Lady Olga Maitland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lady Olga Maitland
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Lady Olga Maitland in 2006
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| Member of Parliament for Sutton and Cheam |
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| In office 9 April 1992 – 8 April 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Neil Macfarlane |
| Succeeded by | Paul Burstow |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Helen Olga Maitland
23 May 1944 New York City, USA |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse |
Robin William Patrick Hamilton Hay
(m. 1969) |
| Children | 3 |
Lady Helen Olga Hay (born 23 May 1944), known as Lady Olga Maitland, is a British journalist, writer, and Conservative politician. She was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Sutton and Cheam from 1992 to 1997. She has also worked to support defence and international business.
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Early Life and Education
Lady Olga Maitland was born on May 23, 1944, in New York City, USA. Her father, Patrick Maitland, 17th Earl of Lauderdale, was a journalist and later an MP. Her mother, Stanka, had a mother who worked for the Royal Family of Yugoslavia.
Olga went to school at St Mary and St Anne's School and the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle in London. When she was 16, she joined the Young Conservatives.
Career in Journalism
Olga Maitland started her journalism career in 1964. She worked as a reporter for the Fleet Street News Agency. In 1967, she became a writer for the Sunday Express newspaper, a job she held for many years.
Later, she worked as a freelance journalist, writing for the Daily Mail. In the 1980s, she helped MI5, the UK's security service. She reported an attempt by a KGB agent to recruit her. This agent was later asked to leave the United Kingdom.
Political Journey
Starting in Politics
Lady Olga Maitland's political work began in 1983. She created a group called Women for Defence. This group supported the use of nuclear deterrence to keep peace. They were against protests like the Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp.
The group held a big meeting in Trafalgar Square in London. This event got a lot of attention, even from U.S. President Ronald Reagan. The group later changed its name to Families for Defence. It then became the Defence and Security Forum (DSF), a group that studies global defence and foreign affairs. Lady Olga is the president of this forum.
Serving as an MP
In the 1987 general election, Lady Olga ran as a Conservative candidate but did not win. However, she was elected as the MP for Sutton and Cheam in the 1992 general election. She served in Westminster until the 1997 election. In 1997, she lost her seat to Liberal Democrat Paul Burstow. She tried to win the seat again in 2001 but was not re-elected.
While in Parliament, Lady Olga focused on defence and security. She was part of several important committees. She also worked as a secretary for Conservative groups dealing with Northern Ireland, Defence, and Foreign Affairs. She introduced new laws in the House of Commons on topics like prisoner returns and offensive weapons.
Lady Olga has always believed that people should get political jobs based on their skills, not on quotas. In 1997, she spoke out against bringing back physical punishment in schools, calling it "barbaric."
Work Beyond Politics
After her time in Parliament, Lady Olga continued to work in security and government-related areas. She has focused on helping businesses grow in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
She was the CEO of the International Association of Money Transfer Networks (IAMTN). This group helps the remittances sector and works to prevent money laundering. In 2005, she helped start the Algeria British Business Council (ABBC). This council helps improve business ties between Algeria and the UK.
Personal Life
On April 19, 1969, Lady Olga Maitland married Robin William Patrick Hamilton Hay. He is a barrister and later became a judge. They have three children. Lady Olga continued to use her maiden name, Maitland, for her public work.
