Lee, Jennie, Baroness (Baroness Lee of Asheridge), 1904-1988 (Labour politician)
Biography
Jennie Lee was born in the Fife mining town of Lochgelly on 3 Nov 1904. Her mother was Euphemia Grieg and her father was James Lee, a coal miner and later hotelier. She was educated at Beath High School, the University of Edinburgh and Moray House achieving MA (1927), LLB and a certificate in teaching. At the University, she joined Edinburgh University Labour Party, Edinburgh University Women's Union and the editorial board of The Student. She was at the heart of the campaign to elect Bertrand Russell as Rector of the University.
After a few years working as a teacher in Cowdenbeath, Lee was elected as the Labour MP for North Lanarkshire in 1929, the youngest woman MP at a time before women under 30 could even vote. Firmly on the left of the party, she clased with the party leadership. She remained in Parliament until 1931. In 1933, she married fellow MP, Aneurin Bevan. In 1943, she was unsuccessful as Independent Labour candidate for Bristol Central but returned to Parliament as Labour MP for Cannock at the 1945 General Election.
Lee played an important role in the foundation of the Open University, in the expansion of the Arts Council. She lost her seat in 1970 and retired, becoming Baroness the same year. She died in 1988.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
Records of Edinburgh University Labour Party
Minutes of general meetings of Edinburgh University Labour Party from its first meeting on 7 Nov 1921 through to the meeting of 22 April 1929. A list of members for 1926/7 and 1927/8 is in the rear of thesame volume. Participants in these meetings included future Member of Parliament, Jennie Lee.