Joyce Anelay, Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The Right Honourable The Baroness Anelay of St Johns DBE PC FRSA
Official portrait, 2020
Chair of the International Relations and Defence Committee
In office 1 July 2019 – 31 January 2023
Preceded by	The Lord Howell of Guildford
Succeeded by	The Lord Ashton of Hyde
Minister of State for Exiting the European Union
In office 12 June 2017 – 27 October 2017
Prime Minister	Theresa May
Preceded by	David Jones
Succeeded by	The Lord Callanan
Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth
In office 6 August 2014 – 12 June 2017
Prime Minister	David Cameron Theresa May
Preceded by	The Baroness Warsi
Succeeded by	The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State for International Development
In office 13 July 2016 – 14 October 2016
Prime Minister	Theresa May
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	The Lord Bates
Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms
In office 12 May 2010 – 6 August 2014
Prime Minister	David Cameron
Preceded by	The Lord Bassam of Brighton
Succeeded by	The Lord Taylor of Holbeach
Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords
In office 2 July 2007 – 11 May 2010
Leader	David Cameron
Preceded by	The Lord Cope of Berkeley
Succeeded by	The Lord Bassam of Brighton
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 November 1996 Life Peerage
Personal details
Born	Joyce Anne Clarke (1947-07-17) 17 July 1947 (age 77) London, England
Political party	Conservative
Spouse	Richard Anelay ​ (m. 1970)​
Alma mater	University of Bristol University of London Brunel University

Joyce Anne Anelay, Baroness Anelay of St Johns, DBE, PC, FRSA (born 17 July 1947), is a British Conservative Party politician, previously serving as Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from August 2014 to June 2017. Anelay was appointed as Minister of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union in the Second May ministry, after the 2017 reshuffle.^[1]

Anelay was Government Chief Whip in the House of Lords from 12 May 2010 until 6 August 2014, having previously been Opposition Chief Whip prior to the 2010 general election.^[2]

Born in Hackney on 17 July 1947, daughter of Stanley Clarke, she was christened Joyce Anne and was educated locally at Enfield County School.^[3][4] She attended Bristol University, graduating with the degree of BA and after further studies at Brunel, took the postgraduate degree of MA.

Following university, Anelay worked as a secondary school teacher from 1969 to 1974. She later became a volunteer adviser with the Citizens' Advice Bureau, served as a Justice of the Peace for Surrey and sat on the Social Security Appeal Tribunal.^[5]

Prior to her elevation to the peerage, Anelay held a number of senior posts in the Conservative Party organisation. She was Chair of the Conservative Women's National Committee from 1993 to 1996, appointed Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1990,^[6] and in 1995 was promoted Dame Commander (DBE).^[7] She was created a Life Peer as Baroness Anelay of St Johns, of St John's in the County of Surrey in 1996.^[8]

Between May 1997 and June 2002, Baroness Anelay served in various Conservative front bench posts, including Opposition Whip and Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport. She was a Shadow Home Office Minister from June 2002 to July 2007, and from 2 July 2007, she served as Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords until 2010.^[9] In 2009, Anelay was sworn of the Privy Council.

After the general election, on 12 May 2010, Anelay was appointed Government Chief Whip in the Lords and Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms.^[10]

On 6 August 2014, the day after Baroness Warsi's resignation, Anelay was appointed in Warsi's place as Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth, attending Cabinet (although not as a member). Anelay did not on take on Warsi's faith and communities brief, which reverted to Eric Pickles.^[11]

In April 2017, Anelay expressed concerns about reports of homophobia in Chechnya, and she released the following statement: "The detention and ill-treatment of over 100 gay men in Chechnya is extremely concerning. Reports have also suggested that at least three of these men have been killed."^[12]

In May 2020, as Chairwoman of the International Relations and Defence Committee in Britain's House of Lords, she questioned whether Israel should continue to receive preferential access to the U.K. market if the plan for annexing West Bank territory, as laid out in the incoming unity government's coalition agreement, proceeds.^[13]

Anelay married in 1970, her university contemporary, Richard Anelay, a Deputy High Court Judge, leading family and criminal law barrister, and former head of 1 King's Bench Walk Chambers.^[14]

Coat of arms of Joyce Anelay, Baroness Anelay of St Johns

Escutcheon Barry of four azure and or five acorns in cross counterchanged. Supporters On either side an angel proper vested argent wings sashed and blowing a trumpet supported by the exterior hand or.[15]

• Joyce Anelay Archived 4 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine on the Conservative Party website
• www.burkespeerage.com – ANELAY OF ST JOHNS, LP
• www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk
• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
• Voting record at PublicWhip.org
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou.com
• www.ukwhoswho.com