Tessa Jowell
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| The Rt Hon Tessa Jowell | |
| Born | September 17 1947 |
|---|---|
Tessa Jowell (born September 17, 1947 in London) is a British politician who is Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Minister for the Olympics, following the selection of London to host the 2012 Olympic Games. Tessa Jowell is also the cabinet minister responsible for ensuring families of victims of the terrorist attacks in London are supported.
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[edit] Early life
Born Tessa Jane Helen Douglas Palmer, she was educated at the independent St Margaret's School in Aberdeen, the University of Aberdeen, the University of Edinburgh and Goldsmiths College, University of London. She became a psychiatric social worker and eventually assistant director of the mental health charity MIND. In 1978 she was Labour Party candidate in a by-election in Ilford North but lost Labour's marginal majority to the Conservatives.
[edit] Parliament
Elected as MP for Dulwich at the 1992 general election, she was successively appointed as an opposition spokesperson on health, an opposition whip and spokesperson on women before returning to the shadow health team in 1996, in time to become a minister in the Department of Health after the 1997 Labour electoral landslide. She moved to the Department for Education and Employment in 1999.
[edit] Culture Secretary
Jowell was appointed Culture Secretary after the 2001 election, replacing the sacked Chris Smith. Her main concern as Culture Secretary has been the future of television broadcasting. She blocked the BBC's original plans for the digital channel BBC3 on the grounds that they were insufficiently different from commercial offerings, and imposed extra conditions<ref>"BBC news channel told to change", BBC, 5 December 2002.</ref> on BBC News 24 after it was criticised on the same grounds by the Lambert Report.<ref>Lambert (1 December 2002). Review Of BBC News 24 (PDF). Department for Culture, Media and Sport.</ref> She was also responsible for the Communications Act 2003 which established a new media regulator, OFCOM. It also relaxed regulations on ownership of UK television stations, though a "public interest" test was introduced as a compromise after a rebellion in the House of Lords. In 2004, Jowell ran into trouble because of resistance to proposals for 24 hour gambling and licenses to be granted for a series of Las Vegas style casinos. Jowell has also had to deal with complaints that the National Lottery has been directed to fund programmes that should be covered by mainstream taxation. Jowell oversaw a restructuring of the Arts funding system but lost out in the 2004/5 spending round resulting in a cut in her departmental budget and the loss of tax credits for UK Film production.
In the cabinet reshuffle following the 2005 Election it was predicted that Jowell would be promoted to one of the larger spending departments but lost out and remained at the DCMS with the additional responsibilities of Minister for Women.<ref>"The reshuffle Blair wanted… and the one he got", The Guardian, 9 May 2005.</ref><ref>"Tough luck, Tessa", The Observer, 8 May 2005.</ref>
[edit] Personal life
Jowell's first marriage was to fellow Camden councillor Roger Jowell. This was dissolved in 1976. She continues to use his surname.<ref>"The Minister And A £350,000 'Gift'", tmc.net, 23 February 2006.</ref> Roger Jowell co-founded and directed Social & Community Planning Research (SCPR), now the National Centre for Social Research, known for its British Social Attitudes Surveys.
Jowell's second marriage, in 1979, was to international corporate lawyer David Mills.
[edit] Controversy and "Jowellgate"
David Mills has acted for Silvio Berlusconi, once Italian Prime Minister. This has been a cause of controversy, as Mills is being investigated in Italy for money laundering and alleged tax fraud.<ref>"How Jowell's husband played host to Berlusconi at the Garrick Club", Times, 22 February 2006.</ref><ref>"Jowell has nothing to do with Italian bribe allegations, insists her husband", Telegraph, 22 February 2006.</ref> Jowell was investigated by the Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell over the allegations surrounding her husband because of a potential clash of interest between her personal life and ministerial duties. However, Sir Gus stated that "it is the Prime Minister, not me, who, constitutionally, is the right and proper person to take a view on matters arising based on the Ministerial Code" in his letter,<ref>"In Full: Tessa Jowell inquiry letter", BBC, 2 March 2006.</ref> and Tony Blair decided she was clear of any wrongdoing.<ref>"Blair clears Jowell of wrongdoing", BBC, 2 March 2006.</ref>
On 4 March 2006 it was announced that Jowell and Mills were to "separate" after their marriage was put under strain following the allegations. Their professed hopes to "restore their relationship over time" rather than seeking divorce have caused some to regard this as merely a politically expediant gesture.<ref>"Tessa Jowell splits from husband", BBC, 4 March2006.</ref><ref>"'She just wanted to lie down and rest. She was devastated'", Telegraph, 5 March 2006.</ref> David Mills had admitted only to being an "idiot" and has expressed his remorse about the impact of his dealings upon Tessa Jowell. He denies criminal wrong-doing and has stressed that his wife is completely innocent.
The affair has been termed "Jowellgate" by parts of the press.<ref>"Jowellgate: Italian judge will press charges over bribery allegations", Independent, 2 March 2006.</ref>
Jowell is no stranger to controversy. In 2003, she received extensive, unfavourable press coverage when she sent out "Christmas" cards that avoided reference to the Christmas story. More recently (2006), she has been heavily criticised for likely cost over-runs on the London Olympics project, which comes under the umbrella of her department's responsibilities.
[edit] References
<references/>
[edit] External links
- Tessa Jowell. 10 Downing Street.
- Rt Hon Tessa Jowell MP. Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
- Tessa Jowell. Guardian Unlimited Politics — Ask Aristotle.
- Tessa Jowell MP, Dulwich & West Norwood. TheyWorkForYou.com.
- Video interview with Tessa Jowell MP. Lambeth Labour.
| Preceded by: Gerald Bowden | Member of Parliament for Dulwich 1992–1997 | Succeeded by: (constituency abolished) |
| Preceded by: (new constituency) | Member of Parliament for Dulwich and West Norwood 1997 – present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by: Chris Smith | Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 2001 – present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by: — | Minister for the Olympics 2005 – present | Incumbent |
Categories: 1947 births | Living people | Alumni of Goldsmiths College, University of London | Current British MPs | Members of the United Kingdom Parliament from English constituencies | British political scandals | British Secretaries of State | British female MPs | Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom | Labour MPs (UK) | UK MPs 1992-1997 | UK MPs 1997-2001 | UK MPs 2001-2005 | UK MPs 2005-
