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Hilary Armstrong has served as Member of Parliament for North West Durham since 1987. Hilary lives in Crook and is married to Dr Paul Corrigan.
Born on the 30th November 1945, her father, the late Ernest Armstrong, was her predecessor as MP for the area and a former Deputy Speaker of the Commons and Government Whip.
Hilary was educated at Monkwearmouth Comprehensive School, West Ham College of Technology and the University of Birmingham.
Before entering parliament Hilary spent time overseas as a VSO volunteer, teaching at a Girls School in Kenya. She has been a lecturer in Youth and Community Work at Sunderland Polytechnic. Hilary was also a Community Worker at Southwick Neighbourhood Action Project in Sunderland.
Between 1985 and 1987 she served as a councillor on Durham County Council.
As a Member of Parliament Hilary has served as an opposition frontbench spokesperson on Education (1988–1992) and Treasury affairs (1994–1995).
In 1992 she was made Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the opposition leader, the late John Smith. In 1995 she was made Opposition spokesperson on the Environment and London, with responsibility for Local Government.
After Labour's 1997 general election victory Prime Minister Tony Blair appointed her as Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions with responsibility for Local Government and Housing.
In this role Hilary was at the forefront of the government's drive to modernise Local Government, making local councils more responsive and relevant to local people. As Minister for the ‘Regions
’ she advanced the government's regional policy helping areas such as the North East of England. She also had special responsibility for advancing the Social Exclusion Unit Report on “Bringing Britain together: a national strategy for neighbourhood renewal
”.
In 1999 Hilary was made a member of the Privy Council.
Following the 2001 General Election Hilary was promoted to the Cabinet and given the cabinet position of Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury and Government Chief Whip. Only the second woman to hold the position.
Hilary was re–appointed as Government Chief Whip following the 2005 General Election.
