Louise Ellman

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = Dame

| name = Louise Ellman

| honorific-suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DBE}}

| image = Official portrait of Mrs Louise Ellman crop 2.jpg

| office = Member of Parliament
for Liverpool Riverside

| predecessor = Robert Parry

| successor = Kim Johnson

| term_start = 1 May 1997

| term_end = 12 December 2019

| office1 = Chair of the Transport Committee

| term_start1 = 21 May 2008

| term_end1 = 12 July 2017

| predecessor1 = Gwyneth Dunwoody

| successor1 = Lilian Greenwood

| office2 = Leader of Lancashire County Council

| term_start2 = 1981

| term_end2 = 1997

| predecessor2 = Leonard Broughton

| successor2 = John West

| office3 = Member of Lancashire County Council

| term_start3 = 5 May 1970

| term_end3 = 1 May 1997

| 1blankname3 = Ward

| 1namedata3 = Skelmersdale and Holland No. 2 (1970–1981)
Skelmersdale Central (1981–1997)

| birth_name = Louise Joyce Rosenberg

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1945|11|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Manchester, Lancashire, England

| party = Labour Co-op{{efn|Resigned from Labour in 2019 and rejoined in 2021.}}

| education = Manchester High School for Girls

| alma_mater = University of Hull (BA)
University of York (MPhil)

| caption = Official portrait, 2017

}}

Dame Louise Joyce Ellman {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|DBE}} ({{née}} Rosenberg; born 14 November 1945) is a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Liverpool Riverside from 1997 to 2019. She is a member of the Labour Party.

Ellman was elected as a councillor on Lancashire County Council in 1970, becoming the Labour group leader in 1977 and serving as leader of the council from 1981 until her election to the House of Commons in 1997. She was Vice-Chair of Lancashire Enterprises and chaired the Transport Select Committee from 2008 to 2017.

Ellman has been actively involved in Jewish and pro-Israel organizations. She served as Chair of Labour Friends of Israel until February 2020{{Cite web|url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/labour-mp-steve-mccabe-to-become-chair-of-labour-friends-of-israel/|title = Veteran MP Steve McCabe to become chair of Labour Friends of Israel| date=25 February 2020 }} and was Honorary President of the Jewish Labour Movement. In 2016, she was appointed a Vice President of the Jewish Leadership Council.{{cite web|url=https://www.thejlc.org/louise_ellman_mp |title=Dame Louise Ellman MP |access-date=17 July 2019 |work=Jewish Leadership Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717203713/https://www.thejlc.org/louise_ellman_mp|archive-date=17 July 2019|url-status=live}} In October 2019, she resigned from the Labour Party over concerns about antisemitism in the party and a potential Jeremy Corbyn-led government but rejoined in 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/16/louise-ellman-quits-labour-party-over-antisemitism|title=Louise Ellman quits Labour party with fierce attack on Corbyn|date=16 October 2019|access-date=18 October 2019|work=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017222210/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/16/louise-ellman-quits-labour-party-over-antisemitism|archive-date=17 October 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-58711094.amp|title=Ex-MP Louise Ellman rejoins Labour after anti-Semitism rule change|date=27 September 2021|access-date=27 September 2021}}

In recognition of her public service, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours List.{{cite news |url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/louise-ellman-collects-damehood-at-the-palace/ |title=Louise Ellman collects damehood at the Palace |work=Jewish News |date=27 December 2018 |first=Jenni |last=Frazer}}

Early life and career

Louise Joyce Rosenberg was born in Manchester to an observant Jewish family. Her father had a Lithuanian background.{{cite news|title=New Jewish ministers and the Miliband rivalry|author=Jessica Elgot|newspaper=The Jewish Chronicle|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/31823/new-jewish-ministers-and-miliband-rivalry|access-date=27 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922111743/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/31823/new-jewish-ministers-and-miliband-rivalry|archive-date=22 September 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/news-features/dame-louise-ellman-interview-1.468142|title=Dame Louise Ellman: Once I realised I was labelled 'that Jewish MP', I thought... I'm going to carry on|last=Harpin|first=Lee|date=8 August 2018|access-date=3 October 2019|work=The Jewish Chronicle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728221755/https://www.thejc.com/news/news-features/dame-louise-ellman-interview-1.468142|archive-date=28 July 2019|url-status=live}} She was educated at the independent Manchester High School for Girls,{{cite web|url=http://www.manchesterhigh.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=307&Itemid=277|publisher=Manchester High School for Girls|title=Careers of former students|access-date=30 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002075036/http://www.manchesterhigh.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=307&Itemid=277|archive-date=2 October 2011}} before studying at the University of Hull where she received a BA in Sociology and History in 1967, and then studied Social Administration at the University of York where she was awarded a MPhil in 1972.

File:Louise Ellman Oct 2007.jpg

As a teenager, she was involved in the Labour Zionist movement, Habonim and, following university, spent a year in Israel at an Ulpan studying Hebrew, where she met her husband.{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/news-features/dame-louise-ellman-interview-1.468142|title=Dame Louise Ellman: Once I realised I was labelled 'that Jewish MP', I thought... I'm going to carry on|last=Harpin|first=Lee|date=9 August 2018|access-date=28 July 2019|work=Jewish Chronicle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728221755/https://www.thejc.com/news/news-features/dame-louise-ellman-interview-1.468142|archive-date=28 July 2019|url-status=live}} From 1970 to 1976, she was worked in further education and at the Open University.{{cite web |url=https://alumni.liv.ac.uk/news/articles/everton-ceo-and-former-mp-receive-honorary-degrees-from-university-of-liverpool |title=Everton CEO and Former MP receive honorary degrees from University of Liverpool |publisher=University of Liverpool |date=6 December 2022}}

She was elected as a councillor on the Lancashire County Council in 1970, becoming the Labour group leader in 1977 and council leader from 1981 until her election to Parliament. She was Vice-Chair of Lancashire Enterprises.{{cite news|url=https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/louise-joyce-ellman|title=Louise Ellman|access-date=17 October 2019|work=Politics.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017155104/https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/louise-joyce-ellman|archive-date=17 October 2019|url-status=live}}

She unsuccessfully contested the Darwen constituency at the 1979 general election.

Parliamentary career

She was elected to Parliament at the 1997 general election for the safe seat of Liverpool Riverside. She held the seat with a majority of 21,799 and has held the seat comfortably at successive general elections. When she was re-elected in 2001, the turnout was the lowest in the country at 34.1%.

=Positions and voting=

She was a member of the Transport Committee and its predecessor, Transport, Local Government and the Regions, since she was first elected. On 21 May 2008, she was selected to become the Chair of the Commons Transport Select Committee after the death of Gwyneth Dunwoody MP, being returned unopposed after the 2015 general election.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2015/june/winning-candidates-for-select-committee-chairs-announced/|date=18 June 2015|access-date=19 June 2015|title=Winning candidates for select committee Chairs announced|publisher=UK Parliament|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802162923/https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2015/june/winning-candidates-for-select-committee-chairs-announced/|archive-date=2 August 2018|url-status=live}}

According to website Public Whip, Ellman repeatedly voted for the Iraq War, against an investigation into that war, and for renewal of Trident, Britain's nuclear weapons programme. She very rarely voted against the Party line.{{cite web |url=http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?id=uk.org.publicwhip/member/40370&showall=yes#divisions |title=Voting Record — Louise Ellman MP, Liverpool, Riverside (10186) — The Public Whip |publisher=Publicwhip.org.uk |access-date=27 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227190345/http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?id=uk.org.publicwhip%2Fmember%2F40370&showall=yes#divisions |archive-date=27 February 2015 |url-status=live }}

In the 2015 Labour Party leadership election, she nominated Liz Kendall.{{cite web |url=http://www.labour.org.uk/index.php/leadership |title=Labour's leadership contest – The Labour Party |publisher=Labour.org.uk |access-date=9 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703143348/http://www.labour.org.uk/index.php/leadership |archive-date=3 July 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

She supported Owen Smith in the failed attempt to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the 2016 leadership election.{{Cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2016/07/which-mps-and-meps-have-nominated-owen-smith/|title=Full list of MPs and MEPs backing challenger Owen Smith|date=21 July 2016|website=LabourList|language=en-GB|access-date=15 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715214543/https://labourlist.org/2016/07/which-mps-and-meps-have-nominated-owen-smith/|archive-date=15 July 2019|url-status=live}}

=Israel=

Ellman was Chair of the Jewish Labour Movement from 2006 to 2016, after which she became its Honorary President.{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/the-loyalists-standing-their-ground-against-labour-s-tide-of-hate-1.63375?highlight=poale+Zion|title=The loyalists standing their ground against Labour's tide of hate|last=Dysch|first=Marcus|date=7 April 2016|access-date=25 August 2019|newspaper=Jewish Chronicle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190825102340/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/the-loyalists-standing-their-ground-against-labour-s-tide-of-hate-1.63375?highlight=poale+Zion|archive-date=25 August 2019|url-status=live}} She was also Vice Chair of Labour Friends of Israel and succeeded Joan Ryan as Chair in August 2019.{{cite web |title=Metropolitan police confirm to LFI vice-chair Hezbollah flags can be flown on Al-Quds day due to government policy |url=http://www.lfi.org.uk/metropolitan-police-confirm-to-lfi-vice-chair-hezbollah-flags-can-be-flown-on-al-quds-day-due-to-government-policy/ |website=Jewish Friends of Israel |date=30 May 2018 |access-date=13 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813175250/http://www.lfi.org.uk/metropolitan-police-confirm-to-lfi-vice-chair-hezbollah-flags-can-be-flown-on-al-quds-day-due-to-government-policy/ |archive-date=13 August 2018 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/dame-louise-ellman-becomes-new-labour-friends-of-israel-chair-1.487239|title=Dame Louise Ellman becomes new Labour Friends of Israel chair|last=Harpin|first=Lee|date=7 August 2019|access-date=7 August 2019|work=Jewish Chronicle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190807150400/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/dame-louise-ellman-becomes-new-labour-friends-of-israel-chair-1.487239|archive-date=7 August 2019|url-status=live}} She said that she intended to remain a member of LFI following her resignation from the Labour Party.{{cite news|url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/exclusive-dame-louise-ellman-im-in-a-traumatic-situation/|title=EXCLUSIVE – Dame Louise Ellman: 'I'm in a traumatic situation'|last=Frot|first=Mathilde|date=17 October 2019|access-date=18 October 2019|work=Jewish News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018060458/https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/exclusive-dame-louise-ellman-im-in-a-traumatic-situation/|archive-date=18 October 2019|url-status=live}} She was the chair of the All-Party Britain-Israel Parliamentary Group.{{cite news|url=https://www.appgs.org/all-party-britain-israel-parliamentary-group/|title=Officers|access-date=16 September 2019|work=ALL-PARTY BRITAIN-ISRAEL PARLIAMENTARY GROUP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730215133/https://www.appgs.org/all-party-britain-israel-parliamentary-group/|archive-date=30 July 2019|url-status=live}}

The Times of Israel called her "tough-as-nails" and "an unabashed friend of Israel".{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/this-tough-as-nails-uk-politician-wont-be-cowed-by-the-anti-semitism-of-her-own-party/|title=This tough-as-nails UK politician won't be cowed by anti-Semitism in her own party|last=Philpot|first=Robert|date=12 May 2017|access-date=29 July 2019|work=Times of Israel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729084651/https://www.timesofisrael.com/this-tough-as-nails-uk-politician-wont-be-cowed-by-the-anti-semitism-of-her-own-party/|archive-date=29 July 2019|url-status=live}} According to one biographer in the Jewish Chronicle, "Ellman can always be called on to defend Israel on the green benches" (i.e. in Parliament).{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/jc-power-100-numbers-100-51-1.56442|title=JC Power 100 2014|date=28 August 2014|access-date=28 July 2019|work=Jewish Chronicle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728221708/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/jc-power-100-numbers-100-51-1.56442|archive-date=28 July 2019|url-status=live}} The Jewish Telegraph said "Doughty Labour MP Louise Ellman is never scared to openly proclaim her Jewish identity and fight for Israel and against Islamic extremism at every Parliamentary opportunity".{{cite news |url=http://www.jewishtelegraph.com/prof_101.html |title=The Tories find new Israel hero in Robert |author=Doreen Wachmann |newspaper=Jewish Telegraph |year=2011 |access-date=18 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304220831/http://www.jewishtelegraph.com/prof_101.html |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=live }} In September 2019, Ellman said she "shared the fears" of other Jews living in the UK about the prospect of a Labour government led by Jeremy Corbyn and understood why they "would seriously consider leaving the country".{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/labour-mp-says-she-understands-why-jews-would-seriously-consider-leaving-britain-if-corbyn-becam-1.489218|title=Labour MP 'understands' why Jews 'would seriously consider' leaving Britain if Corbyn became PM|last=Harpin|first=Lee|date=25 September 2019|access-date=3 October 2019|work=The Jewish Chronicle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926150536/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/labour-mp-says-she-understands-why-jews-would-seriously-consider-leaving-britain-if-corbyn-becam-1.489218|archive-date=26 September 2019|url-status=live}} In October 2019, she said "I'm not absolutely convinced he will bring great danger to the Jewish community but I'm very concerned it is possible he could".{{cite news|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/dame-louise-ellman-says-her-speaking-out-for-israel-gave-labour-antisemites-focus-for-their-hostil-1.490176|title=Dame Louise Ellman says her speaking out for Israel gave Labour antisemites 'focus' for their hostility|last=Harpin|first=Lee|date=17 October 2019|access-date=20 October 2019|work=The Jewish Chronicle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018034257/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/dame-louise-ellman-says-her-speaking-out-for-israel-gave-labour-antisemites-focus-for-their-hostil-1.490176|archive-date=18 October 2019|url-status=live}}

=Constituency party=

In 2016, Ellman said that a small number among the members who joined her constituency Labour party after Corbyn's election as leader seemed "obsessed on Middle East issues", that there had been a "very unpleasant atmosphere" in constituency meetings and that remarks which she considered were antisemitic had been made to her.{{cite news|last=MacAskill|first=Ewan|url=https://www.theguardian.com/membership/2016/sep/13/louise-ellman-mp-liverpool-riverside-labour|title=Louise Ellman MP: 'A small number are intent on creating dissent'|work=The Guardian|date=13 September 2016|access-date=30 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030210223/https://www.theguardian.com/membership/2016/sep/13/louise-ellman-mp-liverpool-riverside-labour|archive-date=30 October 2016|url-status=live}} She also alleged that the local Momentum group was acting as a "party within a party" and asked for her constituency party to be suspended and investigated. A leading local Momentum member rejected the allegations.{{cite news|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-mp-louise-ellman-wants-11924610|title=Why Liverpool MP Louise Ellman wants her constituency party to be suspended|last=Houghton|first=Alastair|date=22 September 2016|access-date=17 October 2019|work=Liverpool Echo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403175232/https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-mp-louise-ellman-wants-11924610|archive-date=3 April 2019|url-status=live}}

=2019 resignation from Labour Party=

In early October 2019, a motion of no confidence in Ellman, scheduled to take place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, was submitted for discussion at a branch of her constituency Labour Party.{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-mp-who-criticized-corbyn-faces-labour-no-confidence-motion-on-yom-kippur/ |title=Jewish MP who criticized Corbyn faces Labour no confidence motion on Yom Kippur |date=3 October 2019 |website=The Times of Israel |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004024235/https://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-mp-who-criticized-corbyn-faces-labour-no-confidence-motion-on-yom-kippur/ |archive-date=4 October 2019 |url-status=live }} The timing of the motion was criticised by Ellman herself, who called it "particularly insidious"; and by Marie van der Zyl, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, who said it meant that Ellman would have "no opportunity even to respond".{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-49925523 |title=Dame Louise Ellman: Labour group's Yom Kippur action condemned |date=3 October 2019 |website=BBC News |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006074115/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-49925523 |archive-date=6 October 2019 |url-status=live }} A Labour Party spokesperson said that no confidence motions "had no formal standing", with another source intimating that the motion was unlikely to be taken to a vote. Two further motions of no confidence were later submitted for debate at other branches of the Liverpool Riverside CLP.{{cite web |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/louise-ellman-faces-fresh-attempts-to-oust-her-as-mp-1.489762 |title='Bullying' of Louise Ellman condemned as the Labour MP faces fresh attempts to oust her |first=Lee |last=Harpin |date=7 October 2019 |website=The Jewish Chronicle |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008140705/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/louise-ellman-faces-fresh-attempts-to-oust-her-as-mp-1.489762 |archive-date=8 October 2019 |url-status=live }} The North-West Labour Party office later advised local branches that none of the motions should be discussed, citing the potential prejudicial effect that such discussion may have on the upcoming trigger ballot.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/07/four-female-labour-mps-hit-with-deselection-threats |title=Concern raised over deselection of female Labour MPs |first1=Kate |last1=Proctor |first2=Maya |last2=Wolfe-Robinson |date=7 October 2019 |website=The Guardian |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017091735/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/07/four-female-labour-mps-hit-with-deselection-threats |archive-date=17 October 2019 |url-status=live }}

On 16 October 2019, Ellman resigned from the Labour Party, citing concerns that antisemitism had grown under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/oct/16/louise-ellman-quits-labour-party-over-antisemitism |title=Louise Ellman quits Labour party with fierce attack on Corbyn |work=The Guardian |date=16 October 2019}} She believed Jewish members faced bullying and abuse, while antisemitic views and conspiracy theories had spread.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/mp-louise-ellman-quits-labour-and-says-corbyn-is-a-danger-to-britain-j80htb5fv|title=MP Louise Ellman quits Labour and says Corbyn is a danger to Britain|first=Henry |last=Zeffman |date=16 October 2019 |via=www.thetimes.co.uk |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016233611/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mp-louise-ellman-quits-labour-and-says-corbyn-is-a-danger-to-britain-j80htb5fv |archive-date=16 October 2019|url-status=live}} She also accused Corbyn of associating with antisemites and failing to challenge them. Labour responded by stating that both Corbyn and the party were committed to supporting the Jewish community and tackling antisemitism.{{cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2019/10/louise-ellman-quits-the-labour-party/|title=Louise Ellman quits the Labour Party|last=Rodgers|first=Sienna|date=16 October 2019|access-date=17 October 2019|website=LabourList|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017053153/https://labourlist.org/2019/10/louise-ellman-quits-the-labour-party/|archive-date=17 October 2019|url-status=live}} Ellman’s Constituency Labour Party acknowledged her long service but noted her opposition to a Corbyn-led government made reselection unlikely.{{cite news|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/louise-ellmans-local-labour-branch-17098477|title=Louise Ellman's local Labour branch responds to her resignation after 55 years in party|last=Thorp|first=Liam|date=17 October 2019|access-date=17 October 2019|work=Liverpool Echo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017120103/https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/louise-ellmans-local-labour-branch-17098477|archive-date=17 October 2019|url-status=live}} They cited political disagreements, including her support for the Iraq War and criticism of Corbyn, as reasons for the contest. While condemning antisemitism, they argued she misrepresented the local party and said many Jewish members did not share her views.{{cite news|url=https://twitter.com/hannahITV/status/1184883254123487232|title=Liverpool Riverside CLP Executive statement|date=17 October 2019|access-date=18 October 2019|work=Hannah Miller|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017173045/https://twitter.com/hannahITV/status/1184883254123487232|archive-date=17 October 2019|url-status=live}}

Ellman did not stand for re-election as an MP at the 2019 United Kingdom general election.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-50238531 |title=General Election 2019: Liverpool Riverside MP Louise Ellman will not stand |work=BBC News |date=30 October 2019}}

Life after parliament

On 27 September 2021, Ellman announced she was rejoining the Labour Party. She expressed her satisfaction with Keir Starmer's leadership, saying he has “shown a willingness to confront both the anti-Jewish racists and the toxic culture which allowed antisemitism to flourish” in the party.[https://twitter.com/louiseellman/status/1442489286163668997 Today I have rejoined @UKLabour, returning to my political home] Loise Ellman Twitter Account

Personal life and recognition

Ellman has been married since 16 July 1967 to Geoffrey Ellman, a pharmacist. She lived in Leeds, then moved to Skelmersdale in 1969. The couple have a son, Sean,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-22509567|title=MP's son Sean Ellman cleared in legal high label case|date=13 May 2013|access-date=3 October 2013|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615124036/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-22509567|archive-date=15 June 2013|url-status=live}} and a daughter, Yvonne, and five grandchildren.{{cite news|url=https://www.lep.co.uk/news/today-s-suffragettes-i-was-very-determined-to-make-a-difference-1-9016204|title=Today's suffragettes: 'I was very determined to make a difference'|last=Megan|first=Titley|date=14 February 2018|access-date=18 October 2019|work=Lancashire Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018040610/https://www.lep.co.uk/news/today-s-suffragettes-i-was-very-determined-to-make-a-difference-1-9016204|archive-date=18 October 2019|url-status=live}}

(Her son Sean has repeatedly come to public attention for selling so-called 'legal highs' in his chain of 'head shops' across the northwest of England. In 2010 he was given an ASBO by a St Helens court to prevent such sales;{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Asbofor+MP%27s+%27drug+shop%27+son-a0241914800|title = Asbofor MP's 'drug shop' son. - Free Online Library}} in 2012 he was taken to court by authorities in Chester.{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/mp-louise-ellman-s-son-in-court-for-selling-legal-highs-8138803.html|title=MP Louise Ellman's son in court for selling legal highs|date=14 September 2012}} Two years after his judge-directed acquittal on a legal technicality, the Sunday People newspaper exposed two more Ellman head shops in Manchester and Leeds, one for allegedly selling "synthetic cocaine".{{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/legal-highs-seized-shop-after-3493364|title = Legal highs seized from shop after police raid - while sister store 40 miles away flouts the law|website = Daily Mirror|date = 3 May 2014}})

She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2018 Queen's Birthday Honours for parliamentary and political services.

In 2019, the Jerusalem Post ranked her as the 23rd most influential Jew worldwide, calling her 'Labour's lady who opposes Corbyn' and noting that 'she has been a strong advocate for Israel in the House of Commons'.{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/No23-MP-Dame-Louise-Ellman-602847|title=LABOUR'S LADY WHO OPPOSES CORBYN: MP DAME LOUISE ELLMAN|last=Sharon|first=Jeremy|date=28 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016191518/https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/No23-MP-Dame-Louise-Ellman-602847|archive-date=16 October 2019|url-status=live}} She was the sole Briton on the 50-strong list.{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/50-Influencers-2019|title=THE JERUSALEM POST'S 50 MOST INFLUENTIAL JEWS OF 2019|access-date=16 October 2019|work=Jerusalem Post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016132641/https://www.jpost.com/50-Influencers-2019|archive-date=16 October 2019|url-status=live}}

She is a Vice President of the Jewish Leadership Council.{{cite web|url=https://www.thejlc.org/louise_ellman_mp|title=Dame Louise ellman MP|access-date=17 July 2019|work=Jewish Leadership Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190717203713/https://www.thejlc.org/louise_ellman_mp|archive-date=17 July 2019|url-status=live}}

Notes

References

External links

{{Official website|http://louiseellman.co.uk|Louise Ellman}} – official site
{{UK MP links|parliament=mrs-louise-ellman/484|hansardcurr=3103|hansard=mrs-louise-ellman|publicwhip=Louise_Ellman|theywork=louise_ellman}}
[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-1576,00.html Louise Ellman] Ask Aristotle - article at Guardian Unlimited Politics
[https://web.archive.org/web/20061003035345/http://www.dodonline.co.uk/engine.asp?lev1=4&lev2=37&menu=45&biog=y&id=25701 Louise Ellman] parliamentary biography from DodOnline
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070621155635/http://www.skemheritage.org.uk/ellman.htm Louise Ellman] at Skelmersdale Heritage Society
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/376.stm Louise Ellman] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825114903/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/376.stm |date=25 August 2007 }} page on BBC Politics

=Audio clips=

[http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/audio/38206000/rm/_38206027_mobiles17_elland.ram Mobile phones] (2002)
[http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today1_mideast_20041002.ram Middle East Road Map] (October 2004)
[http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today5_israel_20050211.ram Ken Livingstone] (February 2005)

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Liverpool Riverside|years=1997–2019}}

{{Chairs of the Transport Select Committee|status=autocollapsed}}

Category:1945 births

Category:Living people

Category:Members of Lancashire County Council

Category:People educated at Manchester High School for Girls

Category:Alumni of the University of Hull

Category:Alumni of the University of York

Category:British Zionists

Category:Labour Friends of Israel

Category:Jewish English politicians

Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies