Chief Executive: Local Government Information Unit
Andy Sawford joined the LGiU in March 2008 as Chief Executive. Andy's previous experience includes working in parliament and at the LGA and from 2004 as a policy and public affairs consultant for local authorities and organisations such as the National Association of Local Councils and the Association of Police Authorities. In 2005, Andy led the establishment of the All Party Parliamentary Local Government Group to promote improved dialogue between local and national politicians, and make an impact in debates on key issues, such as the group's major inquiries on the role of councillors, the future of older people's services and localising criminal justice. Andy speaks at a wide range of conferences and events and he writes and appears regularly in the local government and national media. Andy writes about his work for the LGiU and more generally on policy, politics and local democracy on the LGiU blog and on twitter. Andy is also a Director of the Centre for Public Scrutiny and Chair of LGiU Enterprises.
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
On Friday 5 June 2009, John Denham became the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. John Denham was first elected as MP for Southampton Itchen in 1992. Prior to being elected to Parliament, John was a Councillor at Hampshire County Council from 1981-89 and at Southampton City Council from 1989-92. John's Ministerial career has included positions at the then Department for Social Security, the Department of Health and Home Office. He chaired the Commons Select Committee on Home Affairs and from 2007 - 2009 he served as Secretary of State at the newly formed Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). John was born in 1953 and educated at Woodroffe Comprehensive School, Lyme Regis and Southampton University, where he became president of the Students Union. He was Head of Youth Affairs at the British Council from 1979 until 1983, and was responsible for public education and advocacy for War on Want from 1984 to 1988. He subsequently worked for Christian Aid, Oxfam and other development agencies. John Denham is a member of AMICUS (MSF) and in June 2000 he was appointed by the Queen as a Privy Counsellor.
Conservative Party Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Elected as MP for Meriden in May 1997, Caroline Spelman rose quickly in her first Parliament to reach the Shadow Cabinet within three months of the start of her second term when she was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for International Development. Over the last eight years, Caroline has worked on the Health, International Development and Environment brief. She was also Shadow Minister for Women until 2004 before being promoted to the Shadow Cabinet in March of that year as Shadow Secretary of State for Local and Devolved Government Affairs. Her new post put her at the head of a large team covering local and regional government, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. As Shadow Minister for Women Caroline launched a nationwide poster campaign on domestic violence with the support of Women’s Aid, the NSPCC and the Police Federation. Under David Cameron’s leadership, Caroline has served in the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and then Chairman of the Party from July 2007 to January 2009, when she resumed her role as Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Before entering politics Caroline worked in agriculture for 15 years and set up her own company in bio-technology. She is married with three teenage children and her recreations include cooking and gardening.
Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
Julia Goldsworthy entered Parliament in 2005, gaining the Falmouth and Camborne seat from Labour on a 9.5% swing; her election meant that the Liberal Democrats hold all the Cornish seats for the first time since 1923. In March 2006 Julia joined the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury. She was promoted again in December 2007 to become the Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Julia Goldsworthy was born and brought up in Camborne. She won a scholarship to Truro School, and then went on to study History at Cambridge University. After university she worked for Truro MP Matthew Taylor, researching and campaigning on local issues for the Liberal Democrat Team for Cornwall. After a stint working with local businesses at the Business Unit of a nearby college, Julia began working for the Regeneration Team at Carrick District Council. Here she helped local businesses and organisations get the most out of Objective One, in order to create a more secure economic future for the county. As an MP, Julia has worked to win a fair deal for Cornwall on important local issues such as the Axe the Tax campaign against council tax; petitions for decent state pensions instead of pension credits and for a [Tuition] Fee Free Cornwall. She has fought to secure a review into water charging that finally recognised the unfair bills in the region, and successfully campaigned for a new health funding formula for Cornwall.