Jacqui Smith is the first woman to hold the position of Home Secretary and was for a time one of the youngest ministers to serve in government.

As MP for Redditch, Inkberrow, Cookhill and Feckenham since 1997, Jacqui has formerly held a number of other government positions including Minister of State for the Department for Trade and Industry and Minister of State for Schools.

She moved to Redditch in 1986 to teach at Arrow Vale high school after graduating from Hertford College, Oxford.

After teaching business studies and economics, she then became head of economics before standing for Labour in the 1997 election.

Jacqui lives in Redditch with her husband Richard and their sons James and Michael.