Vera Baird

I was born in Oldham. I was widowed in 1979 and have with two stepsons. I attended Chadderton Grammar School followed by Newcastle University where I obtained a 2:1 LLB. In 1975 I was called to the Bar in Gray's Inn. In 1983 I obtained an Open University BA 2:1 in Literature and Modern History and am currently working on an MA (History) at London's Guildhall University.

In 2000 I became a QC having worked as a criminal barrister at the Old Bailey in London. I have been a member of Michael Mansfield's Chambers at Tooks Court since 1986.

From 1999-2002 I was a Human Rights Law Trainer for the Criminal Bar Association. In 1999 I was a visiting Law Fellow St Hilda's College, Oxford where I undertook research on reforming the law on homicide.

For details of my most important legal cases simply click here.

Publications
'Perverting the Course of Justice', 'The Law of Harassment', 'Rape in Court', 'Battered Women Who Kill and the Criminal Law', 'The Last Resort: a study of the Criminal Cases Review Commission'.

Recreations
Travel, reading, running, and Poppy her dog.

Special Interests

-Equalities
-Pensions
-Steel Industry
-Solutions to Poverty
-Human Rights
-Civil Liberties
-Criminal Law
-Regional Development
-Regeneration
-Social Entrepreneurism

Countries of Interest

-Burma
-Ethiopia
-Afghanistan
-South and East Africa
-Tanzania

Political Offices

Standing Committee on the Sexual Offences Bill 2003
Standing Committee on Criminal Justice Bill 2003
Standing Committee on Police reform Bill 2002
Standing Committee on Proceeds of Crime Bill 2002
Standing Committee on Export Control Bill 2001
Pre-legislative scrutiny committee on Corruption Bill 2003
Labour Party Departmental Committees – Penal and Constitutional Affairs, Regional Affairs, Home Affairs
All-Party Committees – Civil Liberties, Steel Industry, Fishing Industry, Regeneration, International Development, Burma (Chairman), Domestic Violence, Sex Equality
Secondment
Parliamentary secondment to the National Council for One Parent Families to find out more about their work and to give support where appropriate.
Parliamentary Joint Select Committee Work and Pensions: 2003-2005
Standing Committee Violence Bill 2003-04
Standing Committee Violence Bill 2003-04
Parliamentary aide to Charles Clarke as Home Secretary between 2005 and 2006
In 2006 Ms Baird was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary in the Department for Constitutional Affairs, now Ministry of Justice
In 2007 Ms Baird was appointed Solicitor General
In 2009 Ms Baird was appointed Political Assistant Regional Minister for the North East

Non-Parliamentary Offices

Founder Home Office funded Gender and Criminal Justice Forum (based at Fawcett Society)
Chair Commission on Women and the Criminal Justice System based at Fawcett
Vice Chair Fawcett Society 1998-2001
Chair Labour Criminal Justice Forum
Chair Society of Labour Lawyers
National Patron Rape Crisis Foundation
National Patron Drug Rape Trust
Steering Committee Member Labour Women's Network
Chair of Advisory Committee, Liberty research Project into Deaths in Custody
Membership
Member of the Criminal Bar Association
Member of the Council of Justice
Member the Fabian Society
Member the Co-operative Society
Winner of Spectator's Backbencher of the Year prize in 2004