Beckett, Margaret (1943–)

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Beckett, Margaret (1943–)

English politician and member of Parliament. Name variations: Rt. Hon. Margaret Beckett. Born Margaret Jackson, Jan 15, 1943, in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England; dau. of a carpenter and teacher; trained as an engineer at Manchester College of Science and Technology; m. Lionel Arthur Beckett, 1979.

Served as industrial policy researcher, Labour Party (1970–74), and principal researcher, Granada Television (1979–83); was political adviser, Ministry of Overseas Development (1974); representing Labour, elected MP for Lincoln (1974) and served as under-secretary of state for the Department of Education and Science (1976–79); elected to House of Commons for Derby South (1983); served as Opposition front bench spokesperson on health and social security (1984–89), shadow chief secretary to the Treasury (1989–92), shadow leader of the House and campaigns coordinator (1992–94), deputy leader (1992–94), chair of committee for Modernization of House of Commons (1998–2001); named secretary of state for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs; reelected (2005).

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