Baroness Hilary Armstrong worked as a social worker and then as a community worker, and became a tutor on the Community and youth Work Course at Sunderland Polytechnic.

She was elected as MP for North West Durham in 1987, joined Labour’s Front Bench Education Team and became Parliamentary Private Secretary to Leader of the Opposition, John Smith. She joined the Treasury team in 1992 and then became Shadow Minister for Local Government.

In 1997, she became Minister of State for Local Government and Housing. In 2001 she became Chief Whip, and in 2005, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office. She was appointed to the House of Lords in July 2010. Hilary was Chair of the Public Services Committee until January 2023. She is currently Chairing the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods alongside Local Trust, and she has also been appointed as the first Chair of the Government’s Digital Inclusion Action Committee.