Short, Clare (1946– )

British Labour politician, secretary of state for international development 1997–2003. Popular with the public because of her frankness and strong social conscience, as international development secretary she worked hard to increase the proportion of UK GDP devoted to foreign economic aid. She resigned from the cabinet in 2003 in protest against Prime Minister Tony Blair's support of the US-led invasion of Iraq without UN backing. As a backbencher, she remained a fierce critic of US policy in Iraq and in October 2006 resigned the party whip to become an independent Labour MP.

She was born in Ladywood, Birmingham, into a family of Roman Catholic immigrants from Northern Ireland, and was educated at Keele and Leeds universities, studying political science. Formerly a civil servant in the Home Office 1970–75, she became the director of community organizations concerned with race and urban deprivation in Birmingham 1976–77 and youth aid 1979–83. She was then elected MP for her home constituency, Birmingham Ladywood, in 1983. She was opposition spokesperson on employment 1985–88, social security 1989–91, environmental protection 1992–93, women 1993–95, transport 1995–96, and shadow minister for overseas development 1996–97.