Jean Denise Lambert (born Jean Denise Archer; 1 June 1950 in Orsett, Essex) is an English politician who served as a Member of the European Parliament for the London Region between 1999 and 2019.
Early life and career
She attended Palmer's Grammar School for Girls in Grays, Essex. Lambert gained a BA in Modern Languages in 1971 from University College, Cardiff, before taking a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from St Pauls' College (Francis Close Hall), Cheltenham (now the University of Gloucestershire) and gaining an ADB (Ed.) in 1975. She then worked as a secondary school teacher in Waltham Forest, East London, from 1972 to 1978, then from 1985 to 1989 and between 1993 and 1999. She holds a Professional Development Certificate (BTEC), which she achieved in 1998.
Political career
Green Party politician and MEP
After joining the Ecology Party in 1977
Lambert was first elected to the European Parliament in 1999 from the London Region, winning 87,545 votes (7.7% share). She was re-elected in 2004 with 8.4% of the vote (158,986 votes) and again in 2009 with 10.9% of the vote (190,589 votes), and again in 2014. As a Member of the European Parliament, she was a member or substitute of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee, the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee, the Subcommittee on Human Rights, the Intergroup on Disability and Gay and Lesbian Rights
Non-party activism and advisory roles
Outside her work in the Green Party, Lambert is involved in numerous NGOs. Since 1991, she has been a Council Member of Charter 88, the democratic reform NGO, as well as an Executive Supporter and Signatory for Charter 99, described as "an initiative for global democracy". She has been Vice-President of the Waltham Forest Race Equality Council from 1999. She is a Trustee of the Dalit Solidarity Campaign UK. She is also on Advisory Boards of the Work-Life Institute and London Metropolitan University.
Writings
Lambert has written numerous reports and articles on her areas of interest, especially democracy and human rights, sustainable development, anti-discrimination, social inclusion, minority rights, trade union and workers' issues and asylum and refugee rights. She wrote No Change? No Chance, a book on Green politics, in 1996. Furthermore, she has made a film in 2006, EU4U! Your voice can make a difference!, highlighting the ways young people can make a difference within EU structures.