Parker, Margot – Grantham-born represented the town in Europe

 Margot Parker (b1943)

Born in Grantham, Margot was educated at Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School and De Montfort University where she read Law.

She was a group buyer for a South American retail lingerie company from 1989 to 1995 and also worked in the promotional pre-paid telephone card industry for American company Itelsa Inc as sales director from 1996 to 2003.

Then she worked for an online bespoke fragrance company as sales director from 2003 to 2008 and have been board director of the BPMA, (British Promotional Merchandise Association), and its European spokesman since 1996.

Margot was presented with the Sword of Honour and elected Fellow of the BPMA in 2007, as well as being director and head of communications for EPPA, (European Promotional Products Association), from 2003 to 2007.

She stood as a candidate for Libertas in the 2009 European election in the East Midlands and was second on the party list, but the party only won 0.6% of the vote thus winning no seats.

The following year she joined UKIP and stood in Sherwood in the 2010 general election, finishing 5th (1,490 votes, 3%).

In 2012, she stood in the Corby by-election, finishing third with 5,108 votes (14.3%).

She became a member of the UKIP national team assessing candidates who aspire to become Westminster MPs.

Married with two sons, she living in Northamptonshire and outside politics, enjoys world affairs, travel, current affairs and is an avid newspaper reader.

She is passionate about the commercial use of child labour worldwide.

She was selected Number two MEP candidate for UKIP East Midlands region – including Grantham – for the 2014 European Parliament elections and now works alongside East Midlands colleague Roger Helmer.

Margot sat on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, (IMCO), and also the committee for Gender Equality and Womens’ Rights, (FEMM), and was appointed spokesman for small businesses.

She left following Brexit.

Despite her defection, Parker was not selected as a Brexit Party candidate for the 2019 European Parliament elections, and ceased to be a Member of the European Parliament on 26 May 2019.