Ashley Dalton

Ashley Dalton
MP
Official portrait, 2023
Member of Parliament
for West Lancashire
Incumbent
Assumed office
9 February 2023
Preceded byRosie Cooper
Majority13,625 (30.8%)
2023–2024Women and Equalities
Personal details
Born (1972-08-15) 15 August 1972 (age 52)
Leyland, Lancashire[citation needed]
Political partyLabour
Alma materMiddlesex University (BA, DipHE)
Websitewww.ashleydalton.uk

Ruth Ashley Charman Dalton (born 15 August 1972) 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.[1]

Early life, education and career

Ruth Ashley Charman Dalton[2] was born on 15 August 1972[3][4] and raised in Leyland, South Ribble, in Lancashire.[5] Her father worked on the factory floor at Leyland Motors, and later set up his own business as a nurseryman.[6] 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.[7]

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.[8]

Dalton worked for Southend-on-Sea Council for 17 years,[9] and at the time of her selection she worked part-time for a Lancashire charity.[6]

Political career

Dalton was Labour's candidate in Rochford and Southend East in the 2017 and 2019 general elections.[9]

She was selected on 9 October 2022 as Labour's candidate in the West Lancashire by-election.[10] The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Rosie Cooper.[11] Dalton was elected MP with 14,068 votes (62.3%).[12] In her victory speech, Dalton called for a general election.[13]

Dalton took her oath of office on Monday 20 February.[14] She signed an early day motion welcoming the investigation into the 2022 UEFA Champions League final chaos on the same day.[15] She was a guest at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla.[16]

In the House of Commons she was Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities on the Opposition frontbench of Keir Starmer until July 2024.[17]

Dalton is a member of Labour Friends of Israel.[18]

Personal life

Dalton is a survivor of breast cancer.[19] She is a parent and a carer.[20] Her ex-husband died of kidney cancer.[21]

She identifies as LGBT,[22][23] and has called herself "a gay woman".[24]

References

  1. ^ Brown, Faye (10 February 2023). "West Lancashire by-election: Labour hold onto seat". Sky News. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Statement of persons nominated ... Election of a Member of Parliament for West Lancashire" (PDF). Acting Returning Officer. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  3. ^ Prince, Rosa (15 August 2023). "Welcome home Rishi Sunak". Politico. Retrieved 10 June 2024. Birthdays ... West Lancashire MP Ashley Dalton
  4. ^ Haygarth, Dan (12 February 2023). "New MP's journey from charity worker to Westminster". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 10 June 2024. Ms Dalton, 50
  5. ^ Bugel, Safi (8 February 2023). "West Lancashire byelection: Labour odds-on favourite to hold seat". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Bugel, Safi (10 February 2023). "Labour wins West Lancashire byelection with 10% swing". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  8. ^ "Ashley Dalton". LinkedIn. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Williams, Olivia (9 October 2022). "Labour candidate announced for West Lancashire by-election". Liverpool Echo. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  11. ^ Smyth, Mairead (5 February 2023). "West Lancashire by-election: Candidates step up battle for votes". BBC News. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  12. ^ Penna, Dominic (10 February 2023). "Labour secures comfortable win in West Lancashire byelection". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  13. ^ The Independent (9 February 2023). "Labour's West Lancashire by-election winner Ashley Dalton takes aim at Tories". YouTube. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  14. ^ Wheeler, Richard. "Labour MPs cheer the arrival of their newest Commons colleague". Irish News. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  15. ^ "2022 Champions League Final and Liverpool Football Club supporters". UK Parliament. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "Ashley Dalton MP, Labour Women's Network Committee". Labour Women's Network. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  18. ^ "LFI Parliamentary Supporters". Labour Friends of Israel. 6 July 2017. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  19. ^ Berrill, Lewis (1 October 2021). "Ashley Dalton calls for improved cancer screening access". Echo. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  20. ^ "Why I'm Standing". Ashley Dalton for West Lancashire. Archived from the original on 9 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  21. ^ Dalton, Ashley [@Ashley__Dalton] (13 May 2022). "My late ex husband ..." (Tweet). Retrieved 10 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ 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
  23. ^ Edwards, Peter (11 December 2017). "LGBT Labour campaigner picked to take on Tory banker in Essex target seat". LabourList. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  24. ^ Bugel, Safi (9 February 2023). "Polls close in West Lancashire byelection". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for West Lancashire
2023– 		Incumbent