Tessa Blackstone

Tessa Ann Vosper Blackstone, Baroness Blackstone, PC, born 1942, is an English politician and university administrator.

Political Career

Originally on the Opposition front bench in House of Lords, Blackstone held a succession of portfolios during her time at Birkbeck. She is currently Chairman of the British Library and Chairman of Great Ormond Street hospital Self-described as 'vintage' rather than old or new Labour, Blackstone was Minister for Education at the Department of Education from 1997 to 2001 then Minister for the Arts at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport 2001–2003. She is a Labour life peer in the House of Lords and sits as Baroness Blackstone, of Stoke Newington in Greater London. On 15 September 2010, Blackstone, along with 54 other public figures, signed an open letter published in The Guardian, stating their opposition to Pope Benedict XVI's state visit to the UK.

Education

Blackstone was educated at Ware Grammar School for Girls and the London School of Economics, where she gained a doctorate. Her academic career began at the former Enfield College (now Middlesex University) before she went on to become a lecturer at the LSE and Professor of Educational Administration at the University of London Institute of Education. She has also held research fellowships at the Centre for Studies in Public Policy and the Policy Studies Institute.

External Links

UK Parliament Official Webpage http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/baroness-blackstone/3561