Roberta Blackman-Woods
Encyclopedia
Professor Roberta Carol Blackman-Woods (née Woods; born 16 August 1957) is a British
Labour Party
politician who has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for the City of Durham since 2005
.
, graduating with a BSc
degree and later a PhD
in Social Science. Following this she was employed as a welfare rights officer for Newcastle City Council
, before going on to pursue a career in academia.
As a sociologist with expertise in housing, she served as Professor of Social Policy and an Associate Dean in the School of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Northumbria
prior to her election, and had previously been Dean of Social and Labour studies at Ruskin College, Oxford and head of policy at the Local Government Information Unit. Blackman-Woods had previously been Chair of the City of Durham Constituency Labour Party
and before that in Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend
. She has also served as a Councillor on Oxford
and Newcastle City Councils.
Elected with a majority of 3,274, Blackman-Woods made her maiden speech to the House of Commons on 24 May 2005, in which she referred to the work of her predecessor Gerry Steinberg
, as well as referring at length to the importance to Durham of Durham Cathedral
, the University of Durham and the historic legacy of mining within the area. She also quoted Bill Bryson
's Notes from a Small Island
: "Why, it's wonderful - a perfect little city... If you have never been to Durham, go there at once. Take my car. It's wonderful."
Blackman-Woods was a member of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments from 2005-2010 and has also been a member of the Education and Skills Select Committee and the Business, Innovation, Science and Skills Select Committee. In 2006 she became the Parliamentary Private Secretary
to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
, Hilary Armstrong
. This post lasted until Hilary Armstrong was returned to the backbenches when Gordon Brown
became Prime Minister, but she was then appointed PPS to the Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne
, in 2007. Following Des Brown's retirement to the backbenches she served as PPS to David Lammy
MP as Minister of State for Higher Education
.
In 2005, she became Chair of the All Party Afghanistan Group and in 2007 she also became Chair of the All Party Balanced and Sustainable Communities Group.
Blackman-Woods was appointed Shadow Minister for Business in June 2010, before being moved to shadow the Civil Society Minister by new Labour Leader Ed Miliband
in October 2010. In the October 2010 shadow cabinet re-shuffle Roberta was moved to Shadow Minister in Communities and Local Government covering planning policy and procurement.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician who has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for the City of Durham since 2005
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
.
Biography
Blackman-Woods is from Northern Ireland and was educated at the University of UlsterUniversity of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
, graduating with a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree and later a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Social Science. Following this she was employed as a welfare rights officer for Newcastle City Council
Newcastle City Council
Newcastle City Council is the local government authority for Newcastle upon Tyne, a city in Tyne and Wear, England. The council consists of 78 councillors, three for each of the city's 26 wards...
, before going on to pursue a career in academia.
As a sociologist with expertise in housing, she served as Professor of Social Policy and an Associate Dean in the School of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Northumbria
Northumbria University
Northumbria University is an academic institution located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England. It is a member of the University Alliance.- History :...
prior to her election, and had previously been Dean of Social and Labour studies at Ruskin College, Oxford and head of policy at the Local Government Information Unit. Blackman-Woods had previously been Chair of the City of Durham Constituency Labour Party
Constituency Labour Party
A Constituency Labour Party is an organisation of members of the British Labour Party who live in a particular UK parliamentary constituency in England, Scotland and Wales. The Labour Party in Northern Ireland has, since February 2009, been organised as a province-wide Constituency Labour Party...
and before that in Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend
Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend (UK Parliament constituency)
Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend was, from 1997 until 2010, a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:...
. She has also served as a Councillor on Oxford
Oxford City Council
The Oxford City Council provides local government for the city of Oxford in England.- Overview :Between the 2004 local elections, and 2010 the council was in minority administration, first by councillors from the Labour Party, with the Liberal Democrats being the official opposition...
and Newcastle City Councils.
Parliamentary career
In 2004 Blackman-Woods was selected as the Labour candidate for the City of Durham constituency through a controversial All-Women Shortlist. In her previous work she had been known by her maiden name, Roberta Woods. She added her husband's surname, Blackman, after selection by the constituency Labour Party, to avoid confusion with the existing Liberal Democrat candidate Carol Woods.Elected with a majority of 3,274, Blackman-Woods made her maiden speech to the House of Commons on 24 May 2005, in which she referred to the work of her predecessor Gerry Steinberg
Gerry Steinberg
Gerald Neil Steinberg, known as Gerry Steinberg, is a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was Member of Parliament for the City of Durham from 1987 until his retirement at the 2005 general election.-Early life:...
, as well as referring at length to the importance to Durham of Durham Cathedral
Durham Cathedral
The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham is a cathedral in the city of Durham, England, the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Durham. The Bishopric dates from 995, with the present cathedral being founded in AD 1093...
, the University of Durham and the historic legacy of mining within the area. She also quoted Bill Bryson
Bill Bryson
William McGuire "Bill" Bryson, OBE, is a best-selling American author of humorous books on travel, as well as books on the English language and on science. Born an American, he was a resident of Britain for most of his adult life before moving back to the US in 1995...
's Notes from a Small Island
Notes from a Small Island
Notes from a Small Island is a humorous travel book on Great Britain by American author Bill Bryson, first published in 1995.-Overview:Bryson wrote Notes from a Small Island when he decided to move back to his native United States, but wanted to take one final trip around Great Britain, which had...
: "Why, it's wonderful - a perfect little city... If you have never been to Durham, go there at once. Take my car. It's wonderful."
Blackman-Woods was a member of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments from 2005-2010 and has also been a member of the Education and Skills Select Committee and the Business, Innovation, Science and Skills Select Committee. In 2006 she became the Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is, in modern times, a ministerial office in the government of the United Kingdom that includes as part of its duties, the administration of the estates and rents of the Duchy of Lancaster...
, Hilary Armstrong
Hilary Armstrong
Hilary Jane Armstrong, Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for North West Durham from 1987 to 2010.-Early life:...
. This post lasted until Hilary Armstrong was returned to the backbenches when Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
became Prime Minister, but she was then appointed PPS to the Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne
Des Browne
Desmond Henry Browne, Baron Browne of Ladyton is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Kilmarnock and Loudoun from 1997 to 2010...
, in 2007. Following Des Brown's retirement to the backbenches she served as PPS to David Lammy
David Lammy
David Lindon Lammy is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Tottenham since 2000.Lammy has commented on Britain's history of slavery.-Early life and Education:...
MP as Minister of State for Higher Education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
.
In 2005, she became Chair of the All Party Afghanistan Group and in 2007 she also became Chair of the All Party Balanced and Sustainable Communities Group.
Blackman-Woods was appointed Shadow Minister for Business in June 2010, before being moved to shadow the Civil Society Minister by new Labour Leader Ed Miliband
Ed Miliband
Edward Samuel Miliband is a British Labour Party politician, currently the Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition...
in October 2010. In the October 2010 shadow cabinet re-shuffle Roberta was moved to Shadow Minister in Communities and Local Government covering planning policy and procurement.