Caroline Spelman became the second woman, after Theresa May, to be Conservative Party chairman in 2007, at the age of 49.

She entered Parliament in 1997 and was tipped for a shadow cabinet post when Michael Howard became Tory leader in 2003. But she was first appointed spokesman for the environment and shadow minister for women - both non-frontbench positions.

She served as shadow secretary of state for international development and more recently as shadow secretary for local and devolved government - a role that David Cameron recast as shadowing the now defunct Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Before entering Parliament, she worked in agriculture, including a spell as deputy director of the International Confederation of European Beetgrowers, in Paris.