Anna Turley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anna Turley
MP
|
|
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2024
|
|
| Chair of the Labour Party | |
| Assumed office 6 September 2025 |
|
| Leader | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Ellie Reeves |
| Minister without Portfolio | |
| Assumed office 6 September 2025 |
|
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Ellie Reeves |
| Lord Commissioner of the Treasury | |
| In office 10 July 2024 – 6 September 2025 |
|
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Member of Parliament for Redcar |
|
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 |
|
| Preceded by | Jacob Young |
| In office 7 May 2015 – 6 November 2019 |
|
| Preceded by | Ian Swales |
| Succeeded by | Jacob Young |
| Chair of the Co-operative Party | |
| In office 8 June 2019 – 13 December 2019 |
|
| Preceded by | Gareth Thomas |
| Succeeded by | Chris Herries |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 October 1978 Dartford, Kent, England |
| Political party | Labour Co-op |
| Residences | Redcar, North Yorkshire, England |
| Alma mater | University of Oxford |
Anna Catherine Turley, born on 9 October 1978, is a British politician. She is a member of the Labour and Co-operative political parties. Since 2024, she has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Redcar. An MP is someone elected to represent people in a specific area in the UK Parliament. She also served as an MP for Redcar from 2015 to 2019.
As of September 2025, Anna Turley holds important roles in the government. She is the Chair of the Labour Party and a Minister Without Portfolio. Being a Minister Without Portfolio means she is a government minister with special duties, but without a specific department to run.
Contents
Anna Turley's Early Life and Education
Anna Turley was born in Dartford, Kent, England. She received a special scholarship to attend Ashford School, which is an independent school. After that, she went on to study History at Greyfriars, Oxford, which is part of the famous University of Oxford.
After finishing her studies, Anna worked as a civil servant from 2001 to 2005. A civil servant helps the government run public services. She first worked on issues related to youth crime. Later, she moved to the Department for Work and Pensions. Here, she focused on helping families with issues like child poverty. In 2005, she became a special adviser to a government minister, David Blunkett. She then advised another minister, Hilary Armstrong, in 2006.
Starting Her Political Journey
Anna Turley first tried to become a local councillor in 2006 in London. She was a Labour candidate but was not elected.
In the years that followed, Anna worked in different roles related to local government. She worked for a public relations agency and later became a deputy director at the New Local Government Network. This group researches how local councils can work better. In 2010, she helped create the Co-operative Councils Innovation Network. This network helps local councils work closely with their communities.
Anna also founded a consultancy called ProgLoc in 2011. It was an online place for discussing local government issues. She also became a researcher for an organisation called Future of London. In 2013, she worked as a senior research fellow at IPPR North, a think tank that studies public policy.
In 2013, Anna Turley was chosen to be the Labour candidate for the Redcar constituency. This was through a special selection process designed to encourage more women to enter politics.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
Anna Turley was first elected as the MP for Redcar in the May 2015 general election. She won the seat from the Liberal Democrats party. Soon after, she joined important groups in Parliament. These included the Home Affairs Select Committee and later the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee. These committees look closely at how the government is doing its job in different areas.
Helping Her Community in Redcar
One of Anna's first big challenges as an MP was when a major local employer, SSI UK, closed down. This steelworks in Teesside had once employed many people. Its closure led to about 3,000 job losses in the area. Anna quickly set up a local group called the SSI Taskforce. She worked hard to get £50 million from the government. This money helped people get new training and find new jobs.
Championing Animal Welfare
In 2016, Anna Turley introduced a special law proposal called a private member's bill. This bill aimed to increase the maximum prison sentences for people who are cruel to animals. She worked very hard to get this bill noticed. The law, called the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act, was finally passed in April 2021. It meant that people found guilty of animal cruelty could face up to five years in prison. This law came into effect in June 2021.
Working with Other Groups
Anna was re-elected as MP for Redcar in the 2017 general election. She continued to be very active in Parliament. She became the chair of several All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs). These are groups of MPs and Lords who are interested in specific topics. For example, she chaired the APPGs on Hydrogen and Bingo. She was also secretary of the APPG on Steel and Metal Related Industry.
Anna also worked with a charity called Family Rights Group in 2018. Together, they created a group to help children raised by relatives or friends. This is known as kinship care. She even ran the Great North Run race in 2023 to raise money for this charity. From June to December 2019, she served as the chair of the Co-operative Party.
In the 2019 general election, Anna Turley lost her seat in Redcar. However, she later won a court case in December 2019. This case was about protecting her reputation.
Her Work After 2019
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Anna Turley continued to help her local community. She volunteered at the local foodbank. She also started a charity to give books to children who needed them. She is also a School Governor for Whale Hill Primary School. From 2022 to 2023, she led the North East Child Poverty Commission. This group works to end child poverty in the North East of England.
Back in Parliament (2024 - Present)
In July 2023, Anna Turley was chosen again to be the Labour candidate for Redcar. She successfully won the seat in the 2024 United Kingdom general election on 4 July 2024. This meant she became an MP for Redcar once more.
Soon after her re-election, she was appointed as a Junior Lord Commissioner of the Treasury. This role is part of the government's team that helps manage public money. She also became a Government Whip, which means she helps make sure MPs vote according to their party's plans.
In September 2025, Anna Turley was appointed to two very important positions. She became the Minister without Portfolio and the Chair of the Labour Party.
About Anna's Life
Anna Turley has lived in Redcar since 2012. Before that, she lived in London.
In 2017, Anna faced some health challenges that required several operations. This experience led her to become a strong campaigner for women's health. She launched an inquiry through the APPG on Endometriosis. This group helps raise awareness and improve support for women with this condition.
