Quick Info
| Profession | Politician and barrister |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Date of Birth | 27/07/1960 |
| Age | 66 years |
| Birthplace | Guildford, Surrey, England |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
Latest News about Emily Thornberry
14/10/2026
Thornberry argued that the UK could rejoin the European Union without a second referendum, provided Labour includes a pledge to do so in its next general election manifesto. She acknowledged she was in a minority within her party on this position and called for a democratic mandate, which drew criticism from Reform UK's Richard Tice.
28/09/2026
Thornberry warned that Labour risks being seen as 'nasty' over the government's proposed immigration settlement changes, which would replace the five-year route to indefinite leave to remain with a 10-year baseline. She said it was unfair to alter the rules for people who arrived under the existing system.
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Dame Emily Anne Thornberry DBE is a British Labour Party politician who has been Member of Parliament for Islington South and Finsbury since 2005. She has chaired the Foreign Affairs Select Committee since September 2024 and was a candidate in the 2020 Labour leadership election, which she left before the final ballot. |
|---|---|
| Political Party | Labour |
| Honours | Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE); Member of the Privy Council |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Secondary | Attended a local secondary modern school after not passing the eleven-plus examination |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | LLB in Law, University of Kent, graduated 1982 |
| Professional | Qualified as a barrister in the mid-1980s, specialising in human rights law |
Personal Life
| Residence | Has lived in Islington for over 27 years |
|---|---|
| Upbringing | Grew up in a single-parent household on a council estate, which shaped her political motivation |
| Early Work | Worked in a care home and as a cleaner on cross-Channel ferries while at university |
Relationships & More
| Spouse |
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Family
| Father | Cedric Thornberry, professor of international law and former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General |
|---|---|
| Mother | Sallie Thornberry, a teacher and campaigner for comprehensive education |
| Spouse | Christopher Nugee |
| Children | Three |
Career
| Legal | Employment and human rights barrister, including in the chambers of Mike Mansfield QC; represented clients such as striking miners and Wapping print-workers |
|---|---|
| Parliament | Elected MP for Islington South and Finsbury on 5 May 2005, succeeding Chris Smith |
| Parliamentary Committees | Member of the Environmental Audit Committee (2005–2007) and the Communities and Local Government Committee (2006–2009); Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee from 11 September 2024 |
| Shadow Roles | Shadow Attorney General for England and Wales (2011–2014 and 2021–2024); Shadow Secretary of State for Defence (2016); Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (2016–2020); Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade (2020–2021) |
| Leadership Bid | Stood in the 2020 Labour leadership election and was eliminated before the final ballot |
| Government | Not appointed to a ministerial post after Labour's 2024 general election victory |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Failed the eleven-plus examination and attended a secondary modern school | |
| 2. Joined the Labour Party at the age of 17 | |
| 3. Resigned as Shadow Attorney General in 2014 after a controversial social media post about an England flag | |
| 4. Once described Donald Trump as an 'asteroid of awfulness' | |
| 5. Holds membership of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom |
Social Media