Tribute to Annette Brooke by Vikki Slade: 'She was the epitome of a great constituency MP'
Bournemouth, September 2001: Newly elected MP Annette Brooke speaks at the opening of the Liberal Democrat Party's annual conference | Image by: PA Images
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The longest-serving female Liberal Democrat MP to date, Annette Brooke was an inspiration to many women in politics. Known for her quiet determination and compassion, she didn’t just serve her community, she shaped it
Annette Brooke was the epitome of a great constituency MP – professional, effective, and deeply respected by those who knew her, whatever their political persuasion.
She won the seat of Mid Dorset and North Poole in 2001, having already served for 16 years as a councillor for her adopted hometown of Broadstone. As deputy leader of the council, she played an integral role in the local government reorganisation that created unitary authorities in the mid-1990s, and she was instrumental in securing protection for many of the Dorset heathlands that surround our part of the county.
I first came across Annette in 2000, when she was campaigning for the general election that took place the following year. I agreed to deliver a few leaflets but quickly found myself drawn in by her energy – and from talking to other colleagues who later stood for council, it seems I was not the only one she recruited this way.
I fondly remember attending her celebration party for the election, which had been delayed due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, and watching her build her reputation with every school, community and charity, as she put them at the centre of her world. It seemed inconceivable then that she would ask me to stand for the seat 12 years later, when she made the decision to retire at the next general election.
Annette served in various roles in Parliament, including as spokesperson for education, skills, and home affairs, and, during the coalition years, as chair of the parliamentary party. She was named MP of the Year by Dods in 2010 and made a member of the Privy Council in 2014.
When the war in Ukraine broke out in 2022, she and her family took in a Ukrainian family
Locally, Annette was known for representing the voices of park homeowners, helping to change the law to reduce their costs and improve their rights. She also championed equal rights for disabled children and supported microfinance initiatives in the developing world.
When she decided to retire, she invited me to tea at her house and asked me to stand. I was shocked that she thought me worthy but agreed to consider it – and from that moment, until I finally took the seat last year, she supported, inspired, and mentored me.
When she retired from Parliament, Annette was keen to spend more time with her family and dedicate herself to causes close to home. She set up a dementia support group – Stepping Stones – which provided activities including tea dances for those with the condition and their carers. When the war in Ukraine broke out in 2022, she and her family took in a Ukrainian family.
Despite her failing health, Annette campaigned – successfully – for the law to be changed to allow Ukrainians to use their cars in the UK without modification. She continued her passion for social justice by taking a leading role in the Dorset Equality Group, which she attended until just weeks before her death.
Annette inspired so many people, especially women, to get involved in politics. Her quiet determination and compassion were valued by all who knew her. Residents at doors in Poole and Dorset still comment on the assistance she provided, or her handwritten notes in response to their cards. Since her death, I’ve received numerous messages from people she helped and from other candidates she influenced.
Annette was the first female Liberal Democrat MP elected at a general election in Dorset and, to date, holds the title of longest-serving female Liberal Democrat MP.
Annette didn’t just serve her community – she shaped it, and those of us who follow in her footsteps do so in the hope of honouring her example, and with gratitude for the support she gave to us all.
Vikki Slade is Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole
