Helen Grant (politician)

Helen Grant
Official portrait, 2024
Shadow Solicitor General
Assumed office
6 November 2024
LeaderKemi Badenoch
Preceded byAlberto Costa
Minister of State for Sport and Tourism
In office
7 October 2013 – 12 May 2015
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byHugh Robertson
Succeeded byTracey Crouch
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Courts and Victims
In office
4 September 2012 – 7 October 2013
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byJonathan Djanogly
Succeeded byShailesh Vara
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities
In office
4 September 2012 – 8 May 2015
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byLynne Featherstone
Succeeded byCaroline Dinenage
Member of Parliament
for Maidstone and Malling
Maidstone and The Weald (2010–2024)
Assumed office
6 May 2010
Preceded byAnn Widdecombe
Majority1,674 (3.6%)
Personal details
Born
Helen Okuboye

(1961-09-28) 28 September 1961 (age 63)
Willesden, Middlesex, England
Political partyConservative (2006–present)
Labour (2004–2006)
SpouseSimon Grant[1]
Children2
Residence(s)Kingswood, Surrey, England
Loose, Kent, England
Alma materUniversity of Hull
OccupationSolicitor
Websitehelengrant.org

Helen Grant OBE (née Okuboye; born 28 September 1961[2]) is a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidstone and The Weald from 2010 until 2024 when the constituency was abolished, and subsequently Maidstone and Malling since July 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, she succeeded Ann Widdecombe, who was first elected in 1987. She has served as Shadow Solicitor General since November 2024.[3]

Grant was the first black woman of mixed heritage to be elected as a Conservative MP and selected as a candidate to stand for a Conservative-held parliamentary seat.[4] She first served in government as jointly Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women and Equalities (2012–2015) and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (2012–2013). She also became Minister for Sport and Tourism in 2013, a post she held until after the 2015 general election.

In January 2021, she was appointed as Special Envoy of Boris Johnson on Girls' Education.[5]

  1. ^ "The Register of Members' Financial Interests: Part 2: As at 24th January 2011". www.parliament.co.uk. HM Government of the United Kingdom. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  2. ^ "Helen Grant MP". BBC Democracy Live. BBC. Retrieved 19 May 2010.
  3. ^ "Kemi Badenoch appoints Shadow Ministerial Team". policymogul.com. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference NewsandStar07May2010 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Admin, India Education Diary Bureau (16 January 2021). "UK Prime Minister appointed Helen Grant MP as his new Special Envoy on Girls' Education". India Education, Education News India, Education News | India Education Diary. Retrieved 17 January 2021.