Heidi Alexander | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Secretary of State for Transport | |
| Assumed office 29 November 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Louise Haigh |
| Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services | |
| In office 8 July 2024 – 29 November 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
| Preceded by | Mike Freer[a] |
| Succeeded by | Sarah Sackman |
| Member of Parliament forSwindon South | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Robert Buckland |
| Majority | 9,606 (21.5%) |
| Member of Parliament forLewisham East | |
| In office 6 May 2010 – 9 May 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Bridget Prentice |
| Succeeded by | Janet Daby |
| Deputy Mayor of London for Transport | |
| In office 21 May 2018 – 31 December 2021 | |
| Mayor | Sadiq Khan |
| Preceded by | Val Shawcross |
| Succeeded by | Seb Dance |
| Member ofLewisham Council forEvelyn | |
| In office 10 June 2004 – 6 May 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Alicia Chater |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1975-04-17)17 April 1975 (age 50) Swindon,Wiltshire, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | Durham University (BA,MA) |
| Website | Official website |
Heidi Alexander (born 17 April 1975) is a British politician who has served asSecretary of State for Transport since November 2024.[1] A member of theLabour Party, she has beenMember of Parliament (MP) forSwindon South since 2024. Previously she was the MP forLewisham East from 2010 to 2018.
Born in Swindon, Alexander studied at Churchfields Comprehensive School and New College Sixth Form before going on to gain a BA in geography and an MA in European Urban and Regional Change fromGrey College, Durham. Alexander then consecutively served as a Parliamentary researcher for MPJoan Ruddock and as a campaign manager for the charity Clothes Aid.
Alexander was elected to theLewisham London Borough Council forEvelyn in 2004 and was elected as the MP forLewisham East in the2010 General election. Alexander was appointedParliamentary Private Secretary toshadow environment secretaryMary Creagh before becoming anOpposition whip in 2012. Promoted to DeputyShadow Minister for London and a senior Opposition whip in 2013, she becameShadow Secretary of State for Health after theelection of Jeremy Corbyn to the Labour leadership. In 2016 she resigned over Corbyn's response to theEU referendum and dismissal ofHilary Benn.
In 2018 Alexander resigned her seat to become Deputy Mayor of London for Transport where she remained until 2021. In the2024 General election Alexander was elected the MP forSwindon South. Alexander then served as Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services until she was appointed Transport Secretary in November 2024, replacingLouise Haigh.
Alexander was born inSwindon,Wiltshire to Malcolm, an electrician, and Elaine Alexander (née Lanham). She was educated atChurchfields Comprehensive School and New College Sixth Form. Alexander studied atGrey College, Durham,[2][3] where she received aBA in geography and anMA in European Urban and Regional Change.[4]
Alexander had a 6-month placement in the office ofCherie Blair at10 Downing Street in 1998.[5] She worked as a Parliamentary researcher for Lewisham MPJoan Ruddock from 1999 to 2005, and as campaigns manager for the charity Clothes Aid from 2005 to 2006.[6]
Alexander served as a member ofLewisham London Borough Council forEvelyn from a by-election in 2004 until2010. She was DeputyMayor of Lewisham and Cabinet Member for Regeneration from 2006 to 2010. Alexander was selected as the Labour candidate forLewisham East in October 2009, and elected to Parliament at the2010 general election.[7]
Shortly after her election to Parliament, Alexander was appointedParliamentary Private Secretary toMary Creagh, then theshadow environment secretary. She became anOpposition whip in 2012,[8] and was promoted to Deputy ShadowMinister for London and a senior Opposition whip in 2013.[5] She served as a member of theCommunities and Local Government Committee from 2010 to 2012 andHealth Committee from 2016 to 2017.
FollowingJeremy Corbyn's election as Labour leader in September 2015, Alexander joined theshadow cabinet asShadow Secretary of State for Health.[9]
Heidi Alexander became the first shadow cabinet minister to resign in June 2016,[10][better source needed] calling for a new party leader after the EU referendum and dismissal ofHilary Benn.[11] In an opinion piece forThe Guardian, Alexander wrote "I loved being the shadow health secretary. But I hated being part of the shadow cabinet...because it was entirely dysfunctional" and "so inept, so unprofessional, so shoddy".[12]
In May 2018, Alexanderresigned her seat in Parliament to becomeDeputy Mayor of London for Transport underSadiq Khan.[13] She served as Deputy Chair ofTransport for London in her role, and remained on the body's board until the opening ofCrossrail.
During her time in the role, she was tasked with maintaining London transport during theCOVID-19 pandemic and leading several rounds of government bailout negotiations.[14] She notably worked to tackle delays to the opening of Crossrail and re-opening ofHammersmith Bridge, and took up cycling to promote that method of transport. Initially planning to step down at the end of Khan's first term until the pandemic, she departed her role in late 2021 to "consider her next career move".[15][14]
In June 2022, Alexander announced her intention to seek selection as the Labour candidate forSwindon South.[16] She was selected in July 2022 asprospective parliamentary candidate for the seat,[17][18] and was successful at the2024 general election. Alexander wassubsequently appointed Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services at theMinistry of Justice.[19][20]
Alexander was appointedSecretary of State for Transport in November 2024, succeedingLouise Haigh.[1] She was appointed to thePrivy Council, giving her thehonorific title ofThe Right Honourable for life.[21]
Alexander supportedAndy Burnham in the2010 and2015 Labour leadership elections,[22] andOwen Smith in the2016 Labour leadership election.[23] She chairedSadiq Khan's campaign for the2016 London mayoral election.[24]
Alexander opposed the triggering ofArticle 50 following the EU referendum, proposing a "reasoned amendment" in January 2017 to throw out the article.[25] She co-founded the Labour Campaign for the Single Market in 2017, and is a supporter of the pro-EU groupOpen Britain.[26][24][27]
In November 2024, Alexander voted in favour of theTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which proposes to legaliseassisted suicide.[28]
Alexander married Martin Ballantyne in 2011.[29][30]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forLewisham East 2010–2018 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forSwindon South 2024–present | Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Shadow Secretary of State for Health 2015–2016 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Secretary of State for Transport 2024–present | Incumbent |
| Cabinet members | .svg) | |
|---|---|---|
| Also attending meetings | ||
| Departures | ||
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