Mary Creagh, English scholar and politician, Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
Mary Helen Creagh (born 2 December 1967) is a British politician who served as chair of the Environmental Audit Select Committee from 2016 to 2019. A member of the Labour Party, she was Member of Parliament (MP) for Wakefield from 2005 to 2019.
Creagh was born and raised in Coventry, Warwickshire, where she attended Bishop Ullathorne Roman Catholic School. She studied Modern Languages at Pembroke College, Oxford and European Studies at London School of Economics. After interning in Brussels, she worked as a lecturer and charity trustee. She began her political career serving on Islington London Borough Council and was first elected as MP for the West Yorkshire seat of Wakefield in the 2005 general election.
After Labour's defeat in 2010, Creagh was appointed to Ed Miliband's Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. She was then moved to Shadow Transport Secretary in 2013 and Shadow International Development Secretary in 2014. Following Miliband's resignation, she announced she would run for Leader of the Labour Party in the 2015 leadership election although she later withdrew her candidacy. She resigned from the frontbench following the election as Labour leader of Jeremy Corbyn.
Creagh became chair of the Environmental Audit Select Committee in 2016 but lost her Wakefield seat to the Conservatives at the 2019 general election. After losing her seat, she was appointed as chief executive of national walking charity Living Streets in September 2020.
1967Dec, 2
Mary Creagh
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Events on 1967
- 15Jan
Green Bay Packers
The first Super Bowl is played in Los Angeles. The Green Bay Packers defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10. - 28Apr
Muhammad Ali
Vietnam War: Boxer Muhammad Ali refuses his induction into the United States Army and is subsequently stripped of his championship and license. - 30May
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Eastern Region declares independence as the Republic of Biafra, sparking a civil war. - 7Jun
Jerusalem
Six-Day War: Israeli soldiers enter Jerusalem. - 2Nov
Lyndon B. Johnson
Vietnam War: US President Lyndon B. Johnson and "The Wise Men" conclude that the American people should be given more optimistic reports on the progress of the war.