Caroline Spelman

Date of birth

4 May 1958

Political profile

Caroline Spelman was first elected in 1997 and has made extremely rapid progress through the Conservative ranks.

She is currently one of two women in Michael Howard's Shadow Cabinet, having been promoted to be Shadow Secretary of State for Local and Devolved Government after David Curry resigned to spend more time with his family.

In the initial stages of Howard's leadership, she was served as both Shadow Environment Minister, and spokeswoman for Women.

She first joined the Shadow Cabinet in 2001 as Shadow International Development Secretary.

Throughout her Parliamentary career, she has proved to be firmly on the moderate wing of the party.

A member of Conservative Mainstream, she is a thoughtful and usually non-partisan debater.

She is an expert on agricultural matters, having worked as an agricultural consultant prior to her election, and is a strong advocate of reform to the Common Agricultural Policy.

She is also interested in family issues, and the welfare system.

Before the 2001 election she served as a junior health spokesman, and introduced an unsuccessful private members' bill on adoption.

Contact

Commons office: 020 7219 4189
Constituency office: 0121 711 2955
Email: spelmanc@parliament.uk