Joyce Anelay, Baroness Anelay of St Johns

Joyce Anne Anelay, Baroness Anelay of St Johns, DBE, PC, FRSA (born 17 July 1947), is a British Conservative Party politician, previously serving as Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from August 2014 to June 2017. Anelay was appointed as Minister of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union in the Second May ministry, after the 2017 reshuffle.[1]

The Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Official portrait, 2020
Chair of the International Relations and Defence Committee
In office
1 July 2019  31 January 2023
Preceded byThe Lord Howell of Guildford
Succeeded byThe Lord Ashton of Hyde
Minister of State for Exiting the European Union
In office
12 June 2017  27 October 2017
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Preceded byDavid Jones
Succeeded byThe Lord Callanan
Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth
In office
6 August 2014  12 June 2017
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Preceded byThe Baroness Warsi
Succeeded byThe Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State for International Development
In office
13 July 2016  14 October 2016
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byThe Lord Bates
Chief Whip of the House of Lords
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms
In office
12 May 2010  6 August 2014
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byThe Lord Bassam of Brighton
Succeeded byThe Lord Taylor of Holbeach
Opposition Chief Whip of the House of Lords
In office
2 July 2007  11 May 2010
LeaderDavid Cameron
Preceded byThe Lord Cope of Berkeley
Succeeded byThe Lord Bassam of Brighton
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Assumed office
5 November 1996
Life Peerage
Personal details
Born
Joyce Anne Clarke

(1947-07-17) 17 July 1947
London, England
Political partyConservative
SpouseRichard Anelay
Alma materUniversity of Bristol
University of London
Brunel University

Anelay was Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords from 12 May 2010 until 6 August 2014, having previously been Opposition Chief Whip prior to the 2010 General Election.[2]

Early life

Born in Hackney on 17 July 1947, daughter of Stanley Clarke, she was christened Joyce Anne and was educated locally at Enfield County School.[3][4] She attended Bristol University, graduating with the degree of BA and after further studies at Brunel, took the postgraduate degree of MA.

Following university, Anelay worked as a secondary school teacher from 1969 to 1974. She later became a volunteer adviser with the Citizens' Advice Bureau, served as a Justice of the Peace for Surrey and sat on the Social Security Appeal Tribunal.[5]

Political career

Prior to her elevation to the peerage, Anelay held a number of senior posts in the Conservative Party organisation. She was Chair of the Conservative Women's National Committee from 1993 to 1996, appointed Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1990,[6] and in 1995 was promoted Dame Commander (DBE).[7] She was created a Life Peer as Baroness Anelay of St Johns, of St John's in the County of Surrey in 1996.[8]

Between May 1997 and June 2002, Baroness Anelay served in various Conservative front bench posts, including Opposition Whip and Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport. She was a Shadow Home Office Minister from June 2002 to July 2007, and from 2 July 2007, she served as Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords until 2010.[9] In 2009, Anelay was sworn of the Privy Council.

After the General Election, on 12 May 2010, Anelay was appointed Government Chief Whip in the Lords and Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms.[10]

On 6 August 2014, the day after Baroness Warsi's resignation, Anelay was appointed in Warsi's place as Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth, attending Cabinet (although not as a member). Anelay did not on take on Warsi's faith and communities brief, which reverted to Eric Pickles.[11]

In April 2017, Anelay expressed concerns about reports of homophobia in Chechnya, and she released the following statement: "The detention and ill-treatment of over 100 gay men in Chechnya is extremely concerning. Reports have also suggested that at least three of these men have been killed."[12]

In May 2020, as Chairwoman of the International Relations and Defence Committee in Britain's House of Lords, she questioned whether Israel should continue to receive preferential access to the U.K. market if the plan for annexing West Bank territory, as laid out in the incoming unity government's coalition agreement, proceeds.[13]

Personal life

Anelay married in 1970, her university contemporary, Richard Anelay, QC, a Deputy High Court Judge, leading family and criminal law barrister, and former head of 1 King's Bench Walk Chambers.[14]

Arms

Coat of arms of Joyce Anelay, Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Escutcheon
Barry of four azure and or five acorns in cross counterchanged.
Supporters
On either side an angel proper vested argent wings sashed and blowing a trumpet supported by the exterior hand or.[15]

References

  1. Evening Standard (12 June 2017). Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  2. "Baroness Anelay of St Johns". UK Parliament.
  3. "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
  4. "Enfield County School Centenary" (PDF).
  5. "Ministers". Government of the United Kingdom.
  6. "No. 52173". The London Gazette. 15 June 1990. p. 9.
  7. "No. 54066". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 16 June 1995. p. 8.
  8. "No. 54554". The London Gazette. 17 October 1996. p. 13805.
  9. "Cameron reshuffles shadow team". BBC News. 3 July 2007.
  10. Her Majesty's Government Archived 15 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  11. "The Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE". Government of the United Kingdom.
  12. Butterworth, Benjamin (11 April 2017). "Activists to protest Russian Embassy over Chechen concentration camps for gay men". Pink News. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  13. "U.K. Lords Committee Calls to Limit Israel's Economic Access if Annexation Goes Ahead". Haaretz. 13 May 2020.
  14. "Richard Anelay – Family Law Barristers London -". 1kbw.co.uk.
  15. Debrett's Peerage & Baronetage. 2000.
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