Chair, Backbench Committee for the Cabinet Office and Social Action.

Salford’s MP since 1997, Hazel Blears is proud of Labour’s record in transforming the city of her birth. She has helped bring hundreds of millions of pounds of investment in schools, housing and the NHS, and given greater powers to local communities. She is especially proud of progress in education – with Salford currently ranked the most improved area in Greater Manchester for GCSE results.

Hazel has held a number of senior positions including chair of the Labour Party, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Minister of State for Policing and Counter Terrorism.

She is 54 and has been married for over 20-years. Growing up in the 1960s in a traditional working class street, she attended Wardley Grammar School in Swinton and Eccles Sixth Form College. Hazel was the first person in her family to go into higher education. She went on to become a senior local authority solicitor, and a local Councillor for Eccles before becoming an MP.

She fought this year’s General Election on bringing jobs to Salford and giving communities a stronger say in running local services. Outside of politics she enjoys motorcycling, dancing and gardening.