Joan Lorraine Walley (born 23 January 1949) is a British Labour Party politician, who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Stoke-on-Trent North from the 1987 general election until 2015.

Early life

She attended Biddulph Grammar School (now known as Woodhouse Middle School) in Biddulph, north Staffordshire. At the University of Hull, she gained a BA in Social Administration. From the University College of Wales, Swansea, she gained a Diploma in Community Work Development. From 1970 to 1973, she worked on an Alcoholics Recovery Project. From 1974 to 1978, she was a Local Government Officer for Swansea City Council. She worked for Wandsworth Council from 1978 to 1979. From 1979 to 1982, she was a Development Officer for NACRO.

Parliamentary career

Following the deselection of her predecessor John Forrester, she stood as the Labour Party candidate for Stoke-on-Trent North (the second female MP for the seat after Harriet Slater) and became the constituency's Member of Parliament (MP) at the 1987 general election.^[1] Walley had previously been a Lambeth councillor.

She was elected by the House to be the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee on 9 June 2010.^[2]

In November 2013 she announced her intention to stand down at the next general election in 2015.^[3] Walley became a member of the Electoral Commission in 2018.^[4]

Personal life

She married Jan Ostrowski in 1981; the couple have two sons; Daniel, born 1981, and Tom, born 1983. Walley is a supporter of Port Vale, the football club in her constituency.^[5]