12 Facts About Estelle Morris

Estelle Morris attended Rack House primary school in Wythenshawe and Whalley Range High School in Whalley Range where she failed her English and French A-levels.

Estelle Morris is a graduate of the Coventry College of Education, where she gained a BEd degree in 1974.

Estelle Morris was elected to Parliament in 1992 for Birmingham Yardley, gaining the seat from the Conservatives with a majority of only 162.

Estelle Morris became a minister in the Department for Education and Employment in 1997 and was promoted to Secretary of State for Education and Skills in 2001.

Estelle Morris was the first former comprehensive school teacher to have the position.

Estelle Morris suddenly resigned her post in October 2002, explaining that she did not feel up to the job.

Estelle Morris had made a commitment to the then Conservative Shadow Education Secretary, David Willetts to resign if the literacy and numeracy targets were not met.

Estelle Morris rejoined the government in 2003 as Minister for the Arts in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and caused further comment when she admitted that she did not know much about contemporary art.

Estelle Morris stepped down from the government and as a Member of Parliament at the 2005 general election.

Estelle Morris's constituency was gained by the Liberal Democrats at that election.

Estelle Morris is the chair of the medical charity, APS Support UK, for antiphospholipid syndrome and was patron of Hanover Foundations.

Estelle Morris was awarded an honorary fellowship in 2007 from the University of Cumbria.