I'd really love to say that Fiona Millar is an ugly airhead with a fat arse who's only after The Beloved One for his money. Unfortunately, she's possibly somewhere near as intelligent and outright gorgeous as I am, she's stuck by her man through thick and thin, she's successful in her own right, and worst of all she is thinner than me. Much thinner. Too thin, in fact. Alastair obviously ain't a boob man (miaow).
She attended Camden School for Girls, a selective school, and this coloured her views of education based on selection. "I and some others went to the grammar, and off went the rest to what were seen - often unfairly - as sink schools." Her own career wasn't damaged by the experience, and she studied Economics and Economic History at University College London.
After completing the Mirror training scheme, she went to work at the Daily Express, becoming a political correspondent, and managing to deal with its Thatcherite politics whilst maintaining her own socialist ideals. She resigned in 1988 to have a family; first Rory, then two years later Calum, and finally Grace. Fiona continued freelance jounalism, writing frequently for The Express and profiling MPs for The House magazine.
In 1993 Virago Press published By Faith and Daring by Glenys Kinnock and Fiona Millar; a book of interviews with prominent women. Fiona felt that her role in the book was not fully acknowledged, but even this didn't cause a serious disturbance in the relationship between the two families.
She became Cherie Blair's part time media advisor in 19995, and took on the full-time role in 1997. "I know what journalists want her to do, they want her to fall flat on her face by attacking the government. They'd love to paint her as Lady Macbeth, wouldn't they? But she is not. She gets her intellectual stimulation from her work. The press want her to talk about My Life With Tony, and to tell her inner secrets. Now why would she want to do that?" Although described as being as abrasive as her partner, she managed to fulfill her duties without lamping the Blair woman once, even when weirdy Carole Caplin was exerting her influence big time, which must have taken some patience.
By 2003 she'd had enough, and she is now a freelance newspaper columnist specialising in education. Again, it would be great if her stuff was rubbish in a Zoe Williams stylee, but it isn't (apart from when she's waffling on about exercise and stuff).
Somehow she also found time to make a film for Channel 4, The Best for My Child. Similar in tone to most of her best writing on education, it examined parental choice in education: its failures in practice, and the effects parental choice had on education policy, especially in urban areas. She knows what she's talking about, because her children went to the local state school, and when it was found to be failing, she became a governor and took a huge role in turning the school around.
Fiona is Chair of the National Family and Parenting Institute; is now Chair of Governors at Gospel Oak Primary School; Patron of Comprehensive Future, and a trustee of the Roundhouse. She comes across on TV as the sort of lassie you'd like to have a drink with, and she supports comprehensive education and homeless charities: whilst looking after three kids. Bloody hell, her sainthood can't be far off.
On the other hand, I've only recently resigned as Chair of Shifnal Parents and Toddlers group, I am Committee Secretary of Pinefields Pre-School, I once had an article published in History Scotland, and I look about fifteen years younger than her - not even 15 years of working in the NHS can grey a hennaed hair and fat has a tendency to iron out wrinkles. Oh, and I do the odd bit of craniosacral therapy (yes, the Inland Revenue know). Get that ring on Alastair's finger damn quickly, Fiona. He's bound to want me.
Parental Responsibilities (10/01/06)
Nowhere in the Manifesto (15/11/05)
Stop Punishing Parents(22/10/04)
Charity Ends At School (19/10/04)
Does the Government Have the Guts?(09/06/04)
My Battle With the PCC (09/02/04)
People Worth Listening To (20/01/04)
The Privilege of Fools (09/07/03)