Parliamentary Career
Keen stood for the Brentford & Isleworth seat in 1987 and 1992 though was unsuccessful on both occasions. For the 1997 election she was again selected, on this occasion through an all-women shortlist. This method of selection was declared unlawful in January 1996 as it breached sex discrimination laws. Despite the ruling she remained in place as the candidate for the 1997 general election, when she became an MP defeating Conservative MP Nirj Deva.
Keen's first role in Parliament came in 1999 when she was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Frank Dobson, Secretary of State for Health, though this appointment lasted less than a month. She then moved to the Treasury, later becoming Parliamentary Private Secretary to the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown. In 2000 Keen became well known for campaigning on gay rights, her interest in the issue sparked when she was reunited with her gay son who she had given up for adoption. In the same year she also successfully ran a campaign to elect Michael Martin as Speaker to the House of Commons.
She was defeated at the 2010 general election by Conservative candidate Mary Macleod on a swing of 6%.
Read more about this topic: Ann Keen
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