Thelma Walker
Thelma Doris Walker[1] (born 7 April 1957) is a British former Labour Party politician and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Colne Valley from 2017 general election to 2019. Prior to her political career, she worked as a teacher for 34 years and later as an independent consultant.
Thelma Walker | |
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Walker in 2019 | |
Member of Parliament for Colne Valley | |
In office 9 June 2017 – 6 November 2019 | |
Preceded by | Jason McCartney |
Succeeded by | Jason McCartney |
Personal details | |
Born | 7 April 1957 |
Political party | Labour |
Spouse(s) | Rob Walker |
Children | 2 |
Education | Marple Hall Grammar School |
Alma mater | Manchester Polytechnic |
Early life and teaching career
Walker was born on 7 April 1957. She attended Marple Hall Grammar School in Manchester, England. Walker graduated in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in Education from Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University). She then worked as a teacher in Stockton-on-Tees for 12 years before moving to Kirklees, West Yorkshire. Walker was the headteacher of Overthorpe C of E School and Flockton C of E First School. After 34 years as a teacher, she became an independent consultant in 2012.[2][3][4]
Political career
Walker was elected as the MP for Colne Valley in the 2017 general election with a majority of 915 (1.5%) votes.[5] The seat had previously been held by Conservative politician Jason McCartney since 2010.[6] Walker made her maiden speech on 27 June 2017.[7] She has sat on the Education Select Committee since September 2017, and was a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee between January and February 2018.[8]
She is a signatory of the MPs Not Border Guards pledge, which vows to not report constituents to the Home Office for immigration enforcement.[9] Walker is a supporter of the Labour Against Private Schools campaign, which aims to commit Labour to abolishing independent schools in the United Kingdom.[10][11]
Walker supported the United Kingdom (UK) remaining within the European Union (EU) in the 2016 UK EU membership referendum. In the indicative votes on 27 March 2019, she voted for a referendum on a Brexit withdrawal agreement, and for a customs union with the EU.[12]
Walker lost her seat in the 2019 general election to Jason McCartney of the Conservatives, who she had previously unseated as the MP in 2017.[13]
Personal life
She is married to Rob Walker. They have two children. He is a Labour councillor for Colne Valley ward of Kirklees Council.[14] She is a trustee of Slaithwaite Civic Hall.[2]
References
- "No. 61961". The London Gazette. 19 June 2017. p. 11779.
- Carr, Tim; Dale, Iain; Waller, Robert (7 September 2017). The Politicos Guide to the New House of Commons 2017. Biteback Publishing. pp. 411–412. ISBN 978-1-78590-278-9.
- "Inspection Report". Ofsted. 30 September 2003. p. 1. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
- Javin, Val (30 November 2007). "London treat for young musicians". Examiner Live. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
- "Colne Valley". parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
- "Colne Valley". UK Polling Report. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
- "Education and Local Services". Hansard. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
- "Thelma Walker MP". parliament.uk. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
- "MPs not border guards - pledge signatories | Global Justice Now". Global Justice. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- Adams, Richard (9 July 2019). "Abolish Eton: Labour groups aim to strip elite schools of privileges". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- Donaldson, Kitty (20 September 2019). "Corbyn's Troops Target Eton in Brexit Britain's Class War". Bloomberg. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
- "How MPs voted on May's withdrawal deal defeat". Financial Times. 29 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019.
- Lavigueur, Nick (13 December 2019). "Jason McCartney takes back Colne Valley from Thelma Walker". Examiner Live. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- Glover, Chloe (9 August 2016). "Meet new Colne Valley councillor Rob Walker". Examiner Live. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
External links
Media related to Thelma Walker at Wikimedia Commons - Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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Preceded by Jason McCartney |
Member of Parliament for Colne Valley 2017–2019 |
Succeeded by Jason McCartney |