Diana Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Right Honourable Dame
Diana Johnson
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| Minister of State Department for Work and Pensions |
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| Assumed office 6 September 2025 |
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| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | TBC |
| Minister of State for Policing and Crime Prevention | |
| In office 8 July 2024 – 6 September 2025 |
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| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Chris Philp |
| Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee | |
| In office 15 December 2021 – 30 May 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Tim Loughton (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Karen Bradley |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools | |
| In office 5 June 2009 – 11 May 2010 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Sarah McCarthy-Fry |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Hill of Oareford |
| Assistant Government Whip | |
| In office 28 June 2007 – 9 June 2009 |
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| Leader | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Ian Cawsey |
| Succeeded by | Mary Creagh |
| Member of Parliament for Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham Kingston upon Hull North (2005–2024) |
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| Assumed office 5 May 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Kevin McNamara |
| Majority | 10,679 (27.9%) |
| Member of the London Assembly for the Labour Party |
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| In office 1 March 2003 – 10 June 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Trevor Phillips |
| Succeeded by | Murad Qureshi |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Diana Ruth Johnson
25 July 1966 Northwich, Cheshire, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Kevin Morton |
| Alma mater | Queen Mary University of London |
| Occupation | Barrister |
Dame Diana Ruth Johnson, born on 25 July 1966, is a British politician. She has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham since 2005. As a member of the Labour Party, she has held important roles in government. She served as the Minister of State for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention from 2024 to 2025. Before that, she was a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools. She also worked as an Assistant Government Whip. On 6 September 2025, she became a Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Growing Up and Education
Diana Johnson was born in Northwich, Cheshire, England. Her father, Eric Johnson, started an electrical engineering company. Diana went to Northwich County Grammar School for Girls. Later, she studied History, English, and Economics at Sir John Deane's College.
She then studied Law at Queen Mary University of London. In 1991, she became a barrister. A barrister is a type of lawyer who represents people in court. She worked as a barrister at Paddington Law Centre until 2005.
Early Public Service
Before becoming an MP, Diana was a local councillor in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. She served there from 1994 to 2002. She also became a member of the London Assembly in 2003. This assembly helps make decisions for London.
Parliamentary Career
Becoming an MP
Diana Johnson first tried to become an MP in 2001 but was not elected. In the 2005 general election, she was elected as the Labour MP for Kingston upon Hull North. She was the first woman to become an MP for Hull. An MP represents their local area in the UK Parliament.
Roles in Government and Opposition
In 2005, Diana became a Parliamentary Private Secretary. This role helps a minister with their work. Later, in 2007, she became an Assistant Government Whip. Whips help make sure MPs vote according to their party's plans. In 2009, she became a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools. This meant she helped lead the government's work on schools.
There was a discussion about expenses claimed by MPs. Diana voluntarily repaid some money related to her second home.
In the 2010 general election, she was re-elected as MP for Hull North. She won with a smaller number of votes than before.
In 2014, Diana suggested a new law. This law would make learning about relationships and consent a required part of school lessons. This is part of the National Curriculum.
When Jeremy Corbyn became the leader of the Labour Party in 2015, Diana became a shadow minister. A shadow minister is part of the opposition party. They watch over a government department. In 2016, she stepped down from this role. This was due to disagreements with the party's leadership.
Campaigning and Recognition
Diana is a co-chair of a group that focuses on Haemophilia and a health issue related to contaminated blood. She worked hard to help people affected by this issue. In 2018, she received an award called 'Backbencher of the Year'. This award recognized her important work.
In 2019, her local party members voted to reselect her as their candidate. She was then re-elected as MP in the 2019 general election.
In a government change in 2025, Diana Johnson moved from the Home Office. She became a Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions on 6 September 2025.
Views on Important Issues
Israel
In 2020, Diana Johnson became a vice-chair of Labour Friends of Israel. This group works to strengthen ties between the Labour Party and Israel. In 2021, she wrote an article supporting a speech by Keir Starmer. The speech was against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. She believes this movement unfairly targets Israel.
Brexit
Diana Johnson supported the Parliamentary votes on Brexit. Brexit was about the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. This was a big decision for the country.
Voting Age
In 2017, Diana supported a proposal in Parliament. This proposal would have allowed 16-year-olds to vote in national elections. Currently, the voting age in the UK is 18.
Special Recognitions
In 2020, Diana Johnson was given a special honour. She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). This award recognized her work in politics and for charity. It especially noted her campaigning on a health issue related to blood transfusions. In 2021, she also became a member of the Privy Council. This is a group of senior advisors to the King.
Images for kids
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Diana Johnson in 2013
