Mel Read

Not to be confused with Mel Reid.

Imelda Mary Read (born 8 January 1939), known as Mel Read, is a British politician who served in the European Parliament.

Mel Read
Member of the European Parliament for East Midlands
In office 10 June 1999 – 10 June 2004
Preceded by	New constituency
Succeeded by	Derek Clark
Member of the European Parliament for Nottingham and Leicestershire North West
In office 9 June 1994 – 10 June 1999
Preceded by	Ken Coates
Succeeded by	Constituency abolished
Member of the European Parliament for Leicester
In office 15 June 1989 – 9 June 1994
Preceded by	Fred Tuckman
Succeeded by	Susan Waddington
Personal details
Born	Imelda Mary Read
Political party	Labour
Alma mater	University of Leeds

Read was educated at Bishopshalt Grammar School and the University of Nottingham, before becoming a laboratory technician, then an employment officer, and a lecturer. At the 1979 general election, she stood unsuccessfully for the Labour Party in Melton, and at the 1983 general election, she was unsuccessful in North West Leicestershire.^[1]

Read became an MEP in 1989, representing first Leicester and then Nottingham and Leicestershire North West until 1999. She served as a quaestor for part of this period. From 1999, she represented the enlarged seat of the East Midlands.^[1]

She stood down at the 2004 European election, at which time she was elected as President of the European Cervical Cancer Association.^[2] Read then resigned from the role in 2008 ^[3]