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Ashley Dalton
British Labour politician (born 1972) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ruth Ashley Charman Dalton (born 15 August 1972) is a British politician and former community worker who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for West Lancashire since the 2023 West Lancashire by-election, succeeding Rosie Cooper.[1] A member of the Labour Party, she was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention in 2025.
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Early life, education and career
Ruth Ashley Charman Dalton was born on 15 August 1972.[2][3][4] She was adopted as a baby and raised in Leyland, Lancashire.[5] Her father worked at Leyland Motors, later becoming a nurseryman, and her mother worked for the NHS.[6][7]
She became aware of the Labour Party at the age of 14, when a customer ordered 40 red rose buttonholes for a by-election count from her father's florist's shop, and joined the party while at university.[8]
She attended All Hallows Catholic High School in Penwortham (1983–1988) and Preston College (1989–1991), and obtained a BA in English and politics (1996) and a DipHE in professional development (voluntary sector) (1997) from Middlesex University.[9]
Dalton worked for Southend-on-Sea Council for 17 years,[10] and at the time of her selection she worked part-time for a Lancashire charity.[6]
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Political career
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Dalton was Labour's candidate in Rochford and Southend East in the 2017 and 2019 general elections.[10]
She was selected on 9 October 2022 as Labour's candidate in the West Lancashire by-election.[11] The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Rosie Cooper.[12] Dalton was elected MP with 14,068 votes (62.3%).[13]
In her victory speech, Dalton called for a general election and action on the cost of living crisis.[14] She committed to campaign for a children's nighttime accident and emergency service in Ormskirk and a railway station in Skelmersdale.
Dalton took her oath of office on Monday 20 February.[15] She signed an early day motion welcoming the investigation into the 2022 UEFA Champions League final chaos on the same day.[16] She was a guest at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla.[17]
In the House of Commons she was Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities on the Opposition frontbench of Keir Starmer until July 2024.[18]
On 10 February 2025, Dalton was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention in the Department of Health and Social Care.[19] This followed the dismissal of Andrew Gwynne who had held the post from 9 July 2024 to 8 February 2025.[20][21] Shortly after her new appointment, historic tweets were reported. In 2016, Dalton had said that a person self-identifying as a llama "should be taken seriously".[22]
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Personal life
Dalton is a survivor of breast cancer;[23] after surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy in 2014 she had further surgery in 2024.[24] She unsuccessfully sued Southend Hospital for failing to diagnose her with cancer in 2011.[25] She was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in 2025.[26]
She is a parent and a carer.[27] Her ex-husband died of kidney cancer.[28]
She identifies as LGBT,[29][30] and has referred to herself as a gay woman.[31]
References
External links
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