-)
2001-05
Vice-Chairperson
the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) Ann Clwyd
2005-06 Chairperson of the PLP
She was the prime minister's special envoy to Iraq, and
was defeated by a strong anti-war candidate after a year in office.
2001-05 Chairperson of the Parliamentary Labour Party Jean
Corston
Vice-Chairperson 1997-2001. Created Baroness in 2005.
2001-02 President of the National Conservative Convention Jean Searle
2002-03 President of the National Conservative Convention Caroline Abel-Smith
2002-03
Chairperson of the Conservative Party (Shadow Cabinet Member) Theresa May
2005-10 Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
2016- Leader of the
Conservative Party
She is the third ranking in the Shadow Cabinet, where she held various posts
since 1997. From
2003 Member of the Privy Council. The only woman member of the Shadow
Cabinet 2003-05, Home Secretary 2010-16
and Prime Minister from 2016.
2002-03 Chairperson of the Labour
National Executive Committee Diane Holland
Became Treasurer of the Labour
Party in 2010.
2003 Chairperson of the Labour National Executive Committee Diana Holland
2003-08 Deputy Leader of
the
Scottish Labour Party Cathy
Jamieson
2007 and 2008 Acting Leader
Scottish Minister
of Education and Children 2001-03
and
Minister of Justice
2003-07. Candidate for the Leadership in 2008.
2003-04 Chairperson of the Labour
Party National Executive
Mary Turner
2004-05 Chairperson of the
Labour National Executive Committee Mary Turner
Vice-Chair 2003.
2004-05 Leader of the
Peace and Progress Party
Vanessa Redgrave
A former Oscar-vinning actress she is now a human rights
activist, who founded her own party.
2005 Joint Imterim
Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party Lady Sylvia
Hermon
It's leader resigned after the former largest Protestant party
in Northern Ireland lost massively in the parliamentary elections, leaving Lady
Sylvia as the only MP.
2006-07 Chairperson of Labour Hazel Blears
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State of Health 1997-98 and
to the Chief Secretary to Her Majesty's Treasury 1998-99, Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State of Health 2001-03, Minister of State of the Home Office for Crime Reduction, Policing and
Community Safety 2003-06, Deputy Home Secretary
2005-06 and
2006 Minister without Portfolio from 2006. Candidate for the post of
Deputy Leader of Labour in 2007, and Secretary of State for
Communities and Local Government from 2007. (b.
1956-).
2006-07 Joint Principal Speaker of The Green Party Siân Berry
Resigned to become a candidate for the position of Mayor of London.
(b. 1974-).
2006- Deputy Leader of The Alliance Naomi Long
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the British House of Commons. Also
Lord Mayor of Belfast 2009-10.
2007-10 Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party
Dawn Purvis
Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. Member of the Northern Ireland
Assembly since 2007-11, she resigned from the party in 2010 and was not
reelected the following year. She lived (1967-).
2007-15 Deputy Leader of Labour and Party Chairperson Rt. Hon. Harriet Hariman
2010
and 2015 Acting
Leader of Labour and Leader of the Opposition
Secretary of State for Social Security and Minister for Women 1997-98 Solicitor General
2001-05 and Constitutional Affairs Minister from 2005. (b. 1950- )
2007-08 Chairperson of the Conservative Party (Shadow Cabinet Member) Caroline Spelman
Various Shadow Cabinet Posts from 2001-03 and from 2004. (b. 1958-)
2007-10 Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords
(Conservative) Baroness Anelay of St Johns
2010-14 Lords Chief Whip, Captain of the Honourable
Corps of Gentlemen at Arms
Dame Joyce Anne Anelay, was created Baroness Anelay of St Johns, of St Johns in
the County of Surrey in 1996 and as been member of the shadow ministry since
1997. (b. 1947-).
2007-11 Convenor of the Crossbench Peers
Baroness D'Souza
Lord Speaker of the House of Lords from 2011.
2007-08 Leader of Scottish Labour
Wendy
Alexander
Scottish Minister
for Social
Inclusion, Local Government, Housing
and Equality
1999-2000, Minister for Enterprises 2000-02
and Minister for Transport and Lifelong Learning
2001-02. She decided not to run for the post of Leader of Scottish Labour and
First Minister in 2001.
(b. 1963-)
2007-08 Chairperson of the National Executive Committee of Labour
Dianne Hayter
The NEC Vice-Chair was Sally Powell. Dianne was created
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town, of Kentish Town in the London Borough of Camden
from 2010. (b. 1949-)
2008-16 Leader of the Wales Liberal Party Kirsty Williams
Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1999 and appointed
Education Secretary in 2016. (b. 1971-).
2008-09 Chairperson of the National
Executive Committee of Labour Cath Speight
2009-10 President of the Liberal Democrat Party
Baroness Scott of Needham Market
She was Liberal Democrat Whip in the House of Lords 2001-02 and Deputy Chief
Whip 2002.
Ros Scott was created Baroness Scott of Needham Market, of Needham Market
in the County of Suffolk in 2000 after a career as local councillor. (b. 1957-)
2009-10 Chairperson of the National Executive Committee of Labour Ann Black
2010- Leader of Her Majesty's Official
Opposition in the House of Lords Baroness
Royall of
Blaisdon
She was Captain of the Honourable Corps of
Gentlemen at Arms (Chief Whip in the House of Lords) in 2008 and Leader of the House of Lords
2008-10
2010-16 Chief Whip of the Labour Party in
the House of Commons Dame
Rosie Winterton
Labour MP from 1997, Parliamentary Secretary in the Lord
Chancellor's Department 2001-03, Minister of State of Health 2003-07, Minister of State of Transport
2007-08, Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber 2008-09, Minister of State for Works and Pensions
2008-09, Minister of State for
Regional Economic Development and Co-ordination in the Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills and Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Attending Cabinet when her Ministerial responsibilities
are on the agenda) 2009-10,
Member of the Privy Council since 2009 and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
in 2010. (b. 1958-).
2010-11
Leader of the Social
Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP
leader Margaret Ritchie
Minister for Social Development in the
government of Northern Ireland 2007-10 and of the British Parliament from 2010.
2010-11 Chairperson of the National Executive Committee
of Labour Norma Stephenson
2011- Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson
Member of the Legislative Assembly
from 2011. She lives with her partner Saskia Halcrow, (b. 1978-)
2011-14 Leader of the Scottish Labour Party Johann Lamont
2011-15 Deputy
Leader of SDLP Dolores Kelly
2012-
Leader of Plaid Cymru Leanne Wood
The Party President in 2012 was Jill Evans,
National Chair Helen Jones and Chief Executive Rhuanedd Richards
Until 2012 Leader of the Respect Party Salma Yaqoob
2012-16 Leader of the Green Party Natalie Bennett
2012-15 Chairperson of the National Conservative Convention Emma Pidding
Created a Baroness in 2015.
2012-13
Chairperson of the National Executive Committee of Labour
Harriet Yeo
2013-14
Chairperson of the National Executive Committee of Labour
Angela Eagle
Former Minister and member of the Shadow Cabinet. Leadership
Candidate in 2016.
2014-15 Deputy Chair of the UK Independence Party Suzanne Evans
2014-15 Deputy Leader of Scottish Labour Kezia Dugdale
2015- Leader of
Scottish Labour
Member of the Scottish Parliament from 2011. (b. 1981-)
2015- President of the Liberal Democrats Baroness Brinton
Sarah Virginia
Brinton (Sal Brinton) was appointed Baroness Brinton, of Kenardington in the
County of Kent in 2010.
2015- Leader of the Women's Equality Party Sophie
Walker
The TV and Radio-personality Sandi Toksvig is one of the co-founders
of the party.
2016 Leader of UK Independence Party Diane James
Member of
the European Parliament. Resigned after 18 days in office.
Last update 10.10.16