Gillian Merron is the Labour Member of Parliament for Lincoln and Minister of State in the Department of Health.

Gillian was a trade union official for NUPE, now UNISON in the East Midlands, and was elected to Parliament in 1997 to represent Lincoln. Gillian has previously held ministerial posts in Transport, the Cabinet Office, International Development and has been Minister for the East Midlands. In October 2008, Gillian was made a Minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Since June 2009, she now holds the post of Minister of State for Public Health in the Department of Health.

About Your MP

Labour Member of Parliament for Lincoln since 1997

Educated at Wanstead High School and Lancaster University

Before entering Parliament, a Trade Union Official (NUPE/UNISON) and a Local Government Officer

Assistant Government Whip (2002-2004)

Lords Commissioner to HM Treasury (Government Whip) (2004-2006)

Under Secretary of State for Transport (2006 - 2007)

Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office and Minsiter for the East Midlands (2007 - 2008)

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Development (2008)

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2008 - 2009)

Minister of State for Public Health at the Department of Health (2009-) 

FULL PROFILE

Born

• 12 April 1959

Educated

• Lancaster University, BSc (Hons) Management Sciences (1978-81)
• Wanstead High School

Career

• UNISON, Senior Regional Officer for Lincolnshire (1995-97)
• East Midlands Full Time Official, National Union of Public Employees (NUPE) – and UNISON (1987-95)
• Local Government Officer (1985-87)
• Business Development Advisor (1982-85)

Parliamentary Career

• Minister of State for Public Health at the Department of Health (2009-)
• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2008 - 2009)
• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Development (2008)
• Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office and Minister for the East Midlands (2007 - 2008)
• Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport (2006 - 2007)
• Lords Commissoner to HM Treasury(Government Whip), (2004-2006)
• Assistant Government Whip (2002-2004)
• Parliamentary Private Secretary to Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (2001-02), Minister for Defence Procurement (1999-01), and Minister for the Armed Forces (1998-99)

Political Background

• Member of the Labour Party since 1982
• Co-ordinated Shadow Cabinet Central Region Campaign in General Election (1992) and European Parliamentary Election (1994)
• Vice Chair, Regional Labour Party Executive

Constituency Organisation

• President – Lincoln and District Branch of the Parkinson’s Disease Association; Lincoln Mencap; Breathe Easy Lincol
• Vice Chair – Lincoln Co-operative Voluntary Party
• Patron – Friends of the Mary Gordon; Friends of St Helens Church, Boultham; Ermine Community Group
• Vice Patron - Usher Gallery Trust
• Member of Lincoln Civic Trust
• Member of Lincoln and District Indoor Bowls Club

Supporter

• Girlguiding UK, Ambassador
• Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
• Holocaust Educational Trust

Parliamentary Activities

• Graduate of Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme – RAF
• Fellow of the Industry and Parliament Trust – placement with Unilever
• Captain of the House of Commons Women’s Tug-of-War team (2003 – 2005)
• Associate Member of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body (2001-02)
• Board Member of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (1998-01)

Parliamentary Groups

• Chair of East-Midlands Group of Labour MPs (1999-02)
• Vice Chair - Parliamentary Labour Party Backbench Committee on Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs (1997-98)
• Member of the Select Committee on Trade and Industry (1997-98)

International Interests

• First serving MP to volunteer with Voluntary Service Overseas in Guyana supporting the Guyana Teachers Union(2005)
• Inter-Parliamentary Union and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Membership

• UNISON
• Co-operative Party
• Cats Protection League
• Amnesty International

Leisure Interests

• Lincoln City Football Club, running, gym, films.