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Julia Goldsworthy – Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
MP for Falmouth & Camborne
Liberal Democrat candidate for Camborne & Redruth

Biography

Julia Goldsworthy entered Parliament at her first attempt in 2005, gaining this seat from Labour on a 9.5% swing; her election meant that the Liberal Democrats hold all the Cornish seats for the first time since 1923.

Julia Goldsworthy attended St. Meriadoc School in Camborne (where her mother was a teacher for 37 years) before winning a scholarship to Truro School. Julia then read history at Fitzwilliam College, before spending a year in Japan at Daiichi University of Economics. In 2003, Julia completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Economics at Birkbeck College, London.

Before her election as an MP, she worked in Corwall for Carrick District Council, focusing on regeneration issues, building and developing links with local businesses in the area. In her spare time, Julia is a member of Falmouth Arts Centre, where she pursues her interest in art, music and theatre. She also plays the piano and clarinet, but generally prefers not to inflict these interests on the audience! To keep fit, Julia rows for Helford River Pilot Gig Club (a Cornish version of rowing - on the open seas) and she is a member of Carn Brea Leisure Centre. Julia also enjoys rugby and cricket - though as a local team supporter rather than as a player.

Julia's first involvement in Lib Dem politics came through her interest in Cornish issues: working as a parliamentary researcher for Matthew Taylor, MP for Truro & St Austell. Following this experience, she went on to become a policy advisor for the Liberal Democrats, focusing on education issues and the economy. As an MP, her work on local issues includes: the Axe the Tax campaign against council tax; petitions for decent state pensions instead of pension credits and for a [Tuition] Fee Free Cornwall [i.e. for the Combined University in Cornwall at Falmouth to rule out top-ups]. She has also campaigned against First Great Western's plans to cut services on Cornwall's branch lines and the Royal Cornwall hospital's plans to cut 300 jobs as well as close wards and theatres.

In March 2006 Julia joined the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury and is currently Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and local Government under Nick Clegg. She is a member of the Public Administration Select Committee. She is a chair of the All Party rowing group and vice-chair of the Qatar group.

Publications: Julia has co-authored In from the Cold: A Report on Cornwall's Affordable Housing Crisis and Cornish Students: 3 Years More Hard Labour?, both of which are available from her website.

Parliamentary Experience

2007 - Shadow Secretary of State for DCLG, 2006- Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, 2005-06 Shadow spokesperson on Health, 2005- Public Administration Select Committee