The Right Honourable Dame Andrea Leadsom
The Right Honourable Dame Andrea Leadsom
Our founder
The Rt Hon Dame Andrea Leadsom has been a passionate advocate for the importance of pregnancy and early childhood for nearly 30 years. Recognised as a leading voice in early years support, she has championed the best start for every baby both in and out of Parliament.
Throughout her distinguished political career from 2010 to 2024, Dame Andrea has made a lasting impact on early years policy and practice. As a backbench MP she established the charity PIP UK (now PIF) to promote the importance of positive parent infant relationships; she founded the landmark 1001 Critical Days Manifesto - a cross-party initiative that continues to shape policy on the vital period from pregnancy to age two. She also set up the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Conception to Age Two, raising awareness and driving support for new families across the political spectrum.
In 2017, the then Prime Minister Theresa May entrusted Dame Andrea with leading a cross-government review of early years support. Under Boris Johnson’s leadership, she served as the Government’s Early Years Advisor, conducting an extensive consultation which culminated in March 2021 in the Vision for the 1001 Critical Days and the rollout of the Family Hub and Start for Life Programme.
In 2023, under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Dame Andrea was given ministerial responsibility for the Start for Life portfolio.
See www.andrealeadsom.com/About for details of Dame Andrea’s early career and charity work before Parliament, as well as her Cabinet and Ministerial appointments.
Since retiring from Parliament in 2024, Dame Andrea has commenced her most exciting role to date. In founding the 1001 Critical Days Foundation, she is determined to change the world for the better, one baby at a time!