Shaun Woodward | |
---|---|
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | |
In office 28 June 2007 – 11 May 2010 | |
Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
Preceded by | Peter Hain |
Succeeded by | Owen Paterson |
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Creative Industries and Tourism | |
In office 10 May 2006 – 28 June 2007 | |
Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
Preceded by | James Purnell |
Succeeded by | Margaret Hodge |
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland | |
In office 6 May 2005 – 10 May 2006 | |
Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
Preceded by | Barry Gardiner |
Succeeded by | Maria Eagle |
Member of Parliament for St Helens South and Whiston St Helens South (2001–2010) | |
In office 7 June 2001 – 30 March 2015 | |
Preceded by | Gerry Bermingham |
Succeeded by | Marie Rimmer |
Member of Parliament for Witney | |
In office 1 May 1997 – 14 May 2001 | |
Preceded by | Douglas Hurd |
Succeeded by | David Cameron |
Shadow Cabinet portfolios | |
2010–2011 | Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland |
Personal details | |
Born | Shaun Anthony Woodward 26 October 1958 Bristol, England |
Political party | Labour (since 1999) |
Other political affiliations | Conservative (before 1999) |
Spouse |
Camilla Sainsbury
(m. 1987; sep. 2015) |
Domestic partner | Luke Redgrave |
Children | 4 (including Ella) |
Alma mater | Jesus College, Cambridge Harvard University |
Shaun Anthony Woodward (born 26 October 1958) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 2007 to 2010.
A former television researcher and producer, Woodward began his political career in the Conservative Party. He was elected in 1997 as Conservative MP for Witney, but joined Labour in 1999. He then served as Labour MP for St Helens South from 2001 to 2015.
After serving in junior ministerial offices in the Northern Ireland Office and Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Woodward served in the cabinet from 28 June 2007 to 11 May 2010 as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Following the 2010 general election, Woodward was the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland until 7 October 2011, when he was replaced by Vernon Coaker.