Helen Grant (politician)
Helen Grant OBE (née Okuboye; born 28 September 1961) is a British politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidstone and The Weald since 2010. A member of the Conservative Party, she succeeded Ann Widdecombe, who was first elected in 1987.
Helen Grant OBE MP | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2019 | |
| Minister of State for Sport and Tourism | |
| In office 7 October 2013 – 12 May 2015 | |
| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Hugh Robertson |
| Succeeded by | Tracey Crouch |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Courts and Victims | |
| In office 4 September 2012 – 7 October 2013 | |
| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Jonathan Djanogly |
| Succeeded by | Shailesh Vara |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities | |
| In office 4 September 2012 – 8 May 2015 | |
| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Lynne Featherstone |
| Succeeded by | Caroline Dinenage |
| Member of Parliament for Maidstone and The Weald | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Ann Widdecombe |
| Majority | 21,772 (42.1%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Helen Okuboye 28 September 1961 Willesden, Middlesex, England |
| Political party | Conservative (2006–present) Labour (2004–2006) |
| Spouse | Simon Grant |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Hull |
| Occupation | Solicitor |
| Website | helengrant.org |
Grant was the first black woman of mixed heritage to be elected as a Conservative MP and selected as a candidate to stand for a Conservative-held parliamentary seat. She first served in government as jointly Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women and Equalities (2012–2015) and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (2012–2013). She also became Minister for Sport and Tourism in 2013, a post she held until after the 2015 general election.
In January 2021, she was appointed as Special Envoy of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Girls' Education.