Julie Hilling

Julie Ann Hilling (born 29 April 1955) is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolton West from 2010 until 2015.

Background

Hilling was born in Oxford and lived there until the age of 9 when her family moved to Leighton Buzzard. She attended The Cedars School before studying Chemistry at the University of Nottingham and then attaining a Diploma in Youth and Community Work at Manchester Polytechnic. She has lived in Atherton, which became part of the Bolton West constituency at the 2010 General Election, for 24 years.

Early career

Hilling has worked as a Youth Worker in Nottingham, St Helens and Wigan, the latter for 18 years. She became President of the Community and Youth Workers' Union in 1991, a post she held until 1999. Ms Hilling was a North West Learning Organiser for the NASUWT 2004–2006 and, before entering politics, worked as a Senior Regional Organiser for the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA).

Political career Hilling was elected as the Member of Parliament for Bolton West in May 2010 with a majority of just 92 votes (0.19%), in a seat the Conservatives had targeted since the previous incumbent Ruth Kelly had become embroiled in the expenses scandal.

She was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Yvette Cooper in her role as Shadow Women's and Equalities Minister in October 2010, the same month that she became a member of the Transport Select Committee. Hilling was appointed chair of the all-party Rail in the North group of MPs. Julie also served on the Standards and Privileges Select Committee and is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Rail, Youth Affairs, Children, Community & Voluntary Sector and Save The Pub. Hilling was promoted to join the Whips office in June 2012. but lost the seat for a third time in 2019, when Chris Green increased his majority by almost 8,000 votes.