Ruth Ashley Charman Dalton (born 15 August)[1] is a British Labour Party politician and former community worker who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for West Lancashire since the 2023 West Lancashire by-election, succeeding Rosie Cooper.[2]
Ashley Dalton | |||||||
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.jpg) Official portrait, 2023 | |||||||
| Member of Parliament for West Lancashire | |||||||
| Assumed office 9 February 2023 | |||||||
| Preceded by | Rosie Cooper | ||||||
| Majority | 8,326 (36.9%) | ||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||
| Born | 15 August Leyland, Lancashire[citation needed] | ||||||
| Political party | Labour | ||||||
| Alma mater | Middlesex University (BA, DipHE) | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Early life, education and career edit
Ruth Ashley Charman Dalton[3] was raised in Leyland, South Ribble, in Lancashire.[4] Her father worked on the factory floor at Leyland Motors, and later set up his own business as a nurseryman.[5] She became aware of the Labour Party at the age of 14, when a customer ordered 40 red rose buttonholes for a by-election count from her father's florist's shop, and joined the party while at university.[6]
She attended All Hallows Catholic High School in Penwortham (1983–1988) and Preston College (1989–1991), and obtained a BA in English and politics (1996) and a DipHE in professional development (voluntary sector) (1997) from Middlesex University.[7]
Dalton worked for Southend-on-Sea Council for 17 years,[8] and at the time of her selection she worked part-time for a Lancashire charity.[5]
Political career edit
Dalton was Labour's candidate in Rochford and Southend East in the 2017 and 2019 general elections.[8]
She was selected on 9 October 2022 as Labour's candidate in the West Lancashire by-election.[9] The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Rosie Cooper.[10] Dalton was elected MP with 14,068 votes (62.3%).[11] In her victory speech, Dalton called for a general election.[12]
Dalton took her oath of office on Monday 20 February.[13] She signed an early day motion welcoming the investigation into the 2022 UEFA Champions League final chaos on the same day.[14] She was a guest at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla.[15]
In the House of Commons she is Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities on the Opposition frontbench of Keir Starmer.[16]
Dalton is a member of Labour Friends of Israel.[17]
Personal life edit
Dalton is a survivor of breast cancer.[18] She is a parent and a carer.[19] Her ex-husband died of kidney cancer.[20]
She identifies as LGBT,[21][22] and has called herself "a gay woman".[23]
References edit
- ^ https://www.politico.eu/newsletter/london-playbook/welcome-home-rishi-sunak/
- ^ Brown, Faye (10 February 2023). "West Lancashire by-election: Labour hold onto seat". Sky News. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ "Statement of persons nominated ... Election of a Member of Parliament for West Lancashire" (PDF). Acting Returning Officer. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ Bugel, Safi (8 February 2023). "West Lancashire byelection: Labour odds-on favourite to hold seat". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ a b Barre, Claire (12 October 2022). "Labour Party's 'surprise' candidate for crunch West Lancashire by-election dubbed 'referendum on fracking'". LancsLive. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ Bugel, Safi (10 February 2023). "Labour wins West Lancashire byelection with 10% swing". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ "Ashley Dalton". LinkedIn. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ a b Neame, Katie (9 February 2023). "Voters head to the polls in West Lancashire to select their next MP". LabourList. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ Williams, Olivia (9 October 2022). "Labour candidate announced for West Lancashire by-election". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ Smyth, Mairead (5 February 2023). "West Lancashire by-election: Candidates step up battle for votes". BBC News. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ Penna, Dominic (10 February 2023). "Labour secures comfortable win in West Lancashire byelection". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ The Independent. "Labour's West Lancashire by-election winner Ashley Dalton takes aim at Tories". YouTube. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ Wheeler, Richard. "Labour MPs cheer the arrival of their newest Commons colleague". Irish News. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "2022 Champions League Final and Liverpool Football Club supporters". UK Parliament. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ Torrance, David (25 October 2023). "House of Commons Library: Research Briefing Number CBP 9789 - The Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla" (PDF). UK Parliament. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ "Ashley Dalton MP, Labour Women's Network Committee". Labour Women's Network. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "LFI Parliamentary Supporters". Labour Friends of Israel. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
- ^ Berrill, Lewis (1 October 2021). "Ashley Dalton calls for improved cancer screening access". Echo. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Why I'm Standing". Ashley Dalton for West Lancashire. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ Dalton, Ashley [@Ashley__Dalton] (13 May 2022). "My late ex husband ..." (Tweet). Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
- ^ Dalton, Ashley [@Ashley__Dalton] (7 August 2021). "I'm standing for election ..." (Tweet). Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
I'm a passionate feminist and LGBT woman
- ^ Edwards, Peter (11 December 2017). "LGBT Labour campaigner picked to take on Tory banker in Essex target seat". LabourList. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
- ^ Bugel, Safi (9 February 2023). "Polls close in West Lancashire byelection". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
External links edit
