Hilary Armstrong

Labour MP North West Durham

Date of birth

30 November 1945

Political profile

Hilary Armstrong was promoted into the Cabinet as Chief Whip after the 2001 election, after spending four years as Minister for Local Government, in which time she was responsible for introducing controversial new local government structures.

Her time as Chief Whip has been eventful: she has had to deal with backbench revolts over domestic issues such as foundation hospitals and tuition fees, and also presided over the biggest government rebellion in March 2003 when 139 Labour MPs voted against the government's decision to go to war in Iraq.

Her struggles with an increasingly restless Parliamentary Labour Party in 2003-4 came off the back of controversies over select committee membership and allegations of strong arm tactics with Labour dissenters over military action in Afghanistan in 2001-2.

The daughter of an MP, she inherited her father's seat on his retirement in 1987 but already had her own track record as a campaigner for the North East.

She remains a doughty defender of the region's interests and supports radical reform of local government to combat the stagnation of one party rule.

She was parliamentary private secretary to the late John Smith during his time as Labour leader, and played a large part in his successful fight to institute one member one vote at Labour's conference.

Her union links also came in useful when she helped to shore up support for the rewriting of Clause IV.

Contact

Constituency office: 01388 767065

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