Hilary Armstrong
Hilary Jane Armstrong, Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (born 30th November 1945) is a British Labour Party politician who was member of Parliament for North West Durham from 1987 to 2010. Before entering politics, Armstrong worked for Voluntary Service Overseas in Kenya.
Political Career
In 1985 she was first elected as Durham County Councillor for Crook North Division. Hilary Armstrong was parliamentary private secretary to John Smith during his time as Labour leader. Between 1988 and 1997 she was appointed three times Shadow Spokesperson on Business, Innovation and Skills. In 1997 she was elected Minister of State for the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions, later she was Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury. From 2006 to 2007 she was Minister on Social Exclusion and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. On becoming Prime Minister, Gordon Brown announced Hilary Armstrong's appointment as Chair of a Parliamentary Labour Party Manifesto Committee drawing up policy ideas covering children. In 2010, she was made a life peer, becoming Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top, of Crook in the County of Durham, and she was introduced in the House of Lord's. Since 2013 she has been a member of the Soft Power Committee, whilst from 1988 to 1989 she was a member of the Education, Science and Arts Committee at the House of Commons.
Education
Hilary Armstrong studied at Monkwearmouth Grammar School, at the University of East London, and then she got a diploma in Social Work at the University of Birmingham. She is a former social worker and university lecturer.
