About Harriett Baldwin
Harriett was selected as Parliamentary Candidate for West Worcestershire in July 2006. She is the oldest child of Jane and Tony Eggleston OBE, active pensioners in their seventies, who retired from jobs as magistrate and headmaster respectively. Harriett grew up in the village of Felsted in the heart of rural Essex. Harriett read Modern Languages (French and Russian) at Oxford, receiving First Class Honours and obtained an MBA from McGill University in Canada.
Harriett is married to Jim Baldwin, a businessman and television producer. Jim is also a social and industrial historian whose interests include canals, bridges and steam trains. Between them, they have two daughters and a son. The youngest was born in 1995. They live locally in the Teme Valley and enjoy country life, animals, canal boats, long walks and bicycle rides.
Harriett's Experience
Harriett has enjoyed a successful 20 year career in finance, specialising in currency markets for pension funds. She was on the National Council of Business for Sterling. She fought Stockton North for the Conservatives in 2005, gaining a 3.6% swing.
In 2005, Harriett helped to publish a study for the Centre for Policy Studies - "Leviathan is still at large" - on the impact of regulation by the Financial Services Agency on the City. Harriett is a supporter and fundraiser for the Centre for Social Justice, which works with charities that fight poverty in the UK.
As well as being an active Conservative campaigner, Harriett champions a range of charities that help Make Poverty History by giving communities the chance to help themselves. Two examples are Opportunity International which is active in micro-finance in poor countries and CAMFED which helps educate African girls at secondary level.
Harriett has always worked to encourage more women to get involved in politics and to work in financial services. She is a Changemaker for the charity "Working Families", which campaigns for more workplace flexibility.
Conservatives - Working for West Worcestershire
Harriett joins Sir Michael Spicer in campaigning on the issues that matter to the people of West Worcestershire, from Pershore to Bredon, from Upton to the Teme Valley and from Malvern to Kempsey. Worcestershire’s health service is in financial crisis and we are concerned that this jeopardises the plans for a new hospital in Malvern. In Pershore, the Conservative-led Wychavon District Council is making good progress on the new cottage hospital.
As an enthusiast for all aspects of country life, Harriett will also work with West Worcestershire Conservatives to help campaign on behalf of our local farmers, who have been so badly treated by Labour and by DEFRA’s incompetence over the single farm payment. She also welcomes David Cameron’s increased focus on the environment, so important in this area of natural beauty with its low-lying flood plains.