Shaun Woodward

The Right Honourable Shaun Woodward
Woodward in 2009
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
In office 28 June 2007 – 11 May 2010
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown
Preceded by	Peter Hain
Succeeded by	Owen Paterson
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Creative Industries and Tourism
In office 10 May 2006 – 28 June 2007
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	James Purnell
Succeeded by	Margaret Hodge
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
In office 6 May 2005 – 10 May 2006
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Barry Gardiner
Succeeded by	Maria Eagle
Member of Parliament for St Helens South and Whiston St Helens South (2001–2010)
In office 7 June 2001 – 30 March 2015
Preceded by	Gerry Bermingham
Succeeded by	Marie Rimmer
Member of Parliament for Witney
In office 1 May 1997 – 14 May 2001
Preceded by	Douglas Hurd
Succeeded by	David Cameron
Shadow Cabinet portfolios
2010–2011	Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Personal details
Born	Shaun Anthony Woodward (1958-10-26) 26 October 1958 (age 65) Bristol, England
Political party	Labour (since 1999)
Other political affiliations	Conservative (before 1999)
Spouse	Camilla Sainsbury ​ ​ (m. 1987; sep. 2015)​
Domestic partner	Luke Redgrave
Children	4 (including Ella)
Alma mater	Jesus College, Cambridge Harvard University

Shaun Anthony Woodward (born 26 October 1958) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 2007 to 2010.

A former television researcher and producer, Woodward began his political career in the Conservative Party. He was elected in 1997 as Conservative MP for Witney, but joined Labour in 1999. He then served as Labour MP for St Helens South from 2001 to 2015.

After serving in junior ministerial offices in the Northern Ireland Office and Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Woodward served in the cabinet from 28 June 2007 to 11 May 2010 as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Following the 2010 general election, Woodward was the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland until 7 October 2011, when he was replaced by Vernon Coaker.