About Lorely Burt

Liberal Democrat MP for Solihull

Lorely attended University College, Swansea and graduated with a BSc in Economics. She was also awarded an MBA after studying with the Open University

Lorely began her career in the Prison Service as an Assistant Governor at Holloway, before working for prominent national companies including Beecham and Europcar in the field of personnel and training. She later set up her own award-winning training company, worked as a director in the marketing and financial services sector, and moved into part-time consultancy work when she was selected as the prospective Liberal Democrat candidate for Solihull.

Lorely's political career began as a councillor on Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, where she served for five years from 1998. She stood for election in Dudley South at the 2001 General Election and stood for the West Midlands region in the 2004 European Parliament election.

In the run up to the 2005 General Election, Lorely campaigned on various local issues affecting Solihull, in particular protecting green open spaces and parkland from development by the local Conservative council. She succeeded in overturning a 9,400 majority held by the Conservative incumbent, John Taylor - one of the most outstanding results on election night - by just 279 votes!

2005 General Election result for Solihull constituency.

Following her election, Lorely Burt became a Liberal Democrat spokeswoman on Northern Ireland and she also served on the influential Treasury Select Committee. After the election of Sir Menzies Campbell to the leadership of the party, she became the Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Small Business and Women and Equality.

In 2007 Lorely consolidated her parliamentary work to concentrate on business as shadow minister for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. In 2008 she was awarded the Federation of Small Business award for most 'business friendly' Member of Parliament, and in 2009 received the WeBenc International Luminary Award for services to women in business.

In October 2007, Lorely was elected as the party's first female Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party and has since been re-elected unopposed.

Lorely is married to Richard Burt. She has a stepson James and daughter Emma.

Lorely was re-elected as the MP for Solihull in 2010, with a majority of 175 votes. The seat was gained from the Conservatives who notionally held it following boundary changes.