Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Shadow Deputy Prime Minister
Harriet Harman QC MP is Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Shadow Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of the Labour Part. A trained solicitor, Harriet was appointed Secretary of State for Social Security and Minister for Women when Labour entered government in 1997. She introduced the Minimum Income Guarantee and the National Childcare Strategy. In 2001, Harriet was appointed solicitor general and led a drive within government to make tackling domestic violence a priority. After the 2005 general election, Harriet was appointed Minister for Justice. She also served in government as leader of the House of Commons, Secretary of State for Equalities and Minister for Women, where she brought forward the Equality Bill, now the Equality Act. Prior to her appointment as Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport she served as Shadow Secretary of State for International Development.