Sally Bercow | |
---|---|
Born |
Sally Kate Illman 22 November 1969 Sutton, London, England |
Occupation | Political activist and media personality |
Years active | 2002-present |
Spouse(s) | John Bercow |
Children | Three (3) |
Sally Kate Bercow (née Illman; born 22 November 1969) is the wife of the current Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow.
Bercow attended the independent co-educational King Edward's School in Witley, Surrey, where she was in St Bridget's House from 1981-86. She did her A levels at the fee-paying Marlborough College, where she was a contemporary of Samantha Cameron. She attended Keble College, Oxford, dropping out after two years. She was the social secretary of the Oxford University Conservative Association.
After university, she pursued a career in public relations and advertising.
She and her husband have three children, Jemima, Freddie and Oliver. Her eldest son, Oliver, has autism. She is a parent patron of the charity Ambitious about Autism.
Her husband, John Bercow, became a Conservative member of parliament at the 1997 General Election. However, she changed her political allegiance during the founding days of New Labour and actively campaigned for Tony Blair whilst also campaigning for John Bercow, her then partner, to win his seat. She campaigned for the election of Ed Balls as leader of the Labour Party in the 2010 Labour leadership election.