13 Facts About Angela Watkinson

Dame Angela Eileen Watkinson, DBE is a British politician.

Angela Watkinson was Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Hornchurch and Upminster until 2017, and was first elected in 2001 to the earlier seat of Upminster, defeating Labour's Keith Darvill who had taken the seat from the Conservatives in 1997.

Angela Watkinson was re-elected with increased majorities in 2005 and 2010.

On 19 April 2017, Watkinson announced that she would not be standing for re-election at the 2017 general election.

Angela Watkinson worked for the Bank of New South Wales from 1958 to 1964 and became a secretary in 1976 of a Special School in Essex, which helps physically handicapped children with riding lessons.

Angela Watkinson was a member of the right-wing Conservative Monday Club, but resigned her membership in October 2001 when the newly elected Conservative leader Iain Duncan-Smith suspended his party's links with the group.

Angela Watkinson declared that the club's views on race and immigration were incompatible with his plans to reform the party, and Watkinson was one of three Conservative MPs forced to leave the group.

Angela Watkinson was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2013 New Year Honours for public and political service.

Angela Watkinson is a supporter of Israel and often spoke about that in the House of Commons.

On 19 April 2017, Angela Watkinson announced that she would not be standing for re-election at the 2017 general election.

Angela Watkinson lives in Essex and Westminster, and is a member and elder of the United Reformed Church.

Angela Watkinson is a member of the Conservative Christian Fellowship.

Angela Watkinson married Roy Watkinson, now a retired Metropolitan Police officer, in 1961 in Essex; the couple have a son and two daughters.