Gillan represented the British Islands and the Mediterranean on the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) from 2000 until 2003 and was later elected treasurer of the CPA from 2003 until 2006.[6] She was a member of the Parliamentary Association of NATO from 2003 to 2005.[4]
Gillan was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet in December 2005 as Shadow Secretary of State for Wales.[12] She was initially opposed to the creation of the National Assembly for Wales, saying that there was not a large enough majority in favour of it in the 1997 Welsh devolution referendum.[5] However, after becoming Shadow Welsh Secretary, she declared that she supported the Welsh Assembly, and had maintained the possibility of the Conservatives supporting the devolution of additional powers. She said in 2008, however, that the Conservative Party was divided on the issue of devolution and criticised the state of devolution in Wales as being "complex and cumbersome".[13]
In May 2012, Gillan unveiled a Wales Office green paper that proposed to cut the number of constituency Assembly members (AMs) from 40 to 30, with another 30 coming from regional lists. The Welsh Government opposed this idea,[19] and it was reported that Conservative AMs preferred the status quo.[17]
Gillan strongly opposed the High Speed 2 (HS2) railway project. Gillan's constituency lay on the proposed route for the rail line.[11] In a parliamentary debate before the 2010 election, Gillan said that she agreed with neighbouring MP David Lidington who described the planned route as an "outrage".[25][26] When campaigning for re-election, Gillan said that HS2 would be "a lot more than just the blight on the properties nearby... the implications for the area will be absolutely phenomenal". She also described HS2 as a project that would "threaten the quality of our lives – not just now but for generations to come" and stated that she "would defy the party whip – be very, very sure of that".[27]
On 12 January 2012, Secretary of State for Transport Justine Greening confirmed in a House of Commons statement that HS2 would go ahead and, in responding to questions, stated that it was her understanding that "the Welsh Secretary is already on side ... I thoroughly agree with her [Gillan] that we have ended up with the right line, with the right mitigation".[28] In an interview with the Bucks Free Press following the announcement, Gillan stated: "[W]e've already got some changes, good changes and I'm looking at what further possibilities there will be". When asked whether she would remain in the Cabinet, Gillan stated: "I am not resigning. The speculation on my resignation has always come from the press and my political opponents... I'm exceedingly loyal to my party and my Government and I will remain so".[29]
Three days after the announcement, it was discovered that Gillan had sold her house – less than a mile from the proposed route – in November 2011 because she and her husband, John, had "mobility problems". Following the revelations, Labour called for Gillan to be investigated for a possible breach of the Ministerial Code.[30]
In May 2019, Gillan and Charles Walker became acting chairs of the 1922 Committee after Graham Brady resigned from the role while mulling a Conservative leadership bid. They stood down when Brady returned to the position in September of that year.[31]
Expenses
In 2009, Gillan was criticised for her expenses claims. The Daily Telegraph revealed she had claimed for dog food on her second home allowance.[32][11] Gillan described the claim as a "mistake" and said she would be repaying it.[33] Gillan also claimed £305.50 to cure "noise problems" with her boiler. When questioned, Gillan said the boiler had broken down, and the claim was within the rules.[33] It was also revealed that Gillan had attempted to claim more money for her gas bill than it was worth; the Commons Fees Office refused to pay the full amount.[32]
Gillan was also the subject of criticism from the Bucks Free Press in 2010, which revealed Gillan had claimed £8,450 for food and £4,335 for cleaning. It was also revealed that Gillan employed her husband, then aged 82, as an "Office Manager/Researcher".[34] Gillan wrote to the Bucks Free Press to complain that "insinuating language" had been used.[35] Following a review of MPs expenses by Sir Thomas Legg, Gillan was also found to have claimed £1,884 more than her mortgage bill was actually worth. The mortgage was on a second home in Battersea, even though, at the time, she had a home in her constituency, which lies on the London Underground network.[35] Gillan was ordered to repay the money. On 30 March 2010, it was announced that future MPs from Gillan's constituency would not be allowed to claim for a second home after the 2010 election.[34]
Personal life
Gillan was married to John Coates "Jack" Leeming from 1985 until his death, aged 91, on 23 March 2019.[36] Her interests included singing (she was a member of the Parliamentary Choir), gardening, golf and keeping chickens.[3] Before her death, Gillan lived in Epsom, Surrey.[37] She was a member of the Royal Automobile Club.[4]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gillan became one of many MPs who participated virtually and pushed for reforms to allow electronic voting for members unable to sit in the chamber, especially when she became too ill to attend due to her advancing breast cancer.[38] She died from cancer on 4 April 2021, at the age of 68.[39][40] Tributes were paid to her in the House of Commons on 13 April.[41] In the subsequent by-election held on 17 June, her former seat was gained by Sarah Green of the Liberal Democrats.[42]
^"Sir Graham Brady to return as chairman of the 1922 Committee". ITV News. Greater Manchester. 3 September 2019. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2019. A statement from the committee said he would return as chairman "until a new executive is elected in the next session of Parliament".
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