Anneliese Midgley

Anneliese Midgley

Author: BBC Radio 4 August 29, 2026 Duration: 14:39

Labour's new chief whip is a Liverpudlian with a broad cultural hinterland. Anneliese Midgley grew up in Knowsley on a housing estate. Her family struggled financially when she was growing up but their fortunes changed when her father got a job at the Halewood Ford factory. They moved to the more affluent area of Penny Lane and as a teenager Annaliese got a job at The Beatles Shop.

Music became a huge part of her life. She hung out with DJs and musicians and was regularly seen behind the decks at cult Liverpool club night, Liquidation, which was run by her friend Daniel Hunt from the band Ladytron. Through him she met Saint Etienne founder Bob Stanley, who she married in 2000, and moved to London where Midgley became a music journalist. The couple later divorced but remain firm friends.

Her first foray into politics was when she made some congestion charge badges for her friends and sent a few to then London Mayor Ken Livingstone who promptly employed her. She worked for him for five years before moving on to Unite union and then going on to work for Jeremy Corbyn, Keir Starmer and TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak.

In 2024 she ran for parliament as the Labour candidate for Knowsley. In her two years in the commons she has established a reputation for getting things done. She fought hard to secure Olivia's law, campaigned for the Hillsborough law and was a key part of getting the government to back down on welfare reform. But perhaps her biggest moment yet was helping to propel the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham to power after running his by-election campaign with fellow Labour MP Louise Haigh.

Production: Presenter: Mark Coles Producers: Annabel Deas and Bethan Ashmead Production Coordinator: Keshia Agyei Sound: Gareth Jones Editor: Justine Lang


Each week, Profile from BBC Radio 4 takes a single name from the global conversation and builds a detailed portrait, moving far beyond the headlines. This isn't a simple biography or a news recap. Instead, through careful documentary storytelling and personal journal excerpts where available, the podcast constructs a nuanced examination of character and motive. You’ll hear from colleagues, critics, and sometimes the subjects themselves, piecing together what drives and defines the people shaping our world. The focus rests firmly on influence, whether in politics, the arts, science, or social movements, exploring how an individual's background and choices ripple through society and culture. Listening to this podcast feels like gaining a deeper, more textured understanding of the figures you think you know, revealing the contradictions and convictions behind the public image. It’s a thoughtful half-hour that challenges first impressions, asking what truly lies behind a name in the news.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Profile
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