Kay Swinburne
Encyclopedia
Jacqueline Kay Swinburne (born 8 June 1967) is a Welsh
politician
. She is a Conservative
Member of the European Parliament
for Wales
.
, followed by a Ph.D. in medical research and an MBA from the University of Surrey
, before starting a successful career in international healthcare and finance. Swinburne first came to national attention in 1999 when she resigned from Deutsche Bank
after being a victim of sexual discrimination.
, effectively guaranteeing her a seat in the European Parliament
. Her election in June 2009 was notable for being the first time the Conservatives
topped an election in Wales since 1918.
In the European Parliament, Swinburne sits in the European Conservatives and Reformists
Group. She is a member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. She is a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Member of the European Parliament
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
for Wales
Wales (European Parliament constituency)
Wales is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 4 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
.
Background
Born and raised in West Wales, Swinburne was educated at Llandysul Grammar School and went on to earn a degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology from King's College LondonKing's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, followed by a Ph.D. in medical research and an MBA from the University of Surrey
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
, before starting a successful career in international healthcare and finance. Swinburne first came to national attention in 1999 when she resigned from Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank
Deutsche Bank AG is a global financial service company with its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. It employs more than 100,000 people in over 70 countries, and has a large presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific and the emerging markets...
after being a victim of sexual discrimination.
Political career
Swinburne is a former Conservative Councillor in Hereford, serving as Chair Health Scrutiny, former Town Mayor for Ledbury, former Deputy Chair NHCA. On 28 March 2008 it was announced that she was to head the Welsh Conservatives' list of candidates for the 2009 European Parliament electionEuropean Parliament election, 2009
Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
, effectively guaranteeing her a seat in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. Her election in June 2009 was notable for being the first time the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
topped an election in Wales since 1918.
In the European Parliament, Swinburne sits in the European Conservatives and Reformists
European Conservatives and Reformists
The European Conservatives and Reformists, abbreviated to ECR, is a conservative anti-federalist political group in the European Parliament. The group currently comprises 57 MEPs, making it the fourth-largest group in the European Parliament....
Group. She is a member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs
The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs is a committee of the European Parliament.Since Economic and Monetary Union , the most important function of this Committee has been in relation to the European Central Bank . Although guaranteed independence under the Treaty, the ECB is accountable...
.