Joan Ryan

Labour MP Enfield North

Date of birth

8 September 1955

Political history

Member of Barnet Council 1990-1998, deputy leader 1994 - 98, Chair, policy and resources committee - 1994

Member for Enfield North since 1 May, 1997

Political profile

First elected in 1997, Joan Ryan is a former teacher with extensive local government experience as deputy leader of Barnet Council.

She is also a member of various environmental and feminist groups.

Her most sustained contributions came during the establishment of the Greater London Authority (GLA), when she made a habit of denouncing Ken Livingstone at every opportunity.

She also retains an interest in education and, with a large Greek community in her constituency, is an advocate for Greek Cypriots in the Commons.

From 1998, she was part of the government as parliamentary private secretary to Andrew Smith - and became an assistant whip in 2002.

Contact

Commons office: 020 7210 6502

[e-mail]