Ruddock, Joan (1943–)

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Ruddock, Joan (1943–)

Welsh anti-nuclear activist, politician and member of Parliament. Born Joan Mary Anthony, Dec 28, 1943, in Pontypool, Wales; attended Imperial College; m. Keith Ruddock, 1963 (sep 1990, died 1996).

Worked for Shelter, the national campaign for the homeless (1968–73); was director for an Oxford housing aid center; joined the Manpower Services Commission (1977); chaired the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND, 1981–87); representing Labour, was elected to House of Commons for Lewisham Deptford (1987) and quickly became a member of the Opposition Front Bench; appointed the 1st full-time minister for Women (1997); reelected (1992, 1997, 2001, 2005); wrote The CND Story (1983) and Voices for One World (1988).