Roberta Blackman-Woods MP
Member of Parliament for City of Durham
Incumbent
Assumed office  5 May 2005
Preceded by	Gerry Steinberg
Majority	3,274 (7.4%)
Born	16 August 1957 (1957-08-16) (age 52) Belfast, Northern Ireland
Nationality	British
Political party	Labour
Alma mater	University of Ulster
Profession	Academic
Website	www.roberta.org.uk

Roberta Carol Blackman-Woods (née Woods; born 16 August 1957, Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom. She has been Member of Parliament for the City of Durham constituency since May 2005.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Parliamentary career 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Biography

Blackman-Woods is from Northern Ireland and was educated at the University of Ulster, graduating with a BSc degree and later a PhD in Social Science. Following this she was employed as a welfare rights officer for Newcastle City Council, before going on to pursue a career in academia.

As a sociologist with expertise in housing, she served as Professor of Social Policy and an Associate Dean in the School of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Northumbria prior to her election, and had previously been Dean of Social and Labour studies at Ruskin College, Oxford and head of policy at the Local Government Information Unit. Blackman-Woods had previously been Chair of the City of Durham Constituency Labour Party and before that in Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend. She has also served as a Councillor on Oxford and Newcastle City Councils.^[1]

[edit] Parliamentary career

In 2004 Blackman-Woods was selected as the Labour candidate for the City of Durham constituency through a controversial All-Women Shortlist.^[2] In her previous work she had been known by her maiden name, Roberta Woods. She added her husband's surname, Blackman, after selection by the constituency Labour Party, to avoid confusion with the existing Liberal Democrat candidate Carol Woods.^[3]

Elected with a majority of 3,274, Blackman-Woods made her maiden speech to the House of Commons on 24 May 2005, in which she referred to the work of her predecessor Gerry Steinberg, as well as referring at length to the importance to Durham of Durham Cathedral, the University of Durham and the historic legacy of mining within the area. She also quoted Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island: "Why, it's wonderful - a perfect little city... If you have never been to Durham, go there at once. Take my car. It's wonderful."

Blackman-Woods is a member of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments and was a member of the Education and Skills Select Committee for a year from 2005. In 2006 she became the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Hilary Armstrong. This post lasted until Hilary Armstrong was returned to the backbenches when Gordon Brown became Prime Minister, but she was then appointed PPS to the Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne, in 2007.

In 2005, she became Chair of the All Party Afghanistan Group and in 2007 she also became Chair of the All Party Balanced and Sustainable Communities Group.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Roberta Blackman-Woods MP official site
• Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Roberta Blackman-Woods MP
• TheyWorkForYou.com - Roberta Blackman-Woods MP
• Roberta Blackman-Woods' maiden speech to the House of Commons
• BBC News Election 2005 results for the City of Durham

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Gerry Steinberg	Member of Parliament for City of Durham 2005–	Incumbent