Angela Eagle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dame Angela Eagle
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Official portrait, 2024
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| Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum | |
| Assumed office 8 July 2024 |
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| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Michael Tomlinson (Countering Illegal Migration) |
| Minister of State for Pensions and Ageing Society | |
| In office 8 June 2009 – 11 May 2010 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Rosie Winterton |
| Succeeded by | Steve Webb |
| Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury | |
| In office 29 June 2007 – 8 June 2009 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Phillip Oppenheim |
| Succeeded by | Kitty Ussher |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs | |
| In office 11 June 2001 – 28 May 2002 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Mike O'Brien |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Filkin |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Social Security | |
| In office 28 July 1998 – 7 June 2001 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Keith Bradley |
| Succeeded by | Malcolm Wicks |
| Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions | |
| In office 6 May 1997 – 28 July 1998 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Alan Meale |
| Member of Parliament for Wallasey |
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| Assumed office 9 April 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Lynda Chalker |
| Majority | 17,996 (42.1%) |
| Shadow cabinet portfolios | |
| 2015–2016 | Shadow First Secretary of State |
| 2015–2016 | Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills |
| 2011–2015 | Shadow Leader of the House of Commons |
| 2010–2011 | Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 February 1961 Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Domestic partner | Maria Exall |
| Relatives | Maria Eagle (sister) |
| Alma mater | St John's College, Oxford (BA) |
| Signature |  |
Dame Angela Eagle is a British politician from the Labour Party. She was born on 17 February 1961. Since 1992, she has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Wallasey. An MP is someone elected to represent a specific area in the UK Parliament.
In July 2024, Angela Eagle became the Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum. This means she is a government minister responsible for important areas like border control and helping people seeking safety. She has held several important roles in government and in the Labour Party's "shadow cabinet," which is a group of opposition MPs who watch over government departments.
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Early Life and Education
Angela Eagle was born in Bridlington, England, on 17 February 1961. Her mother, Shirley, worked in a factory, and her father, André, was a print worker. She went to St Peter's C of E Primary School and Formby High School.
When she was 15, in 1976, Angela Eagle won the British Girls' Under-18 chess championship. She later studied philosophy, politics and economics at St John's College, Oxford. She earned her degree in 1983. While at Oxford, she was in charge of the Oxford University Fabian Society, a group that discusses political ideas.
After university, Angela Eagle worked for a business group called the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). She then joined a trade union called the Confederation of Health Service Employees (COHSE). Trade unions help workers with their rights and conditions.
Political Career Highlights
Angela Eagle has had a long and active career in politics. She has served in Parliament for many years and held various important positions.
Becoming an MP
Angela Eagle was first elected as the MP for Wallasey in 1992. She has been re-elected by the people of Wallasey in every election since then. This shows that her local community has trusted her to represent them for a long time.
As an MP, she has been part of different Select committees. These committees are groups of MPs who look closely at how the government is working and suggest improvements. For example, she was on the Employment Select Committee and the Treasury Select Committee.
Government Roles
Angela Eagle has served as a minister in different governments. A minister is a politician who is in charge of a specific part of the government's work.
- Under Tony Blair's Government:
* From 1997 to 1998, she was a junior minister at the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. * From 1998 to 2001, she worked at the Department of Social Security. * From 2001 to 2002, she was a junior minister at the Home Office, which deals with law and order.
- Under Gordon Brown's Government:
* From 2007 to 2009, she was the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury. This role involves helping manage the country's money. * From 2009 to 2010, she was a Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions, focusing on pensions and older people's issues.
Shadow Cabinet Roles
When the Labour Party is not in government, its senior MPs form a "shadow cabinet." These MPs act as a team that would take over if their party won the next election. They challenge the government and suggest different policies.
- Under Ed Miliband's Leadership:
* After the 2010 election, Angela Eagle joined the shadow cabinet. She was the Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, shadowing the government minister in that role. * From 2011 to 2015, she was the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons. This role involves planning the business of Parliament for the opposition party.
- Under Jeremy Corbyn's Leadership:
* In 2015, she became the Shadow First Secretary of State and Shadow Business Secretary. These roles meant she was responsible for challenging the government on business and economic matters. * She stepped down from these roles in June 2016.
Leadership Challenge
In 2016, Angela Eagle considered running to become the leader of the Labour Party. She decided to withdraw from the contest and supported another candidate, Owen Smith, to challenge the then-leader, Jeremy Corbyn.
Current Role
Since July 2024, Angela Eagle has been serving as the Minister of State for Border Security and Asylum. This is a key role in the current government, focusing on important national issues.
Personal Life
Angela Eagle has an identical twin sister, Maria Eagle, who is also a Member of Parliament. They both entered the House of Commons in 1997.
In 2008, Angela Eagle entered into a civil partnership with Maria Exall.
Angela Eagle is a big fan of the new wave band The Pretenders. She enjoys going to their concerts and knows many of their songs.
In 2021, Angela Eagle was given the title of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). This honor was given to her for her many years of service in Parliament and politics.
See Also
Images for kids
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Angela Eagle speaking at a meeting in 2015.
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Angela Eagle's signature.
