Member of Parliament for Aldridge-Brownhills
Parliamentary Under Secretary of the Ministry of Justice
Wendy lives in the local area but was brought up in North Yorkshire. The daughter of a farmer, she went to the local primary and comprehensive school and later gained a Masters Degree (MBA) with the Open University.
Her career began as an Executive Officer in HM Diplomatic Service at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London, before working in the business sector, in sales and marketing.
When her Bromsgrove-born husband left the Royal Navy, they set up an electronics and manufacturing business with the welcome help of the £40 a week Enterprise Allowance Scheme. Almost 25 years later it is still a family-run business, designing and manufacturing electronic goods for the agricultural industry.
Wendy believes in hard work & straight talking, inheriting her work ethic & down-to-earth, common sense approach from her parents who are typical Yorkshire people.
Having not come from a political family background, Wendy’s first taste of politics was in William Hague’s campaign to Keep the Pound. She became involved because she was passionate about keeping our national currency and believes it is part of our strong British identity.
Through previously serving as a local Councillor on Richmondshire District Council, she understands how important it is to support Councillors in the work they do for communities – making sure people are represented well locally.
For many years Wendy has supported volunteering and social action, and has been actively involved in local community projects. Before becoming MP for Aldridge-Brownhills, she served as vice-chairman of the Conservative Party for Social Action, and is currently joint-project leader for international social action initiative Project Umubano, in Rwanda, Burundi, and Sierra Leone.
Outside of politics Wendy has taken part in many charity walks and runs and hopes to do a lot more in future. She is an active Rotarian, and she enjoys collecting art deco ceramics. She also enjoys spending time canal boating with family.
During Theresa May’s premiership Wendy served as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to Ministers at the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and to the Secretary of State for International Development. In January 2018 Wendy became a member of the Government as an Assistant Government Whip until July 2019.
Following his election as Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed Wendy to the Government as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice. Wendy’s appointment to the Ministry of Justice makes her the first Member of Parliament for Aldridge-Brownhills to be appointed as a Government Minister.