Janet Anderson

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Janet Anderson

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Janet Anderson 2007.jpg

| caption = Anderson in 2007

| office = Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Film, Tourism and Broadcasting

| term_start = 27 July 1998

| term_end = 7 June 2001

| primeminister = Tony Blair

| predecessor = Tom Clarke

| successor = Richard Caborn

| office1 = Vice-Chamberlain of the Household

| term_start1 = 2 May 1997

| term_end1 = 27 July 1998

| primeminister1 = Tony Blair

| predecessor1 = Derek Conway

| successor1 = Graham Allen

| office2 = Shadow Minister for Women

| leader2 = Tony Blair

| term_start2 = 26 July 1996

| term_end2 = 2 May 1997

| predecessor2 = Tessa Jowell

| successor2 = Gillian Shephard

| parliament3 = United Kingdom

| constituency_MP3 = Rossendale and Darwen

| predecessor3 = Sir David Trippier

| successor3 = Jake Berry

| term_start3 = 9 April 1992

| term_end3 = 12 April 2010

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1949|12|6|df=y}}

| birth_place = Newcastle upon Tyne, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|2|6|1949|12|6|df=y}}

| death_place =

| nationality = English

| spouse = {{ubl|{{marriage|Vincent Humphries|1972|1998|end = sep.}}|{{marriage|Jim Dowd|2016}}}}

| partner =

| party = Labour

| relations =

| children = 3

| residence =

| alma_mater = Polytechnic of Central London
University of Nantes

}}

Janet Anderson (6 December 1949 – 6 February 2023) was a British politician from the Labour Party. She was Member of Parliament (MP) for Rossendale and Darwen from 1992 until 2010, when she lost her seat. She was the Minister for Tourism from 1998 to 2001, a period which included the 2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak. In the 2009 United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal, she was found to have claimed costs for journeys she had not made.

Early life and education

Anderson was born in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1949.{{cite news|url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2023/02/09/janet-anderson-labour-whip-minister-described-force-nature/|title = Janet Anderson, Labour whip and minister described as 'a force of nature' – obituary|newspaper = The Daily Telegraph|date = 9 February 2023|accessdate = 10 February 2023|url-access = subscription}} Her father, Tom Anderson, was an agent for the Labour Party; her mother was an organist in their local Methodist church. She was educated at Trowbridge Girls' High School (now The John of Gaunt School) and the Kingswood Grammar School in Kingswood, South Gloucestershire. She attended the Polytechnic of Central London and the Université de Nantes,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KbiIAAAAMAAJ|title=Dod's Parliamentary Companion|first1=Charles Roger|last1=Dod|first2=Vacher Dod Publishing|last2=Limited|first3=Robert Phipps|last3=Dod|date=12 January 2019|publisher=Dod's Parliamentary Companion, Limited|isbn=9780905702513|via=Google Books}} and studied languages and business studies.

Career

In 1971, Anderson joined the offices of The Scotsman and The Sunday Times as a secretary.{{Cite news |title=Vote 2001 – Candidate – Janet Anderson |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/candidates/candidates/4/48701.stm |access-date=9 February 2023}} In 1974, she became the personal assistant to the MP for Blackburn, Barbara Castle,{{Cite news |title=Janet Anderson |work=Politics.co.uk |url=https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/janet-anderson/ |access-date=9 February 2023}} and to her successor Jack Straw until the 1987 General Election, when she unsuccessfully fought the marginal seat of Rossendale and Darwen, losing to David Trippier by 4,982 votes.{{Cite news |last=Haworth |first=Joyce |date=13 June 1987 |title=Yes minister! |work=Rossendale Free Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118275115/yes-minister-rossendale-and-darwen/ |access-date=9 February 2023 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Anderson became a campaigns organiser for the Parliamentary Labour Party, and then the northern regional organiser for the Shopping Hours Reform Council, campaigning to extend the Sunday trading laws. She also ran her own public relations company, with clients such as the Royal College of Nursing and Safeway plc.{{cite web|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/janet-anderson-labour-602193|title=Janet Anderson (Labour)|work=Manchester Evening News|date=28 April 2010|accessdate=7 February 2023}}

= Parliamentary career =

Anderson fought Rossendale and Darwen successfully at the 1992 General Election, winning by just 120 votes.{{cite news |title=Former Rossendale and Darwen Labour MP Janet Anderson dies at 73 |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23304942.former-rossendale-darwen-labour-mp-janet-anderson-dies-73/ |first=Bill|last=Jacobs|work=Lancashire Telegraph |date=7 February 2023|accessdate=7 February 2023 }} She became the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Margaret Beckett, which she held for a year before resigning due to Beckett not supporting John Smith's 'One member, one vote' campaign.{{cite web|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6140306.five-years-ago-mps-votes-stand/|title=FIVE YEARS AGO: MP's votes stand|work=Lancashire Telegraph|date=26 October 1998|access-date=7 February 2023}}

She was an opposition whip from 1994 to 1996, before being appointed Shadow Minister for Women. In October 1996, while in this role, she joked in an interview that women would become "more promiscuous" under a Labour Government.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/promiscuity-a-new-war-cry-for-labour-1355341.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106210248/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/promiscuity-a-new-war-cry-for-labour-1355341.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 November 2012|title=Promiscuity. A new war cry for Labour?|last=Picardie|first=Ruth|date=3 October 1996|work=The Independent|access-date=1 March 2010 | location=London}} Anderson later insisted that she did not mean it literally, and that her comment was intended to convey that women would have the "freedom to stay at home or have a career...it wasn't about sex or promiscuity."

In May 1996, in response to campaigns to deal with the problem of stalking, she presented the Stalking Bill 1996 to Parliament under the Ten Minute Rule,{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/jun/01/liberty-central-protection-harassment|title=A-Z of legislation: Protection from Harassment Act 1997|work=The Guardian|date=1 June 2006}} with support from 64 other MPs.{{cite web|url=http://www.edms.org.uk/1995-1996/855.htm|title=Stalking Bill: EDM number 855 in 1995–1996|publisher=edms.org.uk|access-date=22 March 2011}} The bill failed to get government support, as it was felt that the proposed offence failed to distinguish between reasonable and unreasonable conduct.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/home-office-drops-support-for-stalking-bill-1346020.html|title=Home Office drops support for stalking Bill|date=7 May 1996|work=The Independent}}

Following the 1997 General Election, Anderson became a junior whip, and Vice-Chamberlain of the Household in Tony Blair's new government, before being promoted to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in 1998,{{cite web |url=http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Janet_Anderson&mpc=Rossendale_%26amp%3B_Darwen&house=commons |title=Voting Record – Janet Anderson |publisher=The Public Whip |access-date=3 January 2010 }} where she was the Minister for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting, and was responsible for bringing in free television licences for the over 75s and discounted ones for the blind.{{cite web|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6092128.licence-fee-cut-joy-older-viewers/|title=Licence fee cut joy for older viewers|work=The Lancashire Telegraph|date=22 February 2000|accessdate=7 February 2023}}

During her time as Minister for Tourism, rural tourism lost £100m a week at the height of the foot and mouth crisis.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2001/mar/31/footandmouth.tourismandfootandmouth|title=Scare Stories Blamed for. Fall in Visitors|first=Tania |last=Branigan|date=31 March 2001|access-date=7 February 2023|work=The Guardian}} Prior to the release of the 1999 James Bond film The World Is Not Enough, when MI6 tried to block filming around the exterior of their Headquarters, Anderson successfully appealed to the Foreign Secretary, who overruled them and allowed filming to commence.{{Cite news |last=Shrimsley |first=Robert |date=23 April 1999 |title=James Bond turns the big guns on MI6 Secret Service told to lift block on 007 film |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/317185297 |access-date=9 February 2023 |id={{ProQuest|317185297}} }}

At the conclusion of the foot and mouth crisis, Anderson returned to the back benches following the 2001 General Election. She subsequently served on the Home Affairs Select Committee, before becoming a member of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee and the House of Commons Administration Committee. She was also on the Chairmen's Panel Committee,{{Cite web |title=Janet Anderson |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/10012/janet_anderson/rossendale_and_darwen |access-date=9 February 2023 |website=TheyWorkForYou UK}} and was a member, and later the chair, of the All-Party Parliamentary Writers' Group.{{Cite web |title=ALCS pays tribute to advocate of writers' rights Janet Anderson MP, who has died aged 73 |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/alcs-pays-tribute-to-advocate-of-writers-rights-janet-anderson-mp-who-has-died-aged-73 |first=Lauren|last=Brown|date=8 February 2023|access-date=10 February 2023 |work=The Bookseller}}

She was defeated in the 2010 General Election, by Conservative candidate Jake Berry in an 8.9% swing to the Conservatives. Berry overturned a Labour majority of 3,616 to win by 4,493 votes.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8663458.stm |title=Conservative gains in Lancashire |access-date=13 May 2010 |date=7 May 2010|work=BBC News}}

= Book =

While serving as junior whip and Chamberlain of the Household under Tony Blair, Anderson was responsible for sending daily reports to the Palace about daily business in Parliament. She decided to "spice up" her accounts of each day's debates by injecting them with Westminster gossip.{{Cite book |last=Quinn |first=Carolyn |title=The Honourable Ladies: Volume I: Profiles of Women MPs 1918–1996 |publisher=Biteback Publishing |year=2018 |isbn=9781785904493 |editor-last=Dale |editor-first=Iain |chapter=Janet Anderson |editor-last2=Smith |editor-first2=Jacqui |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lvhqDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Janet+Anderson%22+%22dear+queen%22&pg=PT548}} Anderson later published her letters, which were reportedly well appreciated by the Queen, in a book titled Dear Queen.

=Expenses=

In May 2009, during the disclosure of expenses of British members of parliament over MPs' expenses, The Daily Telegraph alleged that Anderson had submitted and was paid a claim form including mileage equalling five round trips to her constituency each week parliament despite living in London during the week. Her expenses for car journeys were £16,612 for 60,118 miles travelled. This was £4,500 more than the next highest claimant, Laurence Robertson.{{cite news|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2268087.ece |title=MPs' travel expenses revealed after two-year battle for secrecy |work=The Independent |date=14 February 2007 |access-date=1 March 2010 |location=London |first1=Nigel |last1=Morris |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706192855/http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article2268087.ece |archive-date= 6 July 2008 }}

The Telegraph described her as "one of the most prolific expense claimers in Parliament".{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/6976797/Janet-Anderson-former-tourism-minister-is-one-of-most-prolific-expense-claimers.html |title=Janet Anderson: former tourism minister is one of most prolific expense claimers |publisher=Telegraph |date=13 January 2010 |access-date=1 March 2010 | location=London | first1=Jon | last1=Swaine | first2=Heidi | last2=Blake}}

Other allegations included expenses for the upkeep of the home of her partner, fellow MP Jim Dowd MP, in his Lewisham constituency under her second home allowance despite Dowd claiming the London salary supplement intended to cover the additional cost of living in London.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/5078358/Labour-MPs-twice-round-the-globe-mileage-claim.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090403162505/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/5078358/Labour-MPs-twice-round-the-globe-mileage-claim.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 April 2009 |title=Labour MP's twice round the globe mileage claim |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=11 May 2009 |access-date=3 January 2010 | location=London | first=Gordon | last=Rayner}} Anderson was one of 98 MPs who voted in favour of legislation which would have kept MPs expense information undisclosed.{{cite news| url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/how-your-mp-voted-on-the-foi-bill-zm8rw5vsdpx | location=London | work=The Times | title=How your MP voted on the FOI Bill | date=20 May 2007}}

Anderson claimed near the maximum Additional Costs Allowance between 2001 and 2008, ranking joint highest in 2002/03, 2004/05 and 2006/07 also 3rd in 2003/04.{{cite web |title=Janet Anderson MP |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/janet_anderson/rossendale_and_darwen#expenses |work=TheyWorkForYou |publisher=UK Citizens Online Democracy |access-date=3 January 2010 }} In January 2010, Anderson was allowed to repay £5,750 in expenses for over-claimed petty cash.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/6975806/Immunity-for-MPs-who-repay-expenses.html |title=Immunity for MPs who repay expenses |publisher=Telegraph |date=12 January 2010 |access-date=1 March 2010 | location=London | first1=Jon | last1=Swaine | first2=Robert | last2=Winnett}}

Personal life and death

Anderson married solicitor Vincent Humphreys in 1972; the couple had three children, two daughters and a son. In 1998, she left, later divorcing Humphreys for her fellow Labour MP Jim Dowd, though she remained on good terms with her former husband.{{cite news|last=Sylvester|first=Rachel|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1349827/A-Blair-babe-who-amuses-Her-Majesty.html |title=A Blair babe who amuses Her Majesty |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=22 July 2000 |access-date=3 January 2010|url-access = subscription}} She married Dowd in 2016. She spoke fluent French.{{cite web|url=https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/6079457.janet-mugs-up-on-french/|title=Janet mugs up on French|work=The Bolton News|date=8 June 2000|access-date=7 February 2023}}

Anderson died on 6 February 2023, at the age of 73.{{cite web|url = https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/new-squad-at-pmqs-tota-lee-controversial-prevent-review/|title = London Playbook: New squad at PMQs — Tota-Lee controversial — Prevent review|date = 8 February 2023|accessdate = 8 February 2023|last = Courea|first = Eleni|work = Politico Europe|quote = Janet Anderson, the former Labour MP for Rossendale and Darwen, died aged 73 on Monday.}}

Books

{{cite book |last=Anderson|first=Janet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cFXBjwEACAAJ|title=Dear Queen |date=7 April 2016|publisher=Red Axe Books |isbn=978-0993218385}}

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20080612024817/http://www.janetanderson.co.uk/ Janet Anderson MP] official site
{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20061128023711/http://www.epolitix.com/EN/MPWebsites/Janet+Anderson/ ePolitix.com – Janet Anderson MP]}}
[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-83,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics – Ask Aristotle: Janet Anderson MP]
[https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/janet_anderson/rossendale_and_darwen TheyWorkForYou.com – Janet Anderson MP]
[http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpc=Rossendale+%26amp%3B+Darwen The Public Whip – Janet Anderson MP] voting record
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/487.stm BBC Politics – Janet Anderson MP]{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b041yd48 With Humble Duty Reports... – A daily message to Her Majesty the Queen]
{{Hansard-contribs | mrs-janet-anderson | Janet Anderson }}
[https://members.parliament.uk/member/475/career Profile] at Parliament of the United Kingdom
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