17 Facts About Celia Barlow

Celia Anne Barlow was born on 28 September 1955 and is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Hove from 2005 to 2010.

Celia Barlow worked as home news editor at the BBC.

Celia Barlow read Archaeology and Anthropology at New Hall, Cambridge, then studied for a postgraduate diploma in journalism at Cardiff University.

Celia Barlow began her career as a reporter on the Bradford Telegraph and Argus in 1979.

Celia Barlow was appointed assistant editor at Asia Television in Hong Kong in 1982.

Celia Barlow returned to Britain in 1983 to become home news editor at the BBC.

Celia Barlow became a freelance video producer in 1998 before lecturing in video production at the Chichester College of Art and Design from 2000.

Celia Barlow was elected secretary of the Chelsea Constituency Labour Party in 1993, and became the chairman of the Chichester Constituency Labour Party in 1998.

In November 2004 Ivor Caplin, the Labour MP for the very marginal Hove constituency, announced his retirement at the next election and Celia Barlow was chosen to fight the seat through a controversial All-Women Shortlist.

Celia Barlow had not supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq, as opposed to Coplin who was a prominent supporter causing him difficulties in the constituency.

Celia Barlow became the first of the new MPs elected in 2005 to make their maiden speech in the House of Commons.

Celia Barlow was a member of the Procedure Committee and previously served on the Environmental Audit Select Committee.

Celia Barlow was defeated at the 2010 General Election by Conservative candidate Mike Weatherley.

The expense claims included the cost of a whirlpool bath and a high lustre silver shower screen Celia Barlow later made political capital out of the fact she failed to claim for a second home in London.

Celia Barlow later offered to apologise for her expense claims.

Celia Barlow married the former BBC North America foreign correspondent and University of Hull-educated Sam Jaffa in August 1988 in Bromsgrove.

Celia Barlow's husband stood for the Eastleigh seat in 2001 as a Labour candidate coming third.