Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Glenda Jackson
Public opinion and media debates around Glenda Jackson—discover key moments of controversy.
Glenda Jackson (1936-2023) was a highly accomplished English actress and politician. She achieved 'Triple Crown of Acting' success with two Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, three Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award. A Labour Party member, she served as a Member of Parliament for 23 years, representing Hampstead and Highgate (1992-2010) and Hampstead and Kilburn (2010-2015). Her career encompassed both acclaimed stage and screen performances and dedicated public service.
1975: Affair with Andy Phillips and divorce proceedings
In 1975, Jackson began an affair with Andy Phillips, and Hodges sued Jackson for divorce on the grounds of her adultery with Phillips in November of that year.
1985: Criticism of Militant tendency
In 1985, Jackson labeled Militant and Derek Hatton's politics as "self-indulgent crap", and she sent leader Neil Kinnock a congratulatory telegram after his 1985 Labour Party Conference speech, in which he criticised the activities of Militant and their allies.
October 2005: Threatened leadership challenge
In October 2005, Glenda Jackson threatened to challenge Tony Blair as a stalking horse candidate in a leadership contest.
2007: Began claiming high allowances and expenses
In 2007, Glenda Jackson began claiming £136,793 in allowances despite not participating in a large number of votes.
2008: Continued claiming high allowances and expenses
In 2008, Glenda Jackson continued claiming £136,793 in allowances despite not participating in a large number of votes.
April 2012: Reported for claiming high allowances and expenses
In April 2012, the London Evening Standard reported that Glenda Jackson had claimed £136,793 in allowances and had to repay more than £8,000 in expenses she had wrongly claimed.
April 2013: Speech in House of Commons on Margaret Thatcher's death
In April 2013, Glenda Jackson delivered a speech in the House of Commons following Margaret Thatcher's death, which went viral. She criticized Thatcherism for treating "vices as virtues" and blamed it for increased unemployment, homelessness, underfunded schools, and mental hospital closures.
June 2014: Scathing assessment of Iain Duncan Smith
In June 2014, another speech of Jackson's went viral when she gave a scathing assessment of Iain Duncan Smith's tenure as Work and Pensions Secretary, blaming him for the "destruction of the welfare state" and his department's incompetence.
2015: Supported Jeremy Corbyn as a person, but would not have voted for him
In 2015, following her departure from Parliament, Jackson stated that she supported Jeremy Corbyn "as a person", and would have nominated him in the 2015 leadership election, but clarified she never would have voted for him.
