Salford’s MP since 1997, Hazel Blears is proud of Labour’s record in transforming the city of her birth. She has helped bring hundreds of millions of pounds of investment in schools, housing and the NHS, and given greater powers to local communities.  She is especially proud of progress in education – with Salford currently ranked the most improved area in Greater Manchester for GCSE results.

Hazel has held a number of senior positions including chair of the Labour Party, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Minister of State for Policing and Counter Terrorism.

She is 53 and has been married for over 20-years. Growing up in the 1960s in a traditional working class street, her Dad was a union man and a fitter in a factory. As a teenager, her Mum won a scholarship to a London arts college but couldn’t afford to go.  Hazel was the first person in her family to go into higher education. She went on to become a senior local authority solicitor.

She will be fighting this year’s General Election on bringing jobs to Salford and giving communities a stronger say in running local services. Outside of politics she enjoys motorcycling, dancing and gardening.