Elizabeth Barker, Baroness Barker

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Elizabeth Jean Barker, Baroness Barker (born 31 January 1961) is a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords.

The Baroness Barker
Official portrait, 2023
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Assumed office
31 July 1999
Life Peerage
Personal details
Born (1961-01-31) 31 January 1961 (age 63)
Political partyLiberal Democrats
Alma materUniversity of Southampton
OccupationPolitician

Barker was educated at Dalziel High School, a secondary school in Motherwell, Scotland.[1] She studied at the University of Southampton.[2]

Barker worked for Age Concern between 1983 and 2007. She was created a life peer as Baroness Barker, of Anagach in Highland, on 31 July 1999[3] and is a Liberal Democrat spokesperson on the Voluntary Sector and Social Enterprise.[4]

Barker revealed in a speech to the House of Lords that she was in a same-sex relationship during the passage of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.[5] She since became a Patron of Opening Doors London,[6] a charity which provided support for older LGBT people, and an Ambassador for the Albert Kennedy Trust.

Barker is Co-Chair[7] of both the All-Party Parliamentary Group on HIV, AIDS and Sexual Health[8] and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health in the UK.[9] In the House of Lords she also serves as Deputy Speaker (since April 2024), as Deputy Chairman of Committees, and as Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on the Voluntary Sector.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Who's Who 2008: London, A & C Black, 2008 ISBN 978-0-7136-8555-8
  2. ^ Debrett's People of Today London, Debrett's, 2008 ISBN 978-1-870520-95-9
  3. ^ "No. 55574". The London Gazette. 6 August 1999. p. 8517.
  4. ^ "Jim Wallace Announces Lib Dem Spokespeople in Lords". Liberal Democrat Lords. June 2015.
  5. ^ "Lib Dem peer Baroness Barker comes out during equal marriage debate". Pink News. 4 June 2013.
  6. ^ "Experience for Baroness Barker - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament". members.parliament.uk. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  7. ^ "Parliament". Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  8. ^ "All Party Parliamentary Group on HIV/AIDS". Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  9. ^ "All Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health". Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Parliament". Retrieved 15 May 2024.
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