Clare Short

Clare Short was born in Birmingham. Her mother's family had lived in Handsworth for two generations but originally came from County Clare, having left Ireland to escape the Famine. Her father came from Crossmaglen in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. She was educated at St Paul's Grammar School, Birmingham and at the Universities of Keele and Leeds where she studied Political Science graduating BA (Hons). Prior to her parliamentary career, Clare worked as a civil servant at the Home Office (1970-1975). Here, she worked within the Criminal and Immigration Departments and as part the Urban Deprivation Unit. During this period she also worked as director of both Youth Aid and All Faiths for One Race (AFFOR) which focused on youth unemployment and combatting racism in Birmingham. Clare was elected to Parliament in 1983 as MP for her home constituency of Birmingham Ladywood. Of her first years in Parliament, Clare recalls that she 'spoke frequently in the Chamber, worked hard in committees