Jennie Lee, Baroness Lee of Asheridge
The Baroness Lee of Asheridge | |
|---|---|
Lee in 1929 | |
| Minister for the Arts | |
| In office 20 October 1964 – 19 June 1970 | |
| Prime Minister | Harold Wilson |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | David Eccles |
| Member of Parliament for Cannock | |
| In office 5 July 1945 – 29 May 1970 | |
| Preceded by | William Murdoch Adamson |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Cormack |
| Member of Parliament for North Lanarkshire | |
| In office 21 March 1929 – 7 October 1931 | |
| Preceded by | Alexander Sprot |
| Succeeded by | William Anstruther-Gray |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Janet Lee 3 November 1904 Lochgelly, Fife, Scotland |
| Died | 16 November 1988 (aged 84) |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Known for | Playing a leading role in the foundation of the Open University |
Janet Lee, Baroness Lee of Asheridge, PC LLD HonFRA (3 November 1904 – 16 November 1988), known as Jennie Lee, was a Scottish politician. She was a Labour Member of Parliament from a by-election in 1929 until 1931 and then from 1945 to 1970.
As Minister for the Arts in Harold Wilson's government of 1964–1970, she played a leading role in the foundation of the Open University working directly with Harold Wilson to establish the principle of open access: "Enrolment as a student of the University should be open to everyone … irrespective of educational qualifications, and no formal entrance requirement should be imposed."
She was married to the Welsh Labour politician Aneurin Bevan from 1934 until his death in 1960.