The Rt Hon Baroness Margaret Hodge DBE
Biography
Baroness Hodge’s early career was in teaching and international market research. She became an elected councillor in 1973, rising to be Leader of the London Borough of Islington from 1982 until 1992. She was also Chair of the Association of London Authorities and Deputy Chair of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities. She has served as Chair of school governing bodies and housing associations. She has been a member of a hospital trust, a prison governing board and held a number of government appointments during her period in local government.
In 1992 Baroness Hodge joined Price Waterhouse Coopers as a senior public sector consultant. She became the Labour Member of Parliament for Barking in June 1994. She was a minister in the governments of both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. She was Minister for Employment and Equal Opportunities from 1998 to 2001, Minister for Universities from 2001 to 2003, the first Children’s Minister from 2003 to 2005, Minister of Industry and Regions from 2006 until 2007 and Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism from 2007 to 2010.
In 2010 she became the first elected Chair of the Public Accounts Committee and was also its first female chair. She held the post for the full Parliamentary term, retiring in 2015. During her time in Parliament, Baroness Hodge has been a prominent campaigner on anti-corruption and transparency, including as the former Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Anti-Corruption and Responsible Tax.
Baroness Hodge is Chair of College Council for Royal Holloway, University of London and a visiting professor at the Policy Institute at King’s College London. She also sits on the editorial board for Political Quarterly.
Prime Minister’s Anti-Corruption Champion
The role of the Prime Minister’s Anti-Corruption Champion was created in 2004. The Champion works with ministers and officials to enhance the UK’s efforts in combating corruption both domestically and internationally.
The Champion has three core responsibilities:
- helping the government to drive development of the new Anti-Corruption Strategy and provide a challenge function for its delivery
- acting as a government entry point on anti-corruption issues for Parliamentarians, private sector representatives and civil society
- engaging internationally to help drive progress on UK priorities
The Champion reports into the Prime Minister and has regular contact with the Minister for Security, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, and the Minister for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories.
The Champion is not responsible for investigating allegations of corruption.
Prime Minister’s Anti-Corruption Champion: terms of reference and letter of appointment