Julia Reid MEP |
|
---|---|
UKIP Environment Spokesperson | |
Assumed office 2016 |
|
Leader | Paul Nuttall |
UKIP Science Spokesperson | |
In office 24 July 2014 – 29 November 2016 |
|
Leader |
Nigel Farage Diane James Nigel Farage Acting |
Member of the European Parliament for South West England |
|
Assumed office 1 July 2014 |
|
Preceded by | Trevor Colman |
Personal details | |
Born |
London |
16 July 1952
Political party |
UKIP (1993–present) SDP (1988) (1988–90) SDP (1981–88) |
Alma mater | University of Bath |
Julia Reid (born 16 July 1952) is a Member of the European Parliament for the South West England region for the UK Independence Party. She was elected in 2014. She was educated at The John Bentley School and the University of Bath, where she graduated with a degree in biochemistry, later obtaining a PhD in pharmacology. She worked as a diabetes laboratory researcher at the Royal United Hospital until being made redundant in 2009.
Reid joined the SDP during its inaugural year, 1981, and stayed with the party until its merger with the Liberals in 1988. Reid opposed the pro-EU stance of the new Liberal Democrats and instead joined the continuing SDP, remaining with them until their demise in 1990. In 1993, Reid joined the newly founded UKIP. She was fourth on the South West region party list for the 2009 European election. In 2010, she contested the new seat of Chippenham in the general election, finishing fourth with 1,783 votes (3.4%). In 2011, she became a research assistant for Trevor Colman. Reid was elected to Calne town council in 2013. She contested Chippenham again in 2015 – coming third.