Tessa Jowell was born in London on 17 September 1947. Her birth surname was Palmer and her full name is Tessa Jane Helen Douglas Palmer. She moved to Aberdeen with her parents when she was a toddler. They lived in one of the Universities houses in Chanonry where her father, Kenneth, was a Doctor. Her mother, Rosemary, was a Radiographer.

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Education Of Tessa Jowell

She was educated at the private St Margaret's School in Aberdeen before studying for an MA degree at Aberdeen University. Whilst at Aberdeen University Tessa was a member of the Student Union Management Committee and later became Union President. Tessa graduated in 1968 and then attended Edinburgh and London Goldsmith Universities.

Jobs Of Tessa Jowell

Tessa Jowell then started work in psychiatric social work and soon took an interest in politics and joined the Labour Party. Jobs in social care included childcare officer in Lambeth during the 1970's and Assistant Director at MIND, the mental health charity.

Personal Details Of Tessa Jowell

Tessa married Roger Jowell in the early 1970's though separated in 1976 and then divorced.

In 1979 she married David Mills. They have a son called Mathew and a daughter called Jessica. David Mills has three children from his first marriage. David Mills works as an international corporate lawyer.

Parliamentary Career Of Tessa Jowell

Tessa Jowell first fought for a Labour Parliamentary seat in 1978 in a by election in Ilford North. She lost the seat which was won by the Conservative candidate.

In 1992 Tessa Jowell became the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dulwich and West Norwood. Whilst the Labour Party was still in opposition she was the Spokesperson on Health, Opposition Spokesperson for Women and Opposition Whip.

In 1997 Tessa Jowell affectionately earned the nickname of a Tony Blair Babe after his election victory in 1997.

Positions within the Cabinet soon followed, including

Minister of State for Public Health at the Department of Health in 1997
Privy Counsellor in 1998
Minister of State for Employment, Welfare to Work and Equal Opportunities at the Department for Education and Employment in 1999
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in 2001 when she replaced Chris Smith
Minister for the Olympics for when London hosts the 2012 Olympic Games
Cabinet Minister responsible for the support of the families of victims of the 2005 terrorist attacks in London

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