The Baroness Tonge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal | |
| In office 27 June 2005 – 19 February 2021 Life Peerage | |
| Member of Parliament for Richmond Park | |
| In office 2 May 1997 – 11 April 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Susan Kramer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jennifer Louise Smith 19 February 1941 Walsall, England, UK |
| Political party | Independent (2016–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Liberal Party (1959[1]–88) Liberal Democrats (1988–2012) Independent Liberal Democrat (2012–2016) |
| Spouse | Keith Tonge (m. 1964–2013, his death) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University College, London |
Jennifer Louise Tonge, Baroness Tonge (née Smith; born 19 February 1941) is a politician in the United Kingdom. She was Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond Park in London from 1997 to 2005. In June 2005 she was made a life peer as Baroness Tonge, of Kew in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames,[2] which entitled her to a seat in the House of Lords.
Critical of Israel and vocal in support of the Palestinian cause, controversial acts and comments led to accusations of anti-Semitism and to her eventual suspension from the Liberal Democrats group in the Lords in 2012, then her suspension and resignation from the party itself in October 2016. She sat as an independent in the Lords from 2012 until her retirement in 2021.[3][4]
- ^ Kennedy, Dominic (28 October 2016). "'Jihad Jenny' quits Lib Dems after Holocaust row". The Times. London. Retrieved 11 May 2017. (subscription required)
- ^ "No. 57687". The London Gazette. 28 June 2005. p. 8379.
- ^ Sherwood, Harriet (27 October 2016). "Jenny Tonge quits Lib Dems after suspension for alleged antisemitic comments". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ^ "Baroness Tonge". UK Parliament. Retrieved 21 February 2021.