May, Theresa (1956– )

British Conservative politician, shadow leader of the House of Commons from 2005. After becoming MP for Maidenhead in 1997, she rose swiftly to join the shadow cabinet (for education and employment) within two years and, after shadowing transport, became the party's first female chair, in 2002. As party chair, she sought to broaden the Conservatives' appeal, encouraging greater diversity in candidate selection. She was shadow secretary for environment and transport 2003–05 and shadow secretary of state for the family and culture, media, and sport 2005.

The daughter of an Anglican parson, she studied at a comprehensive school and read geography at Oxford University. Before becoming an MP, she worked in the banking industry and was a councillor in the London borough of Merton 1986–94. She twice unsuccessfully contested other parliamentary seats – in northwest Durham in 1992 and in Barking in 1994.