Marsha de Cordova explained

Marsha de Cordova
Honorific-Suffix:MP
Office:Member of Parliament
for Battersea
Term Start:8 June 2017
Predecessor:Jane Ellison
Majority:12,039 (25.6%)
Embed:yes
Office:Shadow Secretary of State
Subterm:2020–2021
Suboffice:Women and Equalities
Office1:Shadow Minister
Subterm1:2017–2020
Suboffice1:Disabled People
Office3:Member of Lambeth Council
for Larkhall
Term Start3:22 May 2014
Term End3:3 May 2018
Birth Name:Marsha Chantal de Cordova
Birth Date:1976 1, df=yes
Birth Place:Bristol, England
Party:Labour
Otherparty:Socialist Campaign Group
Alma Mater:London South Bank University
Education:Hanham High School
Relations:Bobby Decordova-Reid (brother)

Marsha Chantal de Cordova (born 23 January 1976) is a British politician serving as Member of Parliament (MP) for Battersea since 2017. A member of the Labour Party, she was a Member of Lambeth London Borough Council from 2014 to 2018.

De Cordova served in the Shadow Cabinet of Keir Starmer as Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities from 2020 to 2021.

Early life and education

Marsha Chantal de Cordova was born on 23 January 1976 in Bristol, England.[1] [2] She has five siblings, one of whom is professional footballer Bobby Decordova-Reid.[3] [4] She was born with nystagmus and is registered blind.[3] De Cordova attended Hanham High School (now Hanham Woods Academy).

De Cordova studied Law and European Policy Studies at London South Bank University. After graduating she worked at a number of charities including Action for Blind People before founding the charity South East London Vision in 2014.[3]

Prior to becoming an MP, she was the engagement and advocacy director at the charity, Thomas Pocklington Trust.[5]

Political career

De Cordova was elected as a Labour Party councillor for the Larkhall ward on Lambeth Council in 2014.[6]

She was elected as MP for Battersea in the 2017 general election. It was previously held by Conservative politician Jane Ellison since 2010.[7]

De Cordova was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Disabled People on 9 October 2017, replacing Marie Rimmer.[8] She was promoted to Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities by new Labour leader, Keir Starmer, replacing Dawn Butler.

As an MP, she has been involved in campaigning to make the Parliamentary Estate more accessible for disabled people.[9]

In May 2021, alongside celebrities and other public figures, de Cordova was a signatory to an open letter from the magazine Stylist, which called on the government to address what it described as an "epidemic of male violence" by funding an "ongoing, high-profile, expert-informed awareness campaign on men's violence against women and girls".[10]

In August 2021, de Cordova was criticised for not attending an annual Stonewall event about the Labour Party and LGBT+ rights due to 'diary clashes'. She was the first shadow equalities secretary to not attend the event since it was created.[11]

De Cordova resigned from her post as shadow equalities secretary in September 2021 in order to focus on her marginal constituency of Battersea.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1 October 2019 . In Touch, MP Marsha de Cordova's fight for disability support . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200229062722/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008y57 . 29 February 2020 . 29 February 2020 . BBC.
  2. Web site: England & Wales Births 1837–2006. Findmypast. 31 October 2019.
  3. News: Marsha de Cordova: The government shouldn't blame disabled people for its failings. Shabi. Rachel. 12 December 2017. 31 October 2019. The Guardian. 31 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191031120437/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/dec/12/marsha-de-cordova-disabled-minister-equality-battles. live.
  4. Web site: 'I don't talk to my dad, so one day I'll be Bobby Decordova'. Dominic. Booth. 26 October 2018. walesonline. 17 September 2019. 3 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190703135513/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bobby-decordova-reid-interview-personal-15329978. live.
  5. Web site: Congratulations to Marsha de Cordova!. 9 June 2017. Thomas Pocklington Trust. 31 October 2019. 31 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191031120439/https://www.pocklington-trust.org.uk/congratulations-to-marsha-de-cordova/. live.
  6. Web site: Election results for Larkhall. Lambeth Council. 31 October 2019. 22 May 2014 .
  7. News: Battersea election result: Labour overturns large Conservative majority as minister Jane Ellison loses seat. The Independent. 9 June 2017. 31 October 2019. Withnall. Adam. 31 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191031121942/https://www.independent.co.uk/News/uk/politics/battersea-election-result-latest-labour-wins-jane-ellison-tory-majority-minister-overturned-a7780476.html. live.
  8. News: Battersea MP Marsha de Cordova appointed shadow minister for disabled people. Wandsworth Guardian. Kituno. Nick. 10 October 2017. 31 October 2019. 31 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191031120439/https://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/news/15586753.battersea-mp-marsha-de-cordova-appointed-shadow-minister-for-disabled-people/. live.
  9. Web site: Marsha de Cordova: "Parliament should be inclusive for everybody. It's supposed to be the people's house" . Hossein-Pour . Anahita . 20 September 2019 . 24 May 2020 . 9 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201009130508/https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/marsha-de-cordova-parliament-should-be-inclusive-for-everybody-its-supposed-to-be-the-peoples-house . live .
  10. News: 'We're calling on you to act now': read Stylist's open letter to Priti Patel about ending male violence against women and girls . May 2021 . 20 May 2021 . Stylist.
  11. Web site: Patrick Kelleher . Labour's shadow equalities secretary Marsha de Cordova dodges LGBT+ rights event due to 'diary clashes' . . 15 September 2021 . 22 August 2021.
  12. Web site: Jessica Elgot . Labour's shadow equalities secretary quits as does shadow women's minister . . 15 September 2021 . 14 September 2021.