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


<seo title="Maria Eagle MP - Wikilab" metakeywords="wikilab,campaign,Labour," metadescription="Labour Party of the UK, Wikilab Campaigning Toolkit. List of Incumbent Labour MPs. Provides details of MP and which " meta google-site-verification="GEeHhcxoHWZ4EbFBudyILoYe21RElCR1PFdaJs2iiS8"/>
<seo title="Maria Eagle MP - Wikilab" metakeywords="wikilab,campaign,Labour," metadescription="Maria Eagle MP (born 17 February 1961) is a British Labour Party politician, Member of Parliament for Garston and Halewood and former Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport." meta google-site-verification="GEeHhcxoHWZ4EbFBudyILoYe21RElCR1PFdaJs2iiS8"/>


<div class="column" style="margin 1em; float: left;">
<div class="column" style="margin 1em; float: left;">
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|predecessor = Michael Dugher
|predecessor = Michael Dugher
|successor = Kelvin Hopkins
|successor = Kelvin Hopkins
|office1 = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Defence]]
|office1 = Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
|leader1 = [[Jeremy Corbyn]]
|leader1 = [[Jeremy Corbyn]]
|term_start1 = 14 September 2015
|term_start1 = 14 September 2015
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|predecessor1 = [[Vernon Coaker]]
|predecessor1 = [[Vernon Coaker]]
|successor1 = [[Emily Thornberry]]
|successor1 = [[Emily Thornberry]]
|office2 = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs]]
|office2 = Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
|leader2 = [[Edward Miliband]]<br>[[Harriet Harman]] {{small|(Acting)}}
|leader2 = [[Edward Miliband]]<br>[[Harriet Harman]] {{small|(Acting)}}
|term_start2 = 7 October 2013
|term_start2 = 7 October 2013
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|predecessor2 = [[Mary Creagh]]
|predecessor2 = [[Mary Creagh]]
|successor2 = [[Kerry McCarthy]]
|successor2 = [[Kerry McCarthy]]
|office3 = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Transport]]
|office3 = Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
|leader3 = [[Edward Miliband]]
|leader3 = [[Edward Miliband]]
|term_start3 = 8 October 2010
|term_start3 = 8 October 2010
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|predecessor3 = Sadiq Khan
|predecessor3 = Sadiq Khan
|successor3 = [[Mary Creagh]]
|successor3 = [[Mary Creagh]]
|office4 = [[Solicitor General for England and Wales|Shadow Solicitor General]]
|office4 = Shadow Solicitor General
|leader4 = [[Harriet Harman]] {{small|(Acting)}}<br>[[Edward Miliband]]
|leader4 = [[Harriet Harman]] {{small|(Acting)}}<br>[[Edward Miliband]]
|term_start4 = 11 May 2010
|term_start4 = 11 May 2010
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|predecessor4 = Jonathan Djanogly
|predecessor4 = Jonathan Djanogly
|successor4 = [[Catherine McKinnell]]
|successor4 = [[Catherine McKinnell]]
|office5 = [[Minister for Children (United Kingdom)|Minister for Children]]
|office5 = Minister for Children
|primeminister5 = Tony Blair
|primeminister5 = Tony Blair
|term_start5 = 17 June 2005
|term_start5 = 17 June 2005
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|predecessor5 = [[Margaret Hodge]]
|predecessor5 = [[Margaret Hodge]]
|successor5 = Beverley Hughes
|successor5 = Beverley Hughes
|office6 = [[Department for Work and Pensions|Under Secretary of State for Disabled People]]
|office6 = Under Secretary of State for Disabled People
|primeminister6 = Tony Blair
|primeminister6 = Tony Blair
|term_start6 = 11 June 2001
|term_start6 = 11 June 2001
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|predecessor6 = [[Margaret Hodge]]
|predecessor6 = [[Margaret Hodge]]
|successor6 = Anne McGuire
|successor6 = Anne McGuire
|office7 = [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]]<br>for [[Garston and Halewood (UK Parliament constituency)|Garston and Halewood]]<br>{{small|[[Liverpool Garston (UK Parliament constituency)|Liverpool Garston]] (1997–2010)}}
|office7 = Member of Parliament<br>for [[Garston and Halewood]]<br>{{small|Liverpool Garston (1997–2010)}}
|term_start7 = 1 May 1997
|term_start7 = 1 May 1997
|term_end7 =
|term_end7 =
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|majority7 = 32,149 (60.0%)
|majority7 = 32,149 (60.0%)
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|2|17|df=y}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|2|17|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Bridlington]], England
|birth_place =
|death_date =
|death_date =
|death_place =
|death_place =
|party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
|party =
|alma_mater = [[Pembroke College, Oxford]]<br>[[University of Law]]
|alma_mater =
|website = {{url|www.mariaeagle.org.uk}}
}}
}}
</div>
</div>
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'''Maria Eagle''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MP}} (born 17 February 1961) is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] politician, Member of Parliament for [[Garston and Halewood (UK Parliament constituency)|Garston and Halewood]]<ref>[http://councillors.liverpool.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=336&RPID=10728877 Election results for Garston & Halewood Constituency, 8 June 2017 - Liverpool City Council<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000708 Garston & Halewood parliamentary constituency - Election 2017 - BBC News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and former [[Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport]].
'''Maria Eagle''' (born 17 February 1961) is Member of Parliament for [[Garston and Halewood]] and former Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.


She has held the rank of [[Minister of State]] at the [[Government Equalities Office]] and at the [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Justice]]. She had been a Minister at the [[Department for Work and Pensions]], the [[Department for Education and Skills (United Kingdom)|Department for Education and Skills]], and the [[Northern Ireland Office]]. After the [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|2010 general election]] she became the [[Shadow Cabinet|Shadow]] [[Solicitor General for England and Wales|Solicitor General]].<ref>[http://www2.labour.org.uk/opposition-front-bench Opposition Front Bench] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605014712/http://www2.labour.org.uk/opposition-front-bench |date=5 June 2010 }} Labour Party</ref> On 8 October 2010, Eagle was announced as the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport in [[Ed Miliband]]'s shadow cabinet, and on 7 October 2013, appointed as Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
She has held the rank of Minister of State at the Government Equalities Office and at the Ministry of Justice. She had been a Minister at the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Education and Skills, and the Northern Ireland Office. After the 2010 general election she became the Shadow Solicitor General. On 8 October 2010, Eagle was announced as the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport in [[Edward Miliband]]'s shadow cabinet, and on 7 October 2013, appointed as Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.


On 14 September 2015, Eagle was confirmed as the Shadow Defence Secretary in [[Jeremy Corbyn]]'s first Shadow Cabinet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://press.labour.org.uk/post/129068026019/jeremy-corbyn-announces-new-shadow-cabinet|title=Jeremy Corbyn announces new Shadow Cabinet appointments|website=Labour Press|access-date=27 May 2016}}</ref> She was moved to the position of Shadow Culture Secretary in January 2016 and resigned from the Shadow Cabinet on 27 June 2016. Eagle is the twin sister of fellow Labour MP [[Angela Eagle]].
On 14 September 2015, Eagle was confirmed as the Shadow Defence Secretary in Jeremy Corbyn's first Shadow Cabinet. She was moved to the position of Shadow Culture Secretary in January 2016 and resigned from the Shadow Cabinet on 27 June 2016.


==Political life==
==Political life==
After joining the Labour Party, Eagle was elected the secretary of the [[Crosby (UK Parliament constituency)|Crosby]] Constituency Labour Party (CLP) for two years in 1983,<ref name=ParlProf>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100609020923/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/maria-eagle/25660 Biography – Maria Eagle] UK Parliament</ref> and was also elected as the campaigns organiser with that CLP for three years in 1993.<ref name=ParlProf/> She contested the Crosby seat at the [[United Kingdom general election, 1992|1992 general election]]<ref name=ParlProf/> where she lost to the sitting [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] MP [[Malcolm Thornton]] by 14,806 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm|title=UK General election results April 9th 1992 [Archive]|website=www.politicsresources.net|access-date=27 May 2016}}</ref>
After joining the Labour Party, Eagle was elected the secretary of the Crosby Constituency Labour Party (CLP) for two years in 1983, and was also elected as the campaigns organiser with that CLP for three years in 1993. She contested the Crosby seat at the 1992 general election where she lost to the sitting Conservative MP Malcolm Thornton by 14,806 votes.


For the following election in 1997 Eagle was selected through an all-women shortlist to stand for Labour in Garston, Merseyside. She was elected to the House of Commons with a majority of 18,417 and remains an MP, now for Garston & Halewood, following boundary changes in 2010.
For the following election in 1997 Eagle was selected through an [[all-women shortlists|all-women shortlist]] to stand for Labour in [[Liverpool Garston (UK Parliament constituency)|Garston]], Merseyside.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2001/rp01-075.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=4 February 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061120230523/http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2001/rp01-075.pdf |archivedate=20 November 2006 |df= }}</ref><ref name="independent.co.uk">{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/labour-blow-as-allwomen-lists-outlawed-1323046.html | location=London | work=The Independent | first1=John | last1=Rentoul | first2=Stephen | last2=Ward | first3=Donald | last3=MacIntyre | title=Labour blow as all-women lists outlawed | date=9 January 1996}}</ref> She was elected to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] with a majority of 18,417 and remains an MP, now for Garston & Halewood, following boundary changes in 2010.<ref name=ParlProf/> She joined her sister [[Angela Eagle|Angela]] in Parliament, and are the only pair of sisters in the Commons.{{refn|group=N|They are sometimes incorrectly described as the first set of twins to sit in the Commons at the same time;<ref name="NSTrident" /> in fact the first set of twins is believed to have been [[James Grenville, 1st Baron Glastonbury|James]] and [[Richard Grenville (1742–1823)|Richard Grenville]], who sat together for [[Buckingham (UK Parliament constituency)|Buckingham]] between 1774 and 1780.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/periods/hanoverians/twins-parliament-grenvilles-and-buckingham-borough-1774|title=Twins in Parliament: the Grenvilles and Buckingham Borough, 1774|first=Stephen|last=Farrell|website=The History of Parliament Online|access-date=10 July 2016}}</ref>}}

She made her [[maiden speech]] on 17 June 1997.<ref>[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo970617/debtext/70617-22.htm#70617-22_spnew1 Hansard Debates for 17 June 1997] UK Parliament</ref>


==Parliamentary career==
==Parliamentary career==
In parliament Eagle was a member of the Public Accounts Committee following her initial election, and in 1999 she was appointed the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State at the Department of Health, John Hutton. She was promoted to the Tony Blair government following the 2001 general election as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, and after the 2005 general election, she was the Minister for Children at the Department for Education and Skills, until the May 2006 reshuffle moved her to Northern Ireland, where she was Minister for more than one department at a time, including a period at the Department for Employment and Learning, on 29 June 2007 she moved to the Ministry of Justice. As part of the reshuffle of Gordon Brown's government in October 2008, she assumed additional responsibility for the Government Equalities Office. In the June 2009 reshuffle she was promoted to Minister of State within the justice department.


After Labour lost the 2010 general election she served in interim Labour leader [[Harriet Harman]]'s front bench as Shadow Solicitor General and Shadow Justice Minister. In October 2010 Eagle was elected to the Shadow Cabinet of new Labour Party leader [[Edward Miliband]] as Shadow Secretary of State for Transport in the Labour Party Shadow Cabinet election.
In parliament Eagle was a member of the Public Accounts Committee following her initial election,<ref name=ParlProf/> and in 1999 she was appointed the [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to the [[Minister of State]] at the [[Department of Health (United Kingdom)|Department of Health]], [[John Hutton (British Politician)|John Hutton]].<ref name=ParlProf/> She was promoted to the [[Premiership of Tony Blair|Tony Blair government]] following the [[United Kingdom general election, 2001|2001 general election]] as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the [[Department for Work and Pensions]],<ref name=ParlProf/> and after the [[United Kingdom general election, 2005|2005 general election]], she was the [[Minister for Children (United Kingdom)|Minister for Children]] at the Department for Education and Skills,<ref name=ParlProf/> until the May 2006 reshuffle moved her to [[Northern Ireland Office|Northern Ireland]],<ref name=ParlProf/> where she was [[Minister of State|Minister]] for more than one department at a time, including a period at the [[Department for Employment and Learning]], on 29 June 2007 she moved to the [[Ministry of Justice (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Justice]]. As part of the reshuffle of [[Gordon Brown]]'s government in October 2008, she assumed additional responsibility for the [[Government Equalities Office]].<ref name=ParlProf/> In the June 2009 reshuffle she was promoted to [[Minister of State]] within the justice department.<ref name=ParlProf/>

Her proposed ban on [[mink]] fur farming was defeated as a [[Private Member's Bill]] but subsequently picked up by the government and enacted as the [[Fur Farming (Prohibition) Act 2000]].<ref name="BBC profile">{{cite news|title=Maria Eagle: Political Profile|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2119462.stm|accessdate=9 November 2015|publisher=BBC|date=21 October 2002}}</ref>

After Labour lost the [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|2010 general election]] she served in interim Labour leader [[Harriet Harman]]'s [[front bench]] as [[Shadow Cabinet|Shadow]] [[Solicitor General for England and Wales|Solicitor General]]<ref>[http://www.epolitix.com/latestnews/article-detail/newsarticle/thornberry-among-new-labour-front-benchers/ Thornberry among new Labour front benchers] ePolitix.com, 28 May 2010</ref> and Shadow Justice Minister.<ref name=ParlProf/> In October 2010 Eagle was elected to the [[Shadow Cabinet]] of new Labour Party leader [[Ed Miliband]] as Shadow Secretary of State for Transport in the [[Labour Party (UK) Shadow Cabinet election, 2010|Labour Party Shadow Cabinet election]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11484352 Cooper tops shadow cabinet vote] BBC News, 7 October 2010</ref>

Eagle was nominated for the Stonewall Politician of the Year Award in 2008 for her work to support equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.lesbilicious.co.uk/stonewall-awards-shortlist-announced |title=Stonewall Awards shortlist announced |date=23 September 2008 |magazine=Lesbilicious |first=Milly |last=Shaw |accessdate=27 February 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://archive.is/20130420154434/http://www.lesbilicious.co.uk/stonewall-awards-shortlist-announced |archivedate=20 April 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>
She was given a score of 93% in favour of lesbian, gay and bisexual equality by Stonewall.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stonewall.org.uk/documents/stonewall_mp_voting_records_2010_1.pdf |archive-url=https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/archive/20100916224119/http://www.stonewall.org.uk/documents/stonewall_mp_voting_records_2010_1.pdf |dead-url=yes |archive-date=16 September 2010 |title=Stonewall MP Voting Records 2010 (Voting on key gay equality issues in Parliament, 2005 to date |page=6 |accessdate=27 February 2013 }}</ref> On 5 February 2013 Eagle voted in favour in the House of Commons Second Reading vote on marriage equality in Britain.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm130205/debtext/130205-0004.htm |title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 05 Feb 2013 (pt 0004) |at=5 Feb 2013 : Column 231 |accessdate=27 February 2013 }}</ref>

Eagle was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Defence in September 2015 by the newly elected Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/live-jeremy-corbyn-makes-finishing-touches-to-labours-shadow-cabinet-10499453.html |title=Jeremy Corbyn shadow Cabinet live: Labour leader under fire after ignoring women for top jobs |at=14 Sept |accessdate=14 September 2015 }}</ref> Eagle said she was surprised by her appointment as she disagrees with Corbyn's advocacy of unilateral nuclear disarmament and supports of the renewal of the [[UK Trident programme|Trident]] nuclear weapons system.<ref name="NSTrident">{{cite news|last1=Eaton|first1=George|title=Maria Eagle on nuclear disarmament: "I’m not ruling it out"|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2015/10/maria-eagle-nuclear-disarmament-i-m-not-ruling-it-out|accessdate=9 November 2015|publisher=New Statesman|date=14 October 2015}}</ref> Tasked with leading Labour's defence review, she said that she would not rule out the possibility that it might recommend unilateral disarmament,<ref name="NSTrident" /> but described Corbyn's comments that he would not countenance using a nuclear deterrent as "unhelpful" to the policy process.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dathan|first1=Matt|title=Jeremy Corbyn's ability to become Prime Minister questioned by shadow defence secretary|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-labour-party-conference-trident-shadow-defence-secretary-maria-eagle-a6673811.html|accessdate=9 November 2015|publisher=Independent|date=30 September 2015}}</ref> In January 2016, she was moved to the position of Shadow Culture Secretary.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jan/06/labour-reshuffle-thornberry-replaces-eagle-for-defence-mcfadden-sacked-and-benn-stays |author1-last=Mason |author1-first=Rowena |author2-last=Perraudin |author2-first=Frances |title=Labour reshuffle: Thornberry replaces Eagle for defence, McFadden sacked and Benn stays |publisher=[[The Guardian]] |date=6 January 2016 |accessdate=27 June 2016}}</ref> She resigned from the shadow cabinet on 27 June 2016 in the mass resignation of the Shadow Cabinet following the Brexit referendum.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/26/labour-shadow-cabinet-resignations-jeremy-corbyn-who-has-gone |author-last1=Syal |author-first=Rajeev |author2-last=Perraudin |author2-first=Frances |title=Shadow cabinet resignations: who has gone and who is staying |publisher=[[The Guardian]] |date=27 June 2016 |accessdate=27 June 2016}}</ref>

==Expenses controversy==
{{Main|United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal}}
On 17 May 2009 ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' revealed that Eagle had claimed £3,500 for the refurbishment of the bathroom of her Liverpool home property, then switched her second home designation to a different property four months later. Eagle voted in favour of legislation which would have kept MPs' expenses information secret.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5336468/Maria-Eagle-bathroom-renovated-on-expenses-before-flat-was-flipped.html | work=Daily Telegraph| title=Maria Eagle: bathroom renovated on expenses before flat was 'flipped' | first=Patrick | last=Sawer | date=17 May 2009 | accessdate=12 May 2010 | location=London}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Maria describes herself as "the straight one". Her twin sister Angela is a lesbian.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2007/11/26/interview-maria-eagle-defends-homophobic-incitement-law/|title=Interview: Maria Eagle defends homophobic incitement law|publisher=}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=N}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Publications==

* ''[http://digital.library.lse.ac.uk/objects/lse:zak293zib High Time or High Tide for Labour Women?]'' by Maria Eagle and Joni Lovenduski, 1998, Fabian Society Books, {{ISBN|0-7163-0585-2}}, {{OCLC|39267019}}

==External links==
*[https://archive.is/20130421010946/http://www.mariaeaglemp.co.uk/ Maria Eagle MP] official website
*{{UK MP links | parliament = maria-eagle/483 | hansard = ms-maria-eagle | hansardcurr = 3065 | guardian = 1522/maria-eagle | publicwhip = Maria_Eagle | theywork = maria_eagle | record = Maria-Eagle/Garston-and-Halewood/128 | bbc = 25660.stm | journalisted = }}

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{{Miliband Shadow Cabinet}}
{{Labour Party shadow cabinet election, 2010}}
{{Shadow Defence Secretaries}}
{{North West Labour Party MPs}}
{{Authority control}}


Eagle was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Defence in September 2015 by the newly elected Labour leader, [[Jeremy Corbyn]]. Eagle said she was surprised by her appointment as she disagrees with Corbyn's advocacy of unilateral nuclear disarmament and supports of the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system. In January 2016, she was moved to the position of Shadow Culture Secretary. She resigned from the shadow cabinet on 27 June 2016.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eagle, Maria}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Alumni of Pembroke College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies]]
[[Category:Identical twins]]
[[Category:Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Liverpool constituencies]]
[[Category:Northern Ireland Office junior ministers]]
[[Category:People from Bridlington]]
[[Category:People from Formby]]
[[Category:Twin people from England]]
[[Category:20th-century women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century women politicians]]
[[Category:Women government ministers in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:UK MPs 1997–2001]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2001–05]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2005–10]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2010–15]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2015–17]]
[[Category:UK MPs 2017–]]

Revision as of 10:50, 16 June 2018



Maria Eagle
MP
Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
In office
5 January 2016 – 27 June 2016
Leader Jeremy Corbyn
Preceded by Michael Dugher
Succeeded by Kelvin Hopkins
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
In office
14 September 2015 – 5 January 2016
Leader Jeremy Corbyn
Preceded by Vernon Coaker
Succeeded by Emily Thornberry
Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
In office
7 October 2013 – 14 September 2015
Leader Edward Miliband
Harriet Harman (Acting)
Preceded by Mary Creagh
Succeeded by Kerry McCarthy
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
In office
8 October 2010 – 7 October 2013
Leader Edward Miliband
Preceded by Sadiq Khan
Succeeded by Mary Creagh
Shadow Solicitor General
In office
11 May 2010 – 8 October 2010
Leader Harriet Harman (Acting)
Edward Miliband
Preceded by Jonathan Djanogly
Succeeded by Catherine McKinnell
Minister for Children
In office
17 June 2005 – 8 May 2006
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Preceded by Margaret Hodge
Succeeded by Beverley Hughes
Under Secretary of State for Disabled People
In office
11 June 2001 – 17 June 2005
Prime Minister Tony Blair
Preceded by Margaret Hodge
Succeeded by Anne McGuire
Member of Parliament
for Garston and Halewood
Liverpool Garston (1997–2010)
Assumed office
1 May 1997
Preceded by Eddie Loyden
Majority 32,149 (60.0%)
Personal details
Born (1961-02-17) 17 February 1961 (age 63)
Website www.mariaeagle.org.uk


Maria Eagle (born 17 February 1961) is Member of Parliament for Garston and Halewood and former Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

She has held the rank of Minister of State at the Government Equalities Office and at the Ministry of Justice. She had been a Minister at the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Education and Skills, and the Northern Ireland Office. After the 2010 general election she became the Shadow Solicitor General. On 8 October 2010, Eagle was announced as the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport in Edward Miliband's shadow cabinet, and on 7 October 2013, appointed as Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

On 14 September 2015, Eagle was confirmed as the Shadow Defence Secretary in Jeremy Corbyn's first Shadow Cabinet. She was moved to the position of Shadow Culture Secretary in January 2016 and resigned from the Shadow Cabinet on 27 June 2016.

Political life

After joining the Labour Party, Eagle was elected the secretary of the Crosby Constituency Labour Party (CLP) for two years in 1983, and was also elected as the campaigns organiser with that CLP for three years in 1993. She contested the Crosby seat at the 1992 general election where she lost to the sitting Conservative MP Malcolm Thornton by 14,806 votes.

For the following election in 1997 Eagle was selected through an all-women shortlist to stand for Labour in Garston, Merseyside. She was elected to the House of Commons with a majority of 18,417 and remains an MP, now for Garston & Halewood, following boundary changes in 2010.

Parliamentary career

In parliament Eagle was a member of the Public Accounts Committee following her initial election, and in 1999 she was appointed the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State at the Department of Health, John Hutton. She was promoted to the Tony Blair government following the 2001 general election as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, and after the 2005 general election, she was the Minister for Children at the Department for Education and Skills, until the May 2006 reshuffle moved her to Northern Ireland, where she was Minister for more than one department at a time, including a period at the Department for Employment and Learning, on 29 June 2007 she moved to the Ministry of Justice. As part of the reshuffle of Gordon Brown's government in October 2008, she assumed additional responsibility for the Government Equalities Office. In the June 2009 reshuffle she was promoted to Minister of State within the justice department.

After Labour lost the 2010 general election she served in interim Labour leader Harriet Harman's front bench as Shadow Solicitor General and Shadow Justice Minister. In October 2010 Eagle was elected to the Shadow Cabinet of new Labour Party leader Edward Miliband as Shadow Secretary of State for Transport in the Labour Party Shadow Cabinet election.

Eagle was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Defence in September 2015 by the newly elected Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn. Eagle said she was surprised by her appointment as she disagrees with Corbyn's advocacy of unilateral nuclear disarmament and supports of the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system. In January 2016, she was moved to the position of Shadow Culture Secretary. She resigned from the shadow cabinet on 27 June 2016.

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