Dame Cheryl Elise Kendall Gillan (; 21 April 1952 – 4 April 2021) was a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Chesham and Amersham from 1992 until her death in 2021. A member of the Conservative Party, she served as Secretary of State for Wales from 2010 to 2012.

Before her parliamentary career, Gillan was a marketing executive for several companies. She was first elected to the House of Commons in 1992 and served as an MP for 29 years. She was a junior minister for Education and Employment from 1995 to 1997 in John Major's government. In opposition, she served as a Conservative whip and as a spokesperson for Trade and Industry, foreign affairs and home affairs. She was the Shadow Welsh Secretary from 2005 to 2010. She served in David Cameron's cabinet as Secretary of State for Wales after the 2010 general election until a reshuffle in September 2012. She was awarded a damehood in the 2018 New Year Honours.

Early life

Cheryl Elise Kendall Gillan was born in Llandaff, a district of Cardiff, on 21 April 1952. Her father, Major Adam Mitchell Gillan, was a former British Army officer and a director of a steel company, while her mother, Mona Elsie Freeman, was a Wren.

Political career

Gillan was chairman of the Bow Group from 1987 to 1988.

In her early years in Parliament, Gillan served on the select committees for Science and Technology (1992–1995) and for Procedure (1994–1995). and responsible for introducing the Autism Act 2009 through a Private Member's Bill.

Shadow Welsh Secretary (2005–2010)

Gillan was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet in December 2005 as Shadow Secretary of State for Wales. She was initially opposed to the creation of the National Assembly for Wales, saying that there was not a large enough majority in favour of it in the 1997 Welsh devolution referendum.

Welsh Secretary (2010–2012)

thumb|upright|Official portrait, 2010

Gillan was appointed by David Cameron as Secretary of State for Wales in the new coalition government formed from the 2010 general election. She was appointed a Privy Councillor on 13 May 2010.

  • Parliamentary Private Secretary: Glyn Davies MP
  • Special adviser: Richard Hazlewood

Welsh-related government policy decisions taken during Gillan's term in the Wales Office included:

  • the running of the 2011 Welsh devolution referendum on direct law-making powers for the Assembly;
  • setting up of the Silk Commission on future Welsh devolution;
  • rail electrification of the South Wales Main Line branch of the Great Western Main Line;
  • reduction of S4C funding;
  • cancellation of the plan to centralise military training at MOD St Athan.

In May 2012, Gillan unveiled a Wales Office green paper that proposed to cut the number of constituency Assembly members (AMs) from 40 to 30, with another 30 coming from regional lists. The Welsh Government opposed this idea, and it was reported that Conservative AMs preferred the status quo. She was replaced by David Jones who had been Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales; there had been pressure from Welsh Conservative MPs, AMs and activists for her successor to be an MP from a Welsh constituency. When campaigning for re-election, Gillan said that HS2 would be "a lot more than just the blight on the properties nearby... the implications for the area will be absolutely phenomenal". She also described HS2 as a project that would "threaten the quality of our lives – not just now but for generations to come" and stated that she "would defy the party whip – be very, very sure of that".

On 12 January 2012, Secretary of State for Transport Justine Greening confirmed in a House of Commons statement that HS2 would go ahead and, in responding to questions, stated that it was her understanding that "the Welsh Secretary is already on side ... I thoroughly agree with her that we have ended up with the right line, with the right mitigation". In an interview with the Bucks Free Press following the announcement, Gillan stated: "[W]e've already got some changes, good changes and I'm looking at what further possibilities there will be". When asked whether she would remain in the Cabinet, Gillan stated: "I am not resigning. The speculation on my resignation has always come from the press and my political opponents... I'm exceedingly loyal to my party and my Government and I will remain so".

Three days after the announcement, it was discovered that Gillan had sold her house – less than a mile from the proposed route – in November 2011 because she and her husband, John, had "mobility problems". Following the revelations, Labour called for Gillan to be investigated for a possible breach of the Ministerial Code.

1922 Committee

thumb|upright|Parliamentary portrait by [[Chris McAndrew, 2017]]

In May 2019, Gillan and Charles Walker became acting chairs of the 1922 Committee after Graham Brady resigned from the role while mulling a Conservative leadership bid. They stood down when Brady returned to the position in September of that year.

Expenses

In 2009, Gillan was criticised for her expenses claims. The Daily Telegraph revealed she had claimed for dog food on her second home allowance. Gillan also claimed £305.50 to cure "noise problems" with her boiler. When questioned, Gillan said the boiler had broken down, and the claim was within the rules. Gillan wrote to the Bucks Free Press to complain that "insinuating language" had been used. Following a review of MPs expenses by Sir Thomas Legg, Gillan was also found to have claimed £1,884 more than her mortgage bill was actually worth. The mortgage was on a second home in Battersea, even though, at the time, she had a home in her constituency, which lies on the London Underground network. Her interests included singing (she was a member of the Parliamentary Choir), gardening, golf and keeping chickens. She was a member of the Royal Automobile Club.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gillan became one of many MPs who participated virtually and pushed for reforms to allow electronic voting for members unable to sit in the chamber, especially when she became too ill to attend due to endometrial cancer. She died in an Esher hospital on 4 April 2021, at the age of 68. Tributes were paid to her in the House of Commons on 13 April. In the subsequent by-election held on 17 June, her former seat was gained by Sarah Green of the Liberal Democrats.

References

  • Cheryl Gillan MP official constituency website
  • <!-- Cheryl Gillan MP -->
  • Chesham & Amersham Conservatives
  • Debrett's People of Today

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