Theresa May | Speakers for Schools

Theresa May

MP for Maidenhead & Former Prime Minister

Theresa May has served as Member of Parliament for Maidenhead since 1997. She has held several positions within Parliament since 1997. She was a member of the Shadow Cabinet from 1999 to 2010, and from 2002 to 2003 was the first female Chairman of the Conservative Party. In 2010, she was appointed Home Secretary, a position which she held for 6 years before becoming Prime Minister in July 2016.

Theresa had a varied education spanning both the state and private sectors, and both grammar school and comprehensive school. She read Geography at St Hugh’s College, Oxford University. She started her career at the Bank of England and went on to hold posts at the Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) as Head of the European Affairs Unit and Senior Adviser on International Affairs.

Theresa has been involved in politics at all levels for many years, starting out stuffing envelopes at her local Conservative Association before going on to be a councillor in the London Borough of Merton from 1986 to 1994. During that time she was Chairman of Education between 1988 and 1990 and Deputy Group Leader and Housing Spokesman between 1992 and 1994.

Theresa was elected Member of Parliament for Maidenhead in May 1997. She lives in the constituency and is an active local campaigner. Her local activity has included campaigns to improve the local train service, bring a minor injuries unit to St Marks Hospital, and improve Maidenhead town centre.

She has held several positions within Parliament since 1997. She was a member of the Shadow Cabinet from 1999 to 2010, and from 2002 to 2003 was the first female Chairman of the Conservative Party.

Theresa was appointed Home Secretary in May 2010 and became the longest-serving Conservative Home Secretary for over a century. During this time she oversaw reductions in crime, reform of the police, and the introduction of the landmark Modern Slavery Act. Following her election as Leader of the Conservative Party, Theresa was appointed Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 13th July 2016.