Rachel Maclean was first elected as the Conservative MP for Redditch in 2017, being reelected in 2019 with a majority of 16,036 over the Labour Party.
The constituency of Redditch is found to the east of Worcestershire and contains the town of Redditch itself and a number of surrounding villages. Held by Labour during the period when it was in government between 1997 and 2010, it was formerly represented by Jacqui Smith the former Home Secretary. Over three fifths of the electorate backed Leave in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
Rachel Maclean was appointed Minister of State in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in February 2023.
She was previously a Minister of State in the Ministry of Justice, but initially left the government when Rishi Sunak became prime minister in October 2022. She previously served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Home Office in September 2021. However she resigned in protest at Boris Johnson continuing to remain as prime minister in July 2022. She was a junior transport minister between 2020 and 2021.
Born in 1965 in the West Midlands, Maclean studied Experimental Psychology at Oxford University and obtained a master’s degree in Work and Occupational Psychology at Aston University.
Before entering politics, Maclean had a background in business. She set up a Birmingham based IT and software publishing company with her husband, David. She later co founded a HR software business, providing a platform for SMEs to use the latest technology tools in their businesses. She served on the regional Council of the CBI.
Maclean supported Michael Gove in the 2019 Conservative leadership election.
She is a former scout leader and assistant district commissioner for Cubs. She also set up the Charity, Skilled and Ready, an employment charity designed to help school leavers.
Maclean has four grown up children.
Email – rachel.maclean.mp@parliament.uk
Website – www.rachelmaclean.uk
Twitter – @redditchrachel
