Margaret Hodge

Background

Margaret Eve Hodge, Baroness Hodge of Barking DBE PC, is a British politician and life peer who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Barking from 1994 to 2024. A member of the Labour Party, she previously served as Leader of Islington London Borough Council from 1982 to 1992. Hodge was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1944 to German- and Austrian-Jewish refugee parents. She was brought up in Orpington, London, England. Before entering politics, Hodge worked in marketing. Hodge's political career began in 1973 when she was elected as a councillor in the London Borough of Islington. She rose to become Leader of the council from 1982 to 1992. During this time, she also served as Chair of the Association of London Authorities and Deputy Chair of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities. In 1994, Hodge was elected to the House of Commons as the Labour MP for Barking, a position she held for 30 years until 2024. In government, she has held several ministerial roles, including Minister for Children in 2003 and Minister of State for Culture and Tourism from 2005 to 2010. She was also Chair of the influential Public Accounts Committee from 2010 to 2015. Hodge has been a vocal critic of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the Labour Party, particularly over his handling of antisemitism complaints within the party. In 2018, she directly confronted Corbyn in Parliament, accusing him of being 'an antisemite and a racist'. This led to a high-profile dispute within the party. Hodge has also faced scrutiny over her family's use of offshore tax havens, though she has not been charged with any wrongdoing. Despite these controversies, she remains an influential figure in British politics, known for her work on children's and family policy as well as her advocacy against racism and corruption.