Jessica Katherine Lee, Lady Harrington of Watford[1] (born 7 April 1976)[2] is a British former Conservative Party politician. She was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Erewash in Derbyshire in 2010.[1] She served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, before stepping down for the 2015 general election.

The Lady Harrington of Watford
Member of Parliament
for Erewash
In office
6 May 2010 – 30 March 2015
Preceded byLiz Blackman
Succeeded byMaggie Throup
Personal details
Born (1976-04-07) 7 April 1976 (age 48)
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
Political partyConservative
SpouseRichard Harrington
Alma materRoyal Holloway, University of London; College of Law
Websitewww.jessicaleemp.com

Early life

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Lee was born in Nottingham on 7 April 1976,[2] educated at Loughborough High School and Royal Holloway, University of London, where she graduated with a degree in History & Politics in 1997[3] and served as Chair of the college's Conservative Students Society. She was the first person from her family to go to university.[4]

Lee went on to study at the College of Law. She was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 2000, and practised as a barrister specialising in family law.[4]

At the 2005 general election, Lee stood as a parliamentary candidate for the Conservative Party in Camberwell and Peckham, finishing third with 9.8% of the vote in a constituency won by the incumbent Labour Party MP Harriet Harman.[5]

Parliamentary career

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Lee was elected to the House of Commons as MP for Erewash in the 2010 general election with a majority of 2,501.[6] After her victory was confirmed, she said: "I feel privileged, honoured, slightly overwhelmed. I mean it when I say I will do my best to serve everyone in Erewash, whether they voted for me or not".[7] Lee campaigned enthusiastically for the opening of a railway station in Ilkeston, and raised the issue in the House of Commons.[8]

Following the formation of the Cameron Ministry in May 2010, Lee was appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve.[9]

In January 2014, Lee announced her intention to step down at the 2015 general election.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b "No. 59418". The London Gazette. 13 May 2010. p. 8740.
  2. ^ a b "Jessica Lee MP | Erewash". Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 6 July 2012. Erewash Conservatives – Jessica Lee MP
  3. ^ Election highs for Royal Holloway alumni, accessed 24 November 2012
  4. ^ a b "Jessica Lee". The Conservative Party. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
  5. ^ "Camberwell and Peckham". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  6. ^ "Erewash". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  7. ^ Hemmett, Peter (7 May 2010). "Election results video: Jessica Lee wins Erewash back for the Conservatives". Ilkeston Advertiser. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  8. ^ "Erewash MP raises train battle in Houses of Parliament". www.ilkestonadvertiser.co.uk.
  9. ^ "Government publishes list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPS)". GOV.UK.
  10. ^ "MP to stand down after five years". BBC News. 20 January 2014.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Erewash
20102015
Succeeded by