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[[Category:Labour Members of Parliament]]
[[Category:Labour Members of Parliament]]

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
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{{EngvarB|date=April 2015}}

{{Infobox officeholder
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{{Infobox MP
|honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
|honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
|name = Dame Margaret Beckett
|name = Dame Margaret Beckett
|honorific-suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DBE|MP}}
|honorific-suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DBE|MP}}
|image = Official portrait of Margaret Beckett crop 2.jpg
|image = Official portrait of Margaret Beckett crop 2.jpg
|office1 = [[Department for Communities and Local Government|Minister of State for Housing and Planning]]
|office1 = Minister of State for Housing and Planning
|primeminister1 = [[Gordon Brown]]
|primeminister1 = Gordon Brown
|term_start1 = 3 October 2008
|term_start1 = 3 October 2008
|term_end1 = 5 June 2009
|term_end1 = 5 June 2009
|predecessor1 = [[Caroline Flint]]
|predecessor1 = [[Caroline Flint]]
|successor1 = [[John Healey (politician)|John Healey]]
|successor1 = [[John Healey]]
|office = [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs]]
|office = Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
|primeminister = [[Tony Blair]]
|primeminister = Tony Blair
|term_start = 5 May 2006
|term_start = 5 May 2006
|term_end = 27 June 2007
|term_end = 27 June 2007
|predecessor = [[Jack Straw]]
|predecessor = Jack Straw
|successor = [[David Miliband]]
|successor = David Miliband
|office2 = [[Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]]
|office2 = Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
|primeminister2 = [[Tony Blair]]
|primeminister2 = Tony Blair
|term_start2 = 8 June 2001
|term_start2 = 8 June 2001
|term_end2 = 5 May 2006
|term_end2 = 5 May 2006
|predecessor2 = John Prescott
|predecessor2 = [[John Prescott]] {{small|([[Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions|Environment, Transport and the Regions]])}}<br>[[Nick Brown]] {{small|([[Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food|Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]])}}
|successor2 = [[David Miliband]]
|successor2 = David Miliband
|office3 = [[Leader of the House of Commons]]<br>[[Lord President of the Council]]
|office3 = Leader of the House of Commons<br>Lord President of the Council
|primeminister3 = [[Tony Blair]]
|primeminister3 = Tony Blair
|deputy3 = [[Paddy Tipping]]
|deputy3 = Paddy Tipping
|term_start3 = 27 July 1998
|term_start3 = 27 July 1998
|term_end3 = 8 June 2001
|term_end3 = 8 June 2001
|predecessor3 = [[Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton|Ann Taylor]]
|predecessor3 = Ann Taylor
|successor3 = [[Robin Cook]]
|successor3 = Robin Cook
|office4 = [[President of the Board of Trade]] <br> [[Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy|Secretary of State for Trade and Industry]]
|office4 = President of the Board of Trade <br> Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
|primeminister4 = [[Tony Blair]]
|primeminister4 = Tony Blair
|term_start4 = 2 May 1997
|term_start4 = 2 May 1997
|term_end4 = 27 July 1998
|term_end4 = 27 July 1998
|predecessor4 = [[Ian Lang, Baron Lang of Monkton|Ian Lang]]
|predecessor4 = Ian Lang
|successor4 = [[Peter Mandelson]]
|successor4 = Peter Mandelson
|office5 = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills|Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry]]
|office5 = Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
|leader5 = [[Tony Blair]]
|leader5 = Tony Blair
|term_start5 = 19 October 1995
|term_start5 = 19 October 1995
|term_end5 = 2 May 1997
|term_end5 = 2 May 1997
|predecessor5 = [[Jack Cunningham, Baron Cunningham of Felling|Jack Cunningham]]
|predecessor5 = Jack Cunningham
|successor5 = [[Michael Heseltine]]
|successor5 = Michael Heseltine
|office6 = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Health]]
|office6 = Shadow Secretary of State for Health]
|leader6 = [[Tony Blair]]
|leader6 = Tony Blair
|term_start6 = 20 October 1994
|term_start6 = 20 October 1994
|term_end6 = 19 October 1995
|term_end6 = 19 October 1995
|predecessor6 = [[David Blunkett]]
|predecessor6 = David Blunkett
|successor6 = [[Harriet Harman]]
|successor6 = [[Harriet Harman]]
|office7 = [[Shadow Leader of the House of Commons]]
|office7 = Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
|leader7 = [[Tony Blair]]
|leader7 = Tony Blair
|term_start7 = 21 July 1994
|term_start7 = 21 July 1994
|term_end7 = 20 October 1994
|term_end7 = 20 October 1994
|predecessor7 = [[Nick Brown]] {{small|(Acting)}}
|predecessor7 = Nick Brown {{small|(Acting)}}
|successor7 = [[Ann Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Bolton|Ann Taylor]]
|successor7 = Ann Taylor
|leader8 = [[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]]
|leader8 = John Smith
|term_start8 = 24 July 1992
|term_start8 = 24 July 1992
|term_end8 = 12 May 1994
|term_end8 = 12 May 1994
|predecessor8 = [[Jack Cunningham, Baron Cunningham of Felling|Jack Cunningham]]
|predecessor8 = Jack Cunningham
|successor8 = [[Nick Brown]] {{small|(Acting)}}
|successor8 = Nick Brown {{small|(Acting)}}
|office9 = [[Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)|Leader of the Opposition]]
|office9 = Leader of the Opposition
|monarch9 = [[Elizabeth II]]
|monarch9 =
|primeminister9 = [[John Major]]
|primeminister9 = John Major
|term_start9 = 12 May 1994
|term_start9 = 12 May 1994
|term_end9 = 21 July 1994
|term_end9 = 21 July 1994
|predecessor9 = [[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]]
|predecessor9 = John Smith
|successor9 = [[Tony Blair]]
|successor9 = Tony Blair
|office10 = [[Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Deputy Leader of the Labour Party]]
|office10 = Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
|leader10 = [[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]]
|leader10 = John Smith
|term_start10 = 18 July 1992
|term_start10 = 18 July 1992
|term_end10 = 21 July 1994
|term_end10 = 21 July 1994
|predecessor10 = [[Roy Hattersley]]
|predecessor10 = Roy Hattersley
|successor10 = [[John Prescott]]
|successor10 = John Prescott
|office11 = [[Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury]]
|office11 = Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
|leader11 = [[Neil Kinnock]]
|leader11 = Neil Kinnock
|term_start11 = 9 January 1989
|term_start11 = 9 January 1989
|term_end11 = 18 July 1992
|term_end11 = 18 July 1992
|predecessor12 = [[Gordon Brown]]
|predecessor12 = Gordon Brown
|successor12 = [[Harriet Harman]]
|successor12 = [[Harriet Harman]]
|office13 = [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]]<br>for [[Derby South (UK Parliament constituency)|Derby South]]
|office13 = Member of Parliament<br>for [[Derby South]]
|term_start13 = 9 June 1983
|term_start13 = 9 June 1983
|term_end13 =
|term_end13 =
|predecessor13 = [[Walter Johnson (politician)|Walter Johnson]]
|predecessor13 = Walter Johnson
|successor13 =
|successor13 =
|majority13 = 11,248 (24.8%)
|majority13 = 11,248 (24.8%)
|office14 = [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]]<br>for [[Lincoln (UK Parliament constituency)|Lincoln]]
|office14 = Member of Parliament<br>for Lincoln
|term_start14 = 10 October 1974
|term_start14 = 10 October 1974
|term_end14 = 7 April 1979
|term_end14 = 7 April 1979
|predecessor14 = [[Dick Taverne]]
|predecessor14 = Dick Taverne
|successor14 = [[Kenneth Carlisle]]
|successor14 = Kenneth Carlisle
|birth_name = Margaret Mary Jackson
|birth_name = Margaret Mary Jackson
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|1|15|df=yes}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|1|15|df=yes}}
|birth_place = [[Ashton-under-Lyne]], [[Lancashire]], England
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|death_place =
|party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
|party =
|spouse = {{marriage|Lionel Beckett|1979}}
|spouse =
|alma_mater = [[University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology]]
|alma_mater =
|website = [http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/margaret-beckett/328 parliament..margaret-beckett]
|website = [http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/margaret-beckett/328 parliament..margaret-beckett]
}}
}}
</div>
</div>


'''Dame Margaret Mary Beckett''' {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|DBE}} ({{nee|'''Jackson'''}}; born 15 January 1943) is a British [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] [[politician]] who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for [[Derby South (UK Parliament constituency)|Derby South]] since [[United Kingdom general election, 1983|1983]]. She was the [[Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Deputy Leader of the Labour Party]] under [[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]] from 1992 to 1994, and briefly served as [[Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Leader of the Labour Party]] after Smith died suddenly. She later served in the [[Blair Ministry|Cabinet]] under Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]] in a number of roles, becoming Britain's first female [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Foreign Secretary]] in 2006.


'''Dame Margaret Mary Beckett DBE''' (born 15 January 1943) has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Derby South since 1983. She was the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party under John Smith from 1992 to 1994, and briefly served as Leader of the Labour Party after Smith died suddenly. She later served in the Cabinet under Prime Minister Tony Blair in a number of roles, becoming Britain's first female Foreign Secretary in 2006.
Beckett was first elected to [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] in [[United Kingdom general election, October 1974|1974]] for [[Lincoln (UK Parliament constituency)|Lincoln]] and held junior positions in the governments of [[Harold Wilson]] and [[James Callaghan]]. She lost her seat in [[United Kingdom general election, 1979|1979]], but returned to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] in [[United Kingdom general election, 1983|1983]], this time representing [[Derby South (UK Parliament constituency)|Derby South]]. She was appointed to [[Neil Kinnock]]'s [[Shadow Cabinet of Neil Kinnock|Shadow Cabinet]] shortly afterwards, being elected Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in 1992, becoming the first woman to hold that role. When [[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]] died in 1994, she became the first woman to lead the Labour Party, although [[Tony Blair]] won the [[Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 1994|election to replace Smith]] shortly afterwards to assume the substantive leadership.


Beckett was first elected to Parliament in 1974 for Lincoln and held junior positions in the governments of Harold Wilson and James Callaghan. She lost her seat in 1979, but returned to the House of Commons in 1983, this time representing Derby South. She was appointed to Neil Kinnock's Shadow Cabinet shortly afterwards, being elected Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in 1992, becoming the first woman to hold that role. When John Smith died in 1994, she became the first woman to lead the Labour Party, although Tony Blair won the election to replace Smith shortly afterwards to assume the substantive leadership.
After Labour returned to power in [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997]], Beckett became a member of Tony Blair's [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]] initially as [[Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills|President of the Board of Trade]]. She was later the [[Leader of the House of Commons]] and [[Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]], before becoming [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Foreign Secretary]] in 2006, the first woman to hold that position, and—after [[Margaret Thatcher]]—the second woman to hold one of the [[Great Offices of State]]. Following Blair's resignation as [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] in 2007, Beckett was not initially given a position by new Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]]. After some time, Brown appointed her [[Minister of State for Housing and Planning]] in 2008, before she left the government for the last time in 2009.


After Labour returned to power in 1997, Beckett became a member of Tony Blair's Cabinet initially as President of the Board of Trade. She was later the Leader of the House of Commons and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, before becoming Foreign Secretary in 2006, the first woman to hold that position, and—after Margaret Thatcher—the second woman to hold one of the Great Offices of State. Following Blair's resignation as Prime Minister in 2007, Beckett was not initially given a position by new Prime Minister Gordon Brown. After some time, Brown appointed her Minister of State for Housing and Planning in 2008, before she left the government for the last time in 2009.
She is currently the longest-serving female MP in the House of Commons. She is also one of the few remaining MPs who served in the Labour governments of the 1970s. She was appointed a [[Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] in the [[2013 New Year Honours]] for public and political service.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=60367|date=29 December 2012|page=6 |supp=y}}</ref><ref>
{{cite news
|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20858556
|title=New Year Honours: Margaret Beckett and Richard Shepherd on list
|publisher=[[BBC News Online]]
|date=28 December 2012
|accessdate=29 December 2012
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20858556
|archivedate=30 June 2009
|deadurl=yes
|df=dmy
}}</ref>


She is currently the longest-serving female MP in the House of Commons. She is also one of the few remaining MPs who served in the Labour governments of the 1970s. She was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2013 New Year Honours for public and political service.
==Early life==
Margaret Beckett was born Margaret Mary Jackson in 1943, in [[Ashton-under-Lyne]], Lancashire, into a working-class family. She had two sisters, one later a nun, the other later a doctor and mother of three. She was educated at the [[Notre Dame High School (Norwich)|Notre Dame High School for Girls]] in [[Norwich]], then at [[University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology]], where she took a degree in [[metallurgy]]. She was an active member of the Students' Union and served on its Council.

In 1961, Beckett joined [[Associated Electrical Industries]] as a student apprentice in metallurgy. She joined the [[Transport and General Workers Union]] in 1964. She joined the [[University of Manchester]] in 1966 as an experiment officer in its metallurgy department. In 1970 Beckett went to work for the Labour Party as a researcher in [[industrial policy]].

She married the chairman of her local [[Constituency Labour Party]], Lionel Beckett in 1979.<ref>{{cite news |title=Profile: Margaret Beckett |date=5 May 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4977348.stm |publisher=[[BBC News]] |accessdate=28 August 2009}}</ref> He works as Beckett's [[election agent]] and aide, travelling with her and working in her private office. He is paid from Margaret Beckett's staff allowance, one of the largest staff expenses.<ref>{{cite news|first=Sam |last=Coates |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article629076.ece|newspaper=''[[The Times]]''|date=8 November 2006|location=London|title=Taxpayers foot the bill for globetrotting Mr Beckett|accessdate=28 August 2009}}</ref> Leo Beckett has two sons from a previous marriage, and three grandchildren.

Beckett and her husband enjoy caravan holidays,<ref>{{cite web|title=MP picks up the keys to 2011 Bailey Pegasus caravan|url=http://www.caravantimes.co.uk/news/makes/bailey/pegasus/mp-picks-up-the-keys-to-2011-bailey-pegasus-caravan-$21378194.htm|publisher=Caravan Times|accessdate=13 October 2015}}</ref> as they have throughout her political career.<ref>{{cite news
|location=London
|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1524898/Follow-that-caravan-this-is-a-job-for-special-branch.html
|newspaper=''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''
|title=Follow that caravan – this is a job for special branch
|date=27 July 2006
|accessdate=28 August 2009
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/1524898/Follow-that-caravan-this-is-a-job-for-special-branch.html
|archivedate=30 June 2009
|deadurl=yes
|df=dmy
}}</ref>


==Member of Parliament==
==Member of Parliament==
In 1973, she was selected as Labour candidate for [[Lincoln (UK Parliament constituency)|Lincoln]], which the party wanted to win back from ex-Labour MP [[Dick Taverne]], who had won the [[Lincoln by-election, 1973|Lincoln by-election]] in March 1973 standing as the [[Democratic Labour]] candidate. At the [[United Kingdom general election, February 1974|February 1974 general election]], Beckett lost to Taverne by 1,297 votes. After the election, she worked as a researcher for [[Judith Hart]], the [[Minister for Overseas Development]] at the Foreign Office. [[Harold Wilson]] called another general election in October 1974, and Beckett again stood against Taverne in Lincoln at the [[United Kingdom general election, October 1974|October 1974 general election]]. This time Beckett became the MP, with a majority of 984 votes.
In 1973, she was selected as Labour candidate for Lincoln, which the party wanted to win back from ex-Labour MP Dick Taverne, who had won the Lincoln by-election in March 1973 standing as the Democratic Labour candidate. At the February 1974 general election, Beckett lost to Taverne by 1,297 votes. After the election, she worked as a researcher for Judith Hart, the Minister for Overseas Development at the Foreign Office. Harold Wilson called another general election in October 1974, and Beckett again stood against Taverne in Lincoln at the October 1974 general election. This time Beckett became the MP, with a majority of 984 votes.


Almost immediately after her election she was appointed as Judith Hart's [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]]. [[Harold Wilson]] made her a [[Whip (politics)|Whip]] in 1975, and she was promoted in 1976 by [[James Callaghan]] to [[Parliamentary Under Secretary of State]] at the [[Department for Education and Skills (United Kingdom)|Department of Education and Science]], replacing [[Joan Lestor]], who had resigned in protest over spending cuts. She remained in that position until she lost her seat at the [[United Kingdom general election, 1979|1979 general election]]. The [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] candidate [[Kenneth Carlisle]] narrowly won the seat with a 602-vote majority, the first time the Conservatives had won at Lincoln since [[United Kingdom general election, 1935|1935]].
Almost immediately after her election she was appointed as Judith Hart's Parliamentary Private Secretary. Harold Wilson made her a Whip in 1975, and she was promoted in 1976 by James Callaghan to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Education and Science, replacing Joan Lestor, who had resigned in protest over spending cuts. She remained in that position until she lost her seat at the 1979 general election. The Conservative candidate Kenneth Carlisle narrowly won the seat with a 602-vote majority, the first time the Conservatives had won at Lincoln since 1935.


She joined [[Granada Television]] as a researcher in 1979. Out of Parliament, and now known as Margaret Beckett after her marriage, she was elected to Labour's [[National Executive Committee]] in 1980, and supported left-winger [[Tony Benn]] in the [[Labour Party (UK) deputy leadership election, 1981|1981 Labour deputy leadership election]] narrowly won by [[Denis Healey]]. She was the subject of a vociferous attack from [[Joan Lestor]] at the conference.
She joined Granada Television as a researcher in 1979. Out of Parliament, and now known as Margaret Beckett after her marriage, she was elected to Labour's National Executive Committee in 1980, and supported left-winger Tony Benn in the 1981 Labour deputy leadership election narrowly won by Denis Healey. She was the subject of a vociferous attack from Joan Lestor at the conference.


Beckett was selected to stand at the [[United Kingdom general election, 1983|1983 general election]] as the Labour candidate in the parliamentary constituency of [[Derby South (UK Parliament constituency)|Derby South]] after the retirement of the sitting MP, [[Walter Johnson (UK politician)|Walter Johnson]]. At the election she retained the seat with a small majority of 421 votes.
Beckett was selected to stand at the 1983 general election as the Labour candidate in the parliamentary constituency of Derby South after the retirement of the sitting MP, Walter Johnson. At the election she retained the seat with a small majority of 421 votes.


Following the sudden death of John Smith from a heart attack on 12 May 1994, Margaret Beckett became the acting Labour leader, the Party's constitution providing for the automatic succession of the deputy leader for the remainder of the leadership term, upon the death or resignation of an incumbent leader in opposition. Labour leaders are subject to annual re-election at the time of the annual party conference while the party is in opposition. Accordingly, Beckett was constitutionally entitled to remain in office as acting leader until the 1994 Conference, however the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) rapidly decided to bring forward the election for Leader and Deputy Leader to July 1994.
===Shadow Cabinet and Deputy Leader, 1984–94===
{{see also|Shadow Cabinet of Margaret Beckett}}
Returning to the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]], Margaret Beckett gradually moved away from the [[hard left]], supporting incumbent leader [[Neil Kinnock]] against Benn in 1988. By this time she was a front bencher, as a spokeswoman on Social Security since 1984, becoming a member of the [[Shadow Cabinet]] in 1989 as Shadow Chief Secretary to the [[HM Treasury|Treasury]]. Following the [[United Kingdom general election, 1992|1992 general election]] she was elected [[Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Deputy Leader of the Labour Party]] and served under [[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]] as [[Shadow Leader of the House of Commons]]. She became a [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Member of the Privy Council]] in 1993. She was the first woman to serve as deputy leader of the Labour Party.


She decided to run for the position of Leader, but came last in the subsequent leadership election, behind Tony Blair and John Prescott. The Deputy Leadership was contested at the same time; Beckett, standing in this election as well, was also defeated in this contest, coming second behind Prescott. Though she failed in both contests, she was retained in the shadow cabinet by Tony Blair as Shadow Health Secretary.
Following the sudden death of [[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]] from a heart attack on 12 May 1994, Margaret Beckett became the acting Labour leader, [[Labour Party Rule Book|the Party's constitution]] providing for the automatic succession of the deputy leader for the remainder of the leadership term, upon the death or resignation of an incumbent leader in opposition. Labour leaders are subject to annual re-election at the time of the annual party conference while the party is in opposition. Accordingly, Beckett was constitutionally entitled to remain in office as acting leader until the 1994 Conference, however the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) rapidly decided to bring forward the election for Leader and Deputy Leader to July 1994.


Under Tony Blair's leadership, Margaret Beckett was the Shadow Secretary of State for Health, and then from 1995 the shadow President of the Board of Trade. She was one of the leading critics of the government when the Scott Report published its findings into the Arms-to-Iraq scandal in 1996.
She decided to run for the position of Leader, but came last in [[Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 1994|the subsequent leadership election]], behind [[Tony Blair]] and [[John Prescott]]. The Deputy Leadership was contested at the same time; Beckett, standing in this election as well, was also defeated in this contest, coming second behind Prescott. Though she failed in both contests, she was retained in the shadow cabinet by [[Tony Blair]] as [[Shadow Secretary of State for Health|Shadow Health Secretary]].


The Labour party was elected to government in a landslide in the 1997 general election and Margaret Beckett held a number of senior positions in the Blair government. After the election she was appointed President of the Board of Trade (a position the title of which would later revert to Secretary of State for Trade and Industry); the first woman to have held the post. She was succeeded by Peter Mandelson in July 1998.
A footnote to her ten-week tenure as caretaker leader of the Labour Party is that she happened to be the leader at the time of that year's [[European Parliament election, 1994 (United Kingdom)|1994 European parliament elections]] which were held just four weeks after ill-fate placed her in the position. Labour's election campaign had naturally been long in the planning under John Smith, whose sudden death led to a "sympathy rise" in opinion polls for Labour, compounding what had already been a strong lead over the Conservatives. Consequently, Labour had a commanding victory in what was its best result in any of the eight European elections held since 1979. The two Labour leadership elections followed just six weeks later on 21 July 1994 and the Labour electorate did not appear to attribute any credit for the successful European election result to Beckett's chance-ordained position as acting leader in the four weeks immediately prior to the election.


Beckett was then Leader of the House of Commons from 1998 until her replacement by Robin Cook in June 2001.
Under [[Tony Blair]]'s leadership, Margaret Beckett was the Shadow Secretary of State for [[Department of Health (United Kingdom)|Health]], and then from 1995 the shadow [[Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills|President of the Board of Trade]]. She was one of the leading critics of the government when the [[Scott Report]] published its findings into the [[Arms-to-Iraq]] scandal in 1996.


After the 2001 general election, Beckett became Secretary of State at the new Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, created after the old Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was abolished in the wake of perceived mismanagement of the foot and mouth disease epidemic in 2001. The new department also incorporated some of the functions of the former Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), and was known by its initials, "DEFRA".
===In government, 1997–2001===
The Labour party was elected to government in a [[landslide victory|landslide]] in the [[United Kingdom general election, 1997|1997 general election]] and Margaret Beckett held a number of senior positions in the [[Blair ministry|Blair government]]. After the election she was appointed [[Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills|President of the Board of Trade]] (a position the title of which would later revert to [[Secretary of State for Trade and Industry]]); the first woman to have held the post. She was succeeded by [[Peter Mandelson]] in July 1998.


For legal reasons, she was also appointed formally as the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which appointment she held until MAFF was finally dissolved on 27 March 2002 and the remaining functions of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food were transferred to the Secretary of State at large.
Beckett was then [[Leader of the House of Commons]] from 1998 until her replacement by [[Robin Cook]] in June 2001. Her tenure saw the introduction of Westminster Hall debates, which are debates held in a small chamber near Westminster Hall on topics of interest to individual MPs, committee reports, and other matters that would not ordinarily be debated in the Commons chamber.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/P04.pdf |title=House of Commons Factsheet P4: Sittings of the House |date=November 2006 |accessdate=16 December 2007 |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]] |work=[[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|British House of Commons]] |page=2 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529071521/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/P04.pdf |archivedate=29 May 2008 |df= }}</ref> Debates that take place in Westminster Hall are often more consensual and informal, and can address the concerns of [[backbenchers]]. She received admiration for her work as Leader of the House,<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4977348.stm
|title=Profile: Margaret Beckett
|date=5 May 2006
|accessdate=27 April 2007
|work=[[BBC News]]
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4977348.stm
|archivedate=30 June 2009
|deadurl=yes
|df=dmy
}}{{Failed verification|date=August 2009}}</ref> working on this and a number of other elements of the Labour government's modernisation agenda for [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]]. In 2000 she expressed republican sympathies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1346189/Prescott-and-Beckett-fuel-Labour-split-on-monarchy.html|title=Prescott and Beckett fuel Labour split on monarchy|last=Editor|first=By David Cracknell, Deputy Political|access-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>


===Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 2001–06===
She held the position of Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs until May 2006, when she was succeeded by David Miliband. Beckett would be on the front line of the government's efforts to tackle climate change, and attended international conferences on the matter.
After the [[United Kingdom general election, 2001|2001 general election]], Beckett became Secretary of State at the new [[Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]], created after the old [[Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]] was abolished in the wake of perceived mismanagement of the [[foot and mouth disease]] [[2001 UK foot and mouth crisis|epidemic in 2001]]. The new department also incorporated some of the functions of the former [[Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions]] (DETR), and was known by its initials, "DEFRA".


Following the 2006 local elections, Tony Blair demoted Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, and appointed Margaret Beckett as his successor. She was the first woman to hold the post, and only the second woman to hold one of the great offices of state (after Margaret Thatcher). Beckett's appointment came as something of a surprise, for the media and for Beckett herself. She admitted reacting to the news with a four-letter word.
For legal reasons, she was also appointed formally as the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which appointment she held until MAFF was finally dissolved on 27 March 2002 and the remaining functions of the [[Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food]] were transferred to the Secretary of State at large.


On 28 June 2007, Brown selected David Miliband as Foreign Secretary and Beckett returned to the back benches.
She held the position of [[Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]] until May 2006, when she was succeeded by [[David Miliband]]. Beckett would be on the front line of the government's efforts to tackle [[climate change]], and attended international conferences on the matter.


It was announced on 29 January 2008 that Beckett would become the new head of the Prime Minister's Intelligence and Security Committee, replacing Paul Murphy, who became the Secretary of State for Wales.
In a report published on 29 March 2007 by the Environment Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee [[Select Committee (Westminster System)|select committee]], she was criticised for her role in the failures of the [[Rural Payments Agency]] when she had been [[Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/29/nfarms29.xml |title=Beckett should be sacked over farm payments fiasco, say MPs |date=30 March 2007 |accessdate=2 April 2007 |author=Charles Clover |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |archivedate=30 June 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2007%2F03%2F29%2Fnfarms29.xml |deadurl=yes |df=dmy }}</ref>


Beckett returned to government in the reshuffle on 3 October 2008 as the Minister of State for Housing in the Department for Communities and Local Government. She attended Cabinet meetings, but was not a full member and was not to be entitled to vote on collective decisions.
===Foreign Secretary, 2006–07===
Following the [[United Kingdom local elections, 2006|2006 local elections]], [[Tony Blair]] demoted [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Foreign Secretary]] [[Jack Straw]], and appointed Margaret Beckett as his successor. She was the first woman to hold the post, and only the second woman to hold one of the [[great offices of state]] (after [[Margaret Thatcher]]). Beckett's appointment came as something of a surprise, for the media and for Beckett herself. She admitted reacting to the news with a four-letter word.<ref>{{cite news
|accessdate=20 March 2007
|date=28 June 2006
|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article680305.ece
|title='As he promoted me I replied in one word, with four letters'
|work=The Times Online
|location=London
|first=Philip
|last=Webster
|archivedate=30 June 2009
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article680305.ece
|deadurl=yes
|df=dmy
}}</ref>

Some commentators claim that she was promoted to Foreign Secretary because she was considered to be a 'safe pair of hands' and a loyal member of the Cabinet.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2006-05-05/world/britain.beckett_1_labour-party-iraq-war-local-council-elections?_s=PM:WORLD |title=UK has first woman foreign secretary |date=5 May 2006 |accessdate=20 March 2007 |work=[[CNN]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://articles.cnn.com/2006-05-05/world/britain.beckett_1_labour-party-iraq-war-local-council-elections?_s=PM%3AWORLD |archivedate=30 June 2009 |deadurl=yes |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.euronanotrade.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=459&Itemid=71
|title=Media Strategy Guide to Cabinet Reshuffle
|work=Euro Nano Trade Alliance
|accessdate=20 March 2007
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.euronanotrade.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=459&Itemid=71
|archivedate=30 June 2009
|deadurl=yes
|df=dmy
}}</ref> Her experience at [[Defra]] in dealing with international climate change issues has also been cited as a factor in the move.

Margaret Beckett had to adapt quickly to her diplomatic role and within a few hours of her appointment as Foreign Secretary she flew to the United Nations in New York City for an urgent meeting of foreign ministers to discuss the [[Iran]] nuclear weapons crisis. About a month later, Beckett came under fire for not responding quickly enough to the [[2006 Lebanon war]], which saw [[Israel]] invade the country, although some reports suggested that the delay was caused by Cabinet division rather than Mrs Beckett's reluctance to make a public statement on the matter.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6207306.stm |title=Commons Confidential: November 2006 |accessdate=20 March 2007 |publisher=BBC News |date=4 December 2006 |first=Nick |last=Assinder |archivedate=19 February 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219124000/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6207306.stm |deadurl=yes |df=dmy }}</ref>

[[Image:Beckett Rice.jpg|thumb|250px|Beckett appears with [[Secretary of State|US Secretary of State]], [[Condoleezza Rice]], following her appointment as Foreign Secretary.]]

Beckett is understood to have delegated European issues to the [[Foreign Office]] minister responsible for Europe, [[Geoff Hoon]], who, following his demotion as Defence Secretary, continued to attend Cabinet meetings. Hoon and Beckett were said to have a difficult ministerial relationship.<ref>{{cite journal|date=February 2007 |url=http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=8234 |title=Brussels Diary |accessdate=20 March 2007 |journal=[[Prospect (magazine)|Prospect]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=8234 |archivedate=30 June 2009 |deadurl=yes |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/03/npolitics103.xml
|title=Hoon uses Beckett's absence to reopen issue of EU's future
|date=3 November 2006
|accessdate=20 March 2007
|newspaper=''The Daily Telegraph''
|location=London
|first=Brendan
|last=Carlin
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2006%2F11%2F03%2Fnpolitics103.xml
|archivedate=30 June 2009
|deadurl=yes
|df=dmy
}}</ref>

As Foreign Secretary, Beckett came in for some trenchant criticism. According to ''[[The Times]]'', she did not stand up well in comparison with the previous Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw.<ref>{{cite news
|work=Times Online
|location=London
|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/william_rees_mogg/article676216.ece
|title=Being beastly to Beckett
|author=William Rees-Mogg
|date=19 June 2006
|accessdate=31 October 2006
|archivedate=30 June 2009
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/william_rees_mogg/article676216.ece
|deadurl=yes
|df=dmy
}}</ref> ''[[The Spectator]]'' described her as, "at heart, an old, isolationist, pacifist Leftist" and called on her to resign,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spectator.co.uk/online-edition/elsewhere/24342/not-up-to-the-job.thtml|title=Not up to the job|date=2 August 2006|accessdate=31 October 2006|author=[[Simon Heffer]]|work=The Spectator}} {{Dead link|date=April 2014}}</ref> and the ''[[New Statesman]]'' accused her of allowing the Foreign Office to become subservient to [[10 Downing Street]] after the tenures of Jack Straw and [[Robin Cook]].<ref>{{cite journal
|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/200612180059
|title=Interview: Margaret Beckett
|date=18 December 2006
|accessdate=27 March 2007
|author=Mary Riddell and [[John Kampfner]]
|journal=[[New Statesman]]
|archivedate=30 June 2009
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.newstatesman.com/200612180059
|deadurl=yes
|df=dmy
}}</ref>

In August 2006, 37 [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] members in her [[Derby South]] constituency left the party and joined the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], criticising her approach to the [[2006 Lebanon War|Israeli invasion of Lebanon]].<ref>{{cite news
|accessdate=31 October 2006
|date=25 August 2006
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5285986.stm
|title=Beckett suffers Labour defections
|publisher=BBC News
|archivedate=30 June 2009
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5285986.stm
|deadurl=yes
|df=dmy
}}</ref> Two weeks earlier, Beckett's successor, [[David Miliband]], openly criticised Blair and Beckett during a full cabinet meeting for failing to call for an immediate ceasefire.<ref name=no10rebuff>{{cite news
|date=2 August 2006
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5234590.stm
|title=No 10 'rebuffed hostilities call'
|publisher=BBC News
|accessdate=30 June 2007
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/5234590.stm
|archivedate=30 June 2009
|deadurl=yes
|df=dmy
}}</ref> [[Jack Straw]] and [[Hilary Benn]], then [[International Development Secretary]], later came out against Blair and Beckett as well.<ref name=no10rebuff/>

===Post-Blair years===
Upon taking office, [[Gordon Brown]] made it known that Margaret Beckett would not continue as [[Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs|Foreign Secretary]].<ref>{{cite news
|publisher=BBC News
|date=27 June 2007
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6246832.stm
|title=Beckett out as Foreign Secretary]
|accessdate=24 July 2008
|archivedate=30 June 2009
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6246832.stm
|deadurl=yes
|df=dmy
}}</ref> On 28 June 2007, Brown selected [[David Miliband]] as her replacement<ref>{{cite news|date=28 June 2007 |accessdate=28 June 2007 |location=London |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/gordonbrown/story/0,,2113987,00.html |title=Cabinet at a glance |publisher=[[theguardian.com]] |archivedate=30 June 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/gordonbrown/story/0%2C%2C2113987%2C00.html |deadurl=yes |df=dmy }}</ref> and Beckett returned to the back benches.

It was announced on 29 January 2008 that Beckett would become the new head of the Prime Minister's [[Intelligence and Security Committee]], replacing [[Paul Murphy (UK politician)|Paul Murphy]], who became the [[Secretary of State for Wales]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7215925.stm
|title=Beckett to head security watchdog
|publisher=BBC News
|accessdate=29 January 2008
|date=29 January 2008
|archivedate=30 June 2009
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7215925.stm
|deadurl=yes
|df=dmy
}}</ref>

Having been tipped for a possible return to the front bench in July 2008, due to her reputation as a solid media performer,<ref>{{cite news|accessdate=24 July 2008 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4387167.ece|title= Margaret Beckett tipped for a Cabinet comeback|work=[[The Times]]|date=24 July 2008|location=London|first=Philip|last=Webster}}</ref> Beckett returned to [[Her Majesty's Government|government]] in the [[Cabinet shuffle|reshuffle]] on 3 October 2008 as the [[Minister of State]] for Housing in the [[Communities and Local Government|Department for Communities and Local Government]]. She attended Cabinet meetings, but was not a full member and was not to be entitled to vote on collective decisions. She ultimately was allowed to come back due to her cabinet experience and her economic management in the past.

Beckett is currently a member of the [[Top Level Group|Top Level Group of UK Parliamentarians for Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament and Non-proliferation]], established in October 2009.<ref>{{cite news|first=Julian |last=Borger |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/sep/08/nuclear-disarmament-cross-party-group |location=London |work=The Guardian |title=Nuclear-free world ultimate aim of new cross-party pressure group |date=8 September 2009 |archivedate=30 June 2009 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/08/nuclear-disarmament-cross-party-group |deadurl=yes |df=dmy }}</ref>
Beckett has served as a member of the [[Henry Jackson Society]] Advisory Council.<ref name=guardian-20130520>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/20/labour-cut-ties-henry-jackson-society |title=Labour should cut its ties with the illiberal Henry Jackson Society |author=James Bloodworth |newspaper=The Guardian |date=20 May 2013 |accessdate=8 August 2016}}</ref><ref name=hjs-20160808>{{cite web|url=http://henryjacksonsociety.org/people/council-members/ |title=Advisory Council |publisher=Henry Jackson Society |accessdate=8 August 2016 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923022301/http://henryjacksonsociety.org/people/council-members/ |archivedate=23 September 2013 |df= }}</ref>

===MP expenses scandal===
Beckett was found to have claimed £600 for [[hanging basket]]s and [[pot plant]]s by ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' in the [[United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal|2009 expenses scandal]]. As she had no [[Mortgage loan|mortgage]] or [[renting|rent]] outstanding it was queried how she managed to claim £72,537 between 2004 and 2008 on a house in her [[constituency]] when she was renting out her London flat and living in a [[grace and favour]] flat.<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5293973/Margaret-Becketts-600-claim-for-hanging-baskets-and-pot-plants-MPs-expenses.html
|work=The Daily Telegraph
|location=London
|title=Margaret Beckett&#039;s £600 claim for hanging baskets and pot plants: MPs expenses
|first=Gordon
|last=Rayner
|date=8 May 2009
|accessdate=5 April 2010
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5293973/Margaret-Becketts-600-claim-for-hanging-baskets-and-pot-plants-MPs-expenses.html
|archivedate=30 June 2009
|deadurl=yes
|df=dmy
}}</ref>

===Bid to become Speaker===
On 10 June 2009, Beckett announced that she wished to replace [[Michael Martin, Baron Martin of Springburn|Michael Martin]] as [[Speaker of the House of Commons (United Kingdom)|Speaker of the House of Commons]]. Mrs Beckett said: "I think at the moment we have got very considerable problems in Parliament. We have got to make changes.... After the next election, if we have a more finely balanced chamber than we have had in the recent past, it will be a very different ball game.... I hope I can help us deal with that." Beckett received 70 votes in the first round and 74 votes in the second rounds of the 2009 Speaker election. She withdrew following the second round of voting.<ref>{{cite web|date=22 June 2009 |url=http://news.parliament.uk/2009/06/election-of-the-speaker-latest/ |title=Election of the Speaker: Latest |publisher=News.parliament.uk |accessdate=29 April 2010 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://news.parliament.uk/2009/06/election-of-the-speaker-latest/ |archivedate=30 June 2009 |deadurl=yes |df=dmy }}</ref>

In August 2009, Beckett wrote to Sir Christopher Kelly, Chairman of the [[Committee on Standards in Public Life]] which is currently investigating MPs' Expenses. In the letter, Beckett says the allowances do not adequately cover MPs' costs, which include political campaigns. ''The Telegraph'' criticised the "self-pitying" letter, saying it will fuel "concern that some MPs are not genuinely committed to reform".<ref>{{cite news|date=23 August 2009|accessdate=23 August 2009|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6806398.ece|title= Margaret Beckett in 'take pity' plea on expenses|work=The Sunday Times|location= bLondon|first=Isabel|last=Oakeshott}}</ref>

===Alternative Vote referendum===
On 26 November 2010, Beckett was announced as the President of the [[NOtoAV]] campaign, which campaigned to retain the [[First-past-the-post voting|First Past the Post]] (FPTP) electoral system at the [[United Kingdom alternative vote referendum, 2011|2011 United Kingdom Alternative Vote referendum]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11837428
|title=Labour veterans to oppose change to AV election system
|accessdate=26 November 2010
|work=[[BBC News Online]]
|publisher=BBC
|date=26 November 2010
|location=London
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11837428
|archivedate=30 June 2009
|deadurl=yes
|df=dmy
}}</ref>
She led the campaign to success and FPTP remains the system used in UK parliamentary elections.

===2015 Labour leadership election===

Margaret Beckett was one of 36 Labour MPs to nominate [[Jeremy Corbyn]] as a candidate in the [[Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 2015|Labour leadership election of 2015]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Who nominated who for the 2015 Labour leadership election?|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2015/06/who-nominated-who-2015-labour-leadership-election|accessdate=21 January 2016|work=[[New Statesman]]|date=15 June 2015}}</ref> Later, during an interview with [[BBC Radio 4]]'s ''[[World at One]]'', after it became known he was in the lead among the candidates, Beckett was asked if she was "a moron" for nominating Corbyn. She replied: "I am one of them".<ref>{{cite news|title=Margaret Beckett: I was moron to nominate Jeremy Corbyn|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33625612|accessdate=21 January 2016|work=[[BBC News Online]]|date=22 July 2015}}</ref> Furthermore, in January 2016, Beckett claimed that Labour would need an "unexpected political miracle" if it were to win under his leadership,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Elliott|first1=Francis|title=Corbyn needs miracle to win, says Beckett as report draws fire|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4669948.ece|accessdate=21 January 2016|work=The Times|date=20 January 2016|language=en-GB}}</ref> and criticised Corbyn for failing to win back the trust of the [[Voter turnout|electorate]] on [[welfare reform]] and [[mass immigration]], saying: "I think we had the right policies towards immigration, but the simple thuggishness of the kind of Ukip and Conservative approach is easier to understand and we didn't overcome those communication difficulties ... We have to try and work on ways to overcome that – I'm not suggesting we've done it yet".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stone|first1=Jon|title=Jeremy Corbyn hasn't won back the public's trust on welfare and immigration, says Margaret Beckett|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-hasnt-won-back-the-publics-trust-on-welfare-and-immigration-says-margaret-beckett-a6822306.html|accessdate=21 January 2016|work=The Independent|date=20 January 2016|language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Beckett report===
On 16 January 2016, Beckett released "Learning the Lessons from Defeat Taskforce Report", a 35-page report into why the Labour Party lost the general election of 2015, after the then-deputy leader [[Harriet Harman]] requested Beckett investigate the reasons for Labour's failure.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goodfellow|first1=Mollie|title=Why Labour lost the election. In its own words|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/the-beckett-report-into-labours-election-loss-has-finally-been-released-a6821406.html|accessdate=21 January 2016|work=The Independent|date=19 January 2016|language=en-GB}}</ref> Labour's defeat came as a shock to pollsters, whose polls had suggested that the result would be much closer than it eventually was. Ultimately the Conservatives won a narrow majority.<ref name="Beckett Report" />

The report said that explanations including Labour being "anti-business" or "anti-aspiration" were not "significant" factors, saying that "reasons for defeat should be treated with caution and require deeper analysis".<ref name="Beckett Report">{{cite news|last1=Stone|first1=Jon|title=Forget what you think you know about why Labour lost the election|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/commonly-believed-reasons-why-labour-lost-the-election-arent-significant-says-partys-beckett-report-a6821476.html|accessdate=21 January 2016|work=The Independent|date=19 January 2016|language=en-GB}}</ref> Allegations that the party was overly [[left wing]] were also allegedly unfounded, as according to the report: "Many of our most 'left wing' policies were the most popular. Polls showed a wish, from voters, for us to be tougher on big business, and policies that were unpopular with many senior business people, such as the energy price freeze and the Mansion Tax, were popular with voters."<ref name="Socialist Worker">{{cite news|last1=Clark|first1=Nick|title=Beckett report can't work out how Labour lost in 2015|url=https://socialistworker.co.uk/art/42037/Beckett+report+cant+work+out+how+Labour+lost+in+2015|accessdate=21 January 2016|work=Socialist Worker (Britain)}}</ref>

The main reasons given for Labour's losses were: the perceived weakness of [[Ed Miliband]] as party leader, fear of Labour's relationship with the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP) among English voters, and a perceived association with [[Financial crisis of 2007–2008|the financial crisis]] under the [[Brown ministry]].<ref name="Beckett Report"/> and "issues of connection" with voters.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mason|first1=Rowena|title=Beckett report: Labour lost election over economy, immigration and benefits|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jan/14/beckett-report-labour-lost-2015-election-economy-immigrants-benefits|accessdate=21 January 2016|work=The Guardian|date=14 January 2016|language=en-GB}}</ref> Labour was also said to have failed to convince voters of its welfare and immigration policies. Beckett claims that: "A series of vicious and cynical attacks were mounted on some of the most vulnerable in society, in the expectation that the Labour party would do its utmost to defend them, and could be painted as the party of {{'}}welfare{{'}}".<ref name="Socialist Worker" />

The report also said that it would be difficult for Labour to win next time because of changes to constituency boundaries ([[Sixth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies|due in 2018]]), voter registration changes, and restrictions on trade union funding of parties. Beckett said the party should campaign in ordinary language, focus its policy on the condition of Britain in 2020, unite for the [[United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|EU referendum]], and draw up a five-year media strategy.<ref name="Beckett Report"/>

The Beckett report was criticised by some on the [[left wing]] of British politics as "show[ing] that many Labour politicians still don't really understand why they lost" and blaming factors such as the rise of the SNP on Labour's losses, rather than campaigning against [[United Kingdom government austerity programme|austerity]].<ref name="Socialist Worker" /> Others have criticised the report for being too broad and too vague in its conclusions. Stephen Bush wrote in the ''[[New Statesman]]'' that "every bit of the Labour party will have something it can cling to" in the report:<ref name="Stephen Bush">{{cite news|last1=Bush|first1=Stephen|title=The Beckett Report won't help Labour win the next election|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/elections/2016/01/beckett-report-wont-help-labour-win-next-election|accessdate=21 January 2016|work=[[New Statesman]]|date=19 January 2016}}</ref> He continued:
{{quote|Supporters of [[Jeremy Corbyn]] will take heart from the fact that individual left-wing policies, like the mansion tax, were popular. But Corbyn-sceptics will note that it was voters that went for [[Tony Blair]] and [[David Cameron]] that failed to back the party in 2015, which they will take as an endorsement of a centrist approach. [[Ed Miliband]]'s diehard supporters – they do exist, believe it or not – will see the report as an endorsement of the Miliband era policy approach but will argue that a more convincing frontman would have sealed the deal.<ref name="Stephen Bush" />}}
However, [[Owen Jones (writer)|Owen Jones]], columnist for ''[[The Guardian]]'', said that the left should not fear the Beckett report, saying: "Let's have a full inquest, not in the interests of navel-gazing, but in the interests of winning".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Owen|authorlink=Owen Jones (writer)|title=The left must not fear the Beckett report – it will help Labour win power|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/18/labour-beckett-report-left-election-defeat-2015|accessdate=21 January 2016|work=The Guardian|date=18 January 2016|language=en-GB}}</ref> Many [[centrist]] and more [[right-wing]] Labour politicians have also welcomed the report.<ref>{{cite news|title=Set little store by Beckett|url=http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-7bbd-Set-little-store-by-Beckett|accessdate=22 January 2016|work=[[Morning Star (British newspaper)|Morning Star]]|date=15 January 2016}}</ref>

In Summer 2016, Beckett "wept" during a BBC Radio interview, asking Jeremy Corbyn to resign. She claimed "Jeremy has no experience. It’s not a fault it’s just a fact. He has no experience at all of the problems of leadership - the hassle, the scrutiny from [the press]. That’s a world that was beyond him until he was elected leader." <ref>https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/margaret-beckett-in-tears-radio-8306417</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{UK MP links|parliament=margaret-beckett/328|hansard=miss-margaret-jackson| hansardcurr=3931|guardian=319/margaret-beckett|publicwhip=Margaret_Beckett |theywork=margaret_beckett|record=Margaret-Beckett/Derby-South/34|bbc=25805.stm |journalisted=margaret-beckett}}
*{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6347299.stm
|title=Day in the Life: Margaret Beckett
|author=Bridget Kendall
|publisher=''BBC News''
|date=10 February 2007
|archivedate=30 June 2009
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630013226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6347299.stm
|deadurl=yes
|df=dmy
}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.c-span.org/person/?margaretbeckett|title=Margaret Beckett|publisher=[[C-SPAN]]}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br>for [[Lincoln (UK Parliament constituency)|Lincoln]]|years=[[United Kingdom general election, October 1974|1974]]–[[United Kingdom general election, 1979|1979]]}}
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Beckett is currently a member of the Top Level Group of UK Parliamentarians for Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament and Non-proliferation, established in October 2009. Beckett has served as a member of the Henry Jackson Society Advisory Council.
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Revision as of 21:43, 14 June 2018



The Right Honourable
Dame Margaret Beckett
DBE MP
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
In office
5 May 2006 – 27 June 2007
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Preceded by Jack Straw
Succeeded by David Miliband
Minister of State for Housing and Planning
In office
3 October 2008 – 5 June 2009
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Preceded by Caroline Flint
Succeeded by John Healey
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
In office
8 June 2001 – 5 May 2006
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Preceded by John Prescott
Succeeded by David Miliband
Leader of the House of Commons
Lord President of the Council
In office
27 July 1998 – 8 June 2001
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Deputy Paddy Tipping
Preceded by Ann Taylor
Succeeded by Robin Cook
President of the Board of Trade
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
In office
2 May 1997 – 27 July 1998
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Preceded by Ian Lang
Succeeded by Peter Mandelson
Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry
In office
19 October 1995 – 2 May 1997
Leader Tony Blair
Preceded by Jack Cunningham
Succeeded by Michael Heseltine
Shadow Secretary of State for Health]
In office
20 October 1994 – 19 October 1995
Leader Tony Blair
Preceded by David Blunkett
Succeeded by Harriet Harman
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
In office
21 July 1994 – 20 October 1994
Leader Tony Blair
Preceded by Nick Brown (Acting)
Succeeded by Ann Taylor
In office
24 July 1992 – 12 May 1994
Leader John Smith
Preceded by Jack Cunningham
Succeeded by Nick Brown (Acting)
Leader of the Opposition
In office
12 May 1994 – 21 July 1994
Prime Minister John Major
Preceded by John Smith
Succeeded by Tony Blair
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
In office
18 July 1992 – 21 July 1994
Leader John Smith
Preceded by Roy Hattersley
Succeeded by John Prescott
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
In office
9 January 1989 – 18 July 1992
Leader Neil Kinnock
Preceded by Gordon Brown
Succeeded by Harriet Harman
Member of Parliament
for Derby South
Assumed office
9 June 1983
Preceded by Walter Johnson
Majority 11,248 (24.8%)
Member of Parliament
for Lincoln
In office
10 October 1974 – 7 April 1979
Preceded by Dick Taverne
Succeeded by Kenneth Carlisle
Personal details
Born Margaret Mary Jackson
(1943-01-15) 15 January 1943 (age 81)
Website parliament..margaret-beckett


Dame Margaret Mary Beckett DBE (born 15 January 1943) has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Derby South since 1983. She was the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party under John Smith from 1992 to 1994, and briefly served as Leader of the Labour Party after Smith died suddenly. She later served in the Cabinet under Prime Minister Tony Blair in a number of roles, becoming Britain's first female Foreign Secretary in 2006.

Beckett was first elected to Parliament in 1974 for Lincoln and held junior positions in the governments of Harold Wilson and James Callaghan. She lost her seat in 1979, but returned to the House of Commons in 1983, this time representing Derby South. She was appointed to Neil Kinnock's Shadow Cabinet shortly afterwards, being elected Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in 1992, becoming the first woman to hold that role. When John Smith died in 1994, she became the first woman to lead the Labour Party, although Tony Blair won the election to replace Smith shortly afterwards to assume the substantive leadership.

After Labour returned to power in 1997, Beckett became a member of Tony Blair's Cabinet initially as President of the Board of Trade. She was later the Leader of the House of Commons and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, before becoming Foreign Secretary in 2006, the first woman to hold that position, and—after Margaret Thatcher—the second woman to hold one of the Great Offices of State. Following Blair's resignation as Prime Minister in 2007, Beckett was not initially given a position by new Prime Minister Gordon Brown. After some time, Brown appointed her Minister of State for Housing and Planning in 2008, before she left the government for the last time in 2009.

She is currently the longest-serving female MP in the House of Commons. She is also one of the few remaining MPs who served in the Labour governments of the 1970s. She was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2013 New Year Honours for public and political service.

Member of Parliament

In 1973, she was selected as Labour candidate for Lincoln, which the party wanted to win back from ex-Labour MP Dick Taverne, who had won the Lincoln by-election in March 1973 standing as the Democratic Labour candidate. At the February 1974 general election, Beckett lost to Taverne by 1,297 votes. After the election, she worked as a researcher for Judith Hart, the Minister for Overseas Development at the Foreign Office. Harold Wilson called another general election in October 1974, and Beckett again stood against Taverne in Lincoln at the October 1974 general election. This time Beckett became the MP, with a majority of 984 votes.

Almost immediately after her election she was appointed as Judith Hart's Parliamentary Private Secretary. Harold Wilson made her a Whip in 1975, and she was promoted in 1976 by James Callaghan to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Education and Science, replacing Joan Lestor, who had resigned in protest over spending cuts. She remained in that position until she lost her seat at the 1979 general election. The Conservative candidate Kenneth Carlisle narrowly won the seat with a 602-vote majority, the first time the Conservatives had won at Lincoln since 1935.

She joined Granada Television as a researcher in 1979. Out of Parliament, and now known as Margaret Beckett after her marriage, she was elected to Labour's National Executive Committee in 1980, and supported left-winger Tony Benn in the 1981 Labour deputy leadership election narrowly won by Denis Healey. She was the subject of a vociferous attack from Joan Lestor at the conference.

Beckett was selected to stand at the 1983 general election as the Labour candidate in the parliamentary constituency of Derby South after the retirement of the sitting MP, Walter Johnson. At the election she retained the seat with a small majority of 421 votes.

Following the sudden death of John Smith from a heart attack on 12 May 1994, Margaret Beckett became the acting Labour leader, the Party's constitution providing for the automatic succession of the deputy leader for the remainder of the leadership term, upon the death or resignation of an incumbent leader in opposition. Labour leaders are subject to annual re-election at the time of the annual party conference while the party is in opposition. Accordingly, Beckett was constitutionally entitled to remain in office as acting leader until the 1994 Conference, however the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) rapidly decided to bring forward the election for Leader and Deputy Leader to July 1994.

She decided to run for the position of Leader, but came last in the subsequent leadership election, behind Tony Blair and John Prescott. The Deputy Leadership was contested at the same time; Beckett, standing in this election as well, was also defeated in this contest, coming second behind Prescott. Though she failed in both contests, she was retained in the shadow cabinet by Tony Blair as Shadow Health Secretary.

Under Tony Blair's leadership, Margaret Beckett was the Shadow Secretary of State for Health, and then from 1995 the shadow President of the Board of Trade. She was one of the leading critics of the government when the Scott Report published its findings into the Arms-to-Iraq scandal in 1996.

The Labour party was elected to government in a landslide in the 1997 general election and Margaret Beckett held a number of senior positions in the Blair government. After the election she was appointed President of the Board of Trade (a position the title of which would later revert to Secretary of State for Trade and Industry); the first woman to have held the post. She was succeeded by Peter Mandelson in July 1998.

Beckett was then Leader of the House of Commons from 1998 until her replacement by Robin Cook in June 2001.

After the 2001 general election, Beckett became Secretary of State at the new Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, created after the old Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was abolished in the wake of perceived mismanagement of the foot and mouth disease epidemic in 2001. The new department also incorporated some of the functions of the former Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), and was known by its initials, "DEFRA".

For legal reasons, she was also appointed formally as the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which appointment she held until MAFF was finally dissolved on 27 March 2002 and the remaining functions of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food were transferred to the Secretary of State at large.

She held the position of Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs until May 2006, when she was succeeded by David Miliband. Beckett would be on the front line of the government's efforts to tackle climate change, and attended international conferences on the matter.

Following the 2006 local elections, Tony Blair demoted Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, and appointed Margaret Beckett as his successor. She was the first woman to hold the post, and only the second woman to hold one of the great offices of state (after Margaret Thatcher). Beckett's appointment came as something of a surprise, for the media and for Beckett herself. She admitted reacting to the news with a four-letter word.

On 28 June 2007, Brown selected David Miliband as Foreign Secretary and Beckett returned to the back benches.

It was announced on 29 January 2008 that Beckett would become the new head of the Prime Minister's Intelligence and Security Committee, replacing Paul Murphy, who became the Secretary of State for Wales.

Beckett returned to government in the reshuffle on 3 October 2008 as the Minister of State for Housing in the Department for Communities and Local Government. She attended Cabinet meetings, but was not a full member and was not to be entitled to vote on collective decisions.

Beckett is currently a member of the Top Level Group of UK Parliamentarians for Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament and Non-proliferation, established in October 2009. Beckett has served as a member of the Henry Jackson Society Advisory Council.

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