Theresa May

Conservative MP Maidenhead

Date of birth

1 October 1956

Political profile

Theresa May has enjoyed one of the most successful career among the Conservative Party's 1997 Parliamentary intake, rising to become the first woman to hold the post of party chairman.

Within two years of her election, she had joined the shadow cabinet, opposing David Blunkett at the Department for Education and Employment.

After the 2001 election, she lined up with most of the former shadow cabinet to support Michael Portillo's bid for the Conservative leadership.

Following his exit, she would not say to whom she transferred her support, but was retained in the shadow cabinet by Iain Duncan Smith, becoming shadow secretary of state for transport, local government and the regions.

Much of her time in this role was spent calling for transport secretary Stephen Byers' resignation.

In July 2002, she was appointed party chairman in controversial circumstances, following the dismissal of David Davis.

When Michael Howard became leader, she shadowed two large government departments, transport and environment, food & rural affairs.

In June 2004, however, she took on the new role of shadow secretary of state for the family, and remains in the shadow cabinet.

Contact

Commons office: 020 7219 5206

Constituency office: 0118 934 5433