Miller , Millie , 1923-1977 , politician and social worker

Mrs Millie Miller was born in April 1923 in Shoreditch. At the age of seven she moved to Stoke Newington and attended Princess May School. She won a scholarship to Owen's School, but left at the age of sixteen. Her political interest and social conscience was stimulated during the Second World War, when she joined and took a leading role in local girl's clubs (which later became the Stamford Hill Associated Clubs). The club work involved visiting girls' homes. In 1959, Millie Miller stated: 'I felt that a lot of the things that I could see were not right with their lives had some connection with the social circumstances in which they lived.'

Her career began as a social worker, and she studied for a Social Science Diploma at London University. She became Mayor of Stoke Newington, from 1957 to 1958, and later Camden, from 1967 to 1968. In 1959, she was chairman of the Housing Committee for the Borough of Stoke Newington, vice-chairman of the governors of Woodberry Down Comprehensive School, president of the Stoke Newington International Baden-Powell Guild, leader of women's organisations of the Labour Party, and chair of the Area Advisory Committee and London Advisory Council. During the time she was Mayor of Stoke Newington, she set up a voluntary committee of local organisations concerned with visiting the elderly and disabled.

She was the first Labour woman to lead a London borough, in Camden, from 1971 to 1973. She was elected to Parliament in February 1974 and won her seat in the general election in October 1974 as the Labour MP for Ilford North (succeeded by Linda Perham in 1977). She also held the office of PPS to Minister of State, Department of Prices and Consumer Protection, from 1976 to 1977. She died on 29 October 1977.

By the time of her death, she had become a popular and well-loved Member of Parliament. Ken Livingstone wrote the following in his book, If Voting Changed Anything, They'd Abolish It; 'the Camden Council Labour Group, led by Frank Dobson . . . decided to convene a London-wide meeting to oppose the new housing expenditure controls which had been imposed on all councils by the Labour Government . . . Between 1971 and 1975 first Millie Miller and then Frank Dobson had provided strong leadership with a clear sense of direction.' Up to 2002, an annual memorial lecture has been held in the constituency to Millie Millers' memory. Among those who have paid tribute to her include Members for Chesterfield, Tony Benn, and for Livingston, Robin Cook, the Member for West Ham, Tony Banks, and the former Member for Barking, champion of women's rights, Jo Richardson.

Millie Miller was married to Monty Miller with two children, and during her period of office she lived in Highgate, Camden.