Janet Fookes, Baroness Fookes

The Right Honourable The Baroness Fookes DBE DL
Baroness Fookes, December 2011.
Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means
In office 27 April 1992 – 14 May 1997
Speaker	Betty Boothroyd
Preceded by	Betty Boothroyd
Succeeded by	Michael Lord
Member of Parliament for Plymouth Drake Merton and Morden (1970-1974)
In office 18 June 1970 – 1 May 1997
Preceded by	Humphrey Atkins
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Personal details
Born	(1936-02-21) 21 February 1936 (age 81)
Nationality	British
Political party	Conservative

Janet Evelyn Fookes, Baroness Fookes, DBE, DL (born 21 February 1936) is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, she is a Life Peer in the House of Lords. She was previously a member of the House of Commons from 1970–97, representing the constituencies of Merton and Morden (1970–74) and Plymouth Drake (1974–97). She was a Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons from 1992-97.

Fookes was educated at Royal Holloway College, University of London. She worked as a teacher from 1958-70. She served as a Councillor on Hastings Borough Council from 1960–61, and 1963-70.

Fookes was elected a Member of Parliament (MP) representing Merton and Morden in 1970. When this constituency was abolished, she was elected MP for Plymouth Drake in 1974. Drake was never a safe seat, but Fookes managed to survive many strong challenges in each general election she fought, including winning by a majority of just 34 at the October 1974 general election. She served as one of three Deputy Speakers of the House of Commons from 1992-97. She retired from the House of Commons in 1997.

Fookes served on the Council of the RSPCA 1975-92, and was its chair from 1979-81. She was also a member of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (1987–97). She is an Ambassador for unemployment charity, Tomorrow's People Trust.