Armstrong, Hilary (1945- )

British Labour politician, minister for the cabinet office and social exclusion, and chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from May 2006. A former college lecturer and community worker, she became an MP in 1987 for Durham North West, and was the parliamentary private secretary 1992-94 to John Smith, when he was leader of the opposition. In charge of ensuring unity and discipline among the government's backbench MPs, she was minister for local government before becoming chief whip in 2001.

Born in Sunderland, she was educated at a state comprehensive school and Birmingham University, where she studied sociology and social work. She is the daughter of Ernest Armstrong, a former Labour MP and deputy speaker of the House of Commons.