Diana Johnson

Diana Ruth Johnson (born 25 July 1966) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hull North since 2005; she was the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for Schools in the Department for Children, Schools and Families until the resignation of Gordon Brown as Prime Minister, as well as being an Assistant Whip for the Government.

Early life

Johnson was born in Northwich, Cheshire. After returning from wartime service in the Navy her father, Eric Johnson, founded the Eric Johnson Electrical engineering (electricians) company in Little Leigh near Northwich, Cheshire (now continued by his son). She passed the Eleven plus and attended the Northwich County Grammar School for Girls (later the County High School Leftwich). At sixth form she level she studied at Sir John Deane's College from 1982-4 where she studied History, English and Economics. She gained an LLB in Law from Brunel University. Johnson is a barrister and was a councillor in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets from 1994 to 2002, serving as Chair of social services. She became a barrister in 1991. From 1999-2005, she was a Barrister in Law at Paddington Law Centre.