Nicky Morgan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Baroness Morgan of Cotes
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Official portrait, 2023
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| Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 24 July 2019 – 13 February 2020 |
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| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Jeremy Wright | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Oliver Dowden | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Secretary of State for Education | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 15 July 2014 – 14 July 2016 |
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| Prime Minister | David Cameron | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Michael Gove | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Justine Greening | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minister for Women and Equalities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 9 April 2014 – 14 July 2016 |
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| Prime Minister | David Cameron | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Maria Miller | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Justine Greening | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
Nicola Ann Griffith
10 October 1972 Kingston upon Thames, London, England |
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| Political party | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Jonathan Morgan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | St Hugh's College, Oxford | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nicola Ann Morgan, also known as Baroness Morgan of Cotes, is a British politician. She was born on October 10, 1972. She has held important roles in the UK government. These roles include being the Secretary of State for Education and the Minister for Women and Equalities. She also served as the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Before becoming a Baroness, she was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Loughborough. She served as an MP from 2010 to 2019. She is a member of the Conservative Party.
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Early Life and Education
Nicky Morgan was born in Kingston upon Thames, a town in south-west London. She grew up in Surbiton. She went to a private school called Surbiton High School. When she was 16, in 1989, she joined the Conservative Party.
She studied law at St Hugh's College, Oxford University. While at university, she tried to become president of the Oxford University Conservative Association twice. She also became the treasurer of the Oxford Union Society.
After university, she became a solicitor in 1994. She worked as a lawyer, focusing on company mergers and acquisitions. This means she helped companies combine or buy other companies.
Starting Her Political Career
Nicky Morgan first tried to become an MP in the 2001 general election. She ran for the Islington South and Finsbury area but did not win. In 2004, she was chosen to run for the Loughborough area. She lost in the 2005 general election, but she gained more votes for her party than the national average. This made Loughborough a very close election area. She was chosen again for Loughborough in 2006.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In the 2010 general election, Nicky Morgan was elected as the MP for Loughborough. She won with a majority of 3,744 votes. Her first speech in Parliament was on June 8, 2010.
Soon after, she became a member of the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee. Later, she was promoted to help the Universities and Science Minister. In 2012, she became an assistant whip, which is a role that helps manage party members in Parliament. In 2013, she became the Economic Secretary to the Treasury. This role involves working on the country's money matters.
In 2010, she praised Loughborough University Student Union Rag Committee. They had raised a lot of money for the Royal British Legion. She said this was a great example of the "Big Society" in action.
She also discussed student tuition fees on a TV show in 2010. She said that while costs could be high, it was fair for students to invest in their own education. She also mentioned that university is not the only path for learning.
Important Government Roles
Minister for Women and Equalities
In 2014, Nicky Morgan became the Minister for Women and Equalities. This role focuses on making sure women and all people are treated fairly. Earlier, in 2013, she had voted against allowing same-sex marriage in England and Wales. She explained that her Christian beliefs and her constituents' views influenced her vote.
However, in October 2014, she changed her view. She said she would now support same-sex marriage. She also expressed support for Ireland's vote to allow same-sex marriage in 2015.
Secretary of State for Education
In July 2014, Nicky Morgan was appointed Secretary of State for Education. This meant she was in charge of all schools and education in England. She took over from Michael Gove.
She believed that developing a child's character was as important as their academic results. In December 2014, she announced funding to help schools teach "grit" and "resilience." This included programs where former military personnel might teach students about discipline.
In March 2016, she proposed that all schools should become academies by 2022. Academies are schools that are run independently from local councils. This plan faced some criticism from other politicians and was later changed. Only schools in areas with lower performance would be required to become academies.
Nicky Morgan left her role as Education Secretary in July 2016 when Theresa May became the new Prime Minister.
Later Parliamentary Work
After leaving her education role, Nicky Morgan was elected to chair the Treasury Select Committee in 2017. This committee checks the work of the government's finance department.
She also voted with other Conservative MPs in December 2017 to give Parliament a "meaningful vote" on any Brexit deal. This meant Parliament would have a final say on the UK's departure from the European Union.
In 2019, she supported Michael Gove in the Conservative Party leadership election. She also spoke out against the idea of suspending Parliament to force through a "No-deal Brexit." She called it a "mad suggestion" that would cause a "constitutional crisis."
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
In July 2019, Nicky Morgan joined Boris Johnson's government. She became the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. This role covers areas like the internet, arts, sports, and media.
In October 2019, she announced she would not run again as an MP in the general election. However, she kept her government job. On January 6, 2020, she became Baroness Morgan of Cotes. This made her a life peer in the House of Lords, allowing her to continue serving in the government from there. She stepped down from her ministerial position in February 2020.
After Government
Since leaving her government roles, Nicky Morgan has continued to be involved in public life. In May 2021, she signed an open letter. This letter asked the government to fund a campaign to raise awareness about violence against women and girls. In July 2022, she was chosen to lead the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration. This group helps remember the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Personal Life
Nicky Morgan lives in both rural Leicestershire and London. She is married to Jonathan Morgan, who is an architect. He has also been a local politician. They have a son named Alex, who was born in 2008. She enjoys recreational running as a hobby.
Nicky Morgan is a Christian. She has been a churchwarden at All Saints Church, Loughborough, since 2023.
See also
In Spanish: Nicky Morgan para niños
