Editing Glenda Jackson (section)

== Political career ==
Jackson joined the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] in the early 1950s, at the age of 16.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i8OHDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA292 |title=The Palgrave Macmillan dictionary of women's biography |date=2005 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |others=Jenny Uglow, Frances Hinton, Maggy Hendry |isbn=978-1-84972-418-0 |edition=4th |location=New York |pages=292 |oclc=371218511}}</ref> Her earlier campaigns were not party political. In 1978, she was one of the public figures who lent their name as a sponsor to the [[Anti-Nazi League]].<ref>{{cite news |date=1 February 1978 |title=Never Again! |pages=2 |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106386865/never-again/ |access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref> The same year, she appeared in a print advertisement for [[Oxfam]].<ref>{{cite news |date=26 February 1978 |title=The day Glenda Jackson helped build an irrigation dam. |pages=14 |work=[[The Observer]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105965966/the-day-glenda-jackson-helped-build-an/ |access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref> Jackson was on the executive of the National Association of Voluntary Hostels, and spoke at rallies for the housing charity [[Shelter (charity)|Shelter]]. Human rights were also an area of interest, and she joined a demonstration outside the Indonesian Embassy to protest against the detention of political prisoners. She was involved in children's charities, as president of the Toy Libraries Association and as a programme narrator for [[UNICEF]]. She also gave time and money to a home for emotionally disturbed children in [[Berkshire]] run by former actress [[Coral Atkins]].<ref name="Bryant-1999" />

Jackson was a supporter of the [[National Abortion Campaign]], and organised a benefit evening for them at the [[Cambridge Theatre]], which raised over £3,000. She also supported [[Una Kroll]]'s Women's Rights candidacy for [[Sutton and Cheam]] in the [[October 1974 United Kingdom general election]]. In addition, Jackson made several appearances on [[BBC Radio 4]]'s ''[[Any Questions?]]'' debate programme during this period of her career.<ref name="Bryant-1999">{{cite book |last=Bryant |first=Christopher |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42790640 |title=Glenda Jackson: the biography |date=1999 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=0-00-255911-0 |location=London |pages=164–167 |oclc=42790640}}</ref> She had considered becoming a social worker, and in 1979 began a social science degree at the [[Open University]], but dropped out a few months later after falling behind with her essays.<ref name="Bryant-1999-3">{{cite book |last=Bryant |first=Christopher |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42790640 |title=Glenda Jackson: the biography |date=1999 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=0-00-255911-0 |location=London |pages=192–193 |oclc=42790640}}</ref> Jackson appeared in a number of charity films, including a production on behalf of [[International Year of the Child]], [[Voluntary Service Overseas]], and Oxfam. Other such films featured her campaigning against [[polio]] and the arms trade.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bryant |first=Christopher |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42790640 |title=Glenda Jackson: the biography |date=1999 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=0-00-255911-0 |location=London |pages=264 |oclc=42790640}}</ref>

=== Labour Party ===
Jackson's name was linked to several parliamentary seats over the years; she was approached by a [[Constituency Labour Party]] (CLP) in Bristol to stand at the [[1979 United Kingdom general election|1979 general election]], but this did not materialise.<ref name="Bryant-1999" />{{refn|Jackson "was approached by a member of the Bristol Labour Party to stand for Parliament in what was a safe Tory constituency."<ref name="Woodward-1985">{{cite book |last=Woodward |first=Ian |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/11658097 |title=Glenda Jackson: a study in fire and ice |date=1985 |publisher=[[Weidenfeld & Nicolson]] |isbn=0-297-78533-8 |location=London |pages=132 |oclc=11658097}}</ref> This is most likely to have been [[Bristol West]], as it was the only Conservative-held seat in Bristol prior to the 1979 general election. {{Crossreference|See also {{slink|Politics of Bristol#Westminster_representation}}.}}|group=note}} An approach was also made to her about the possibility of being a candidate for the [[Marginal seat|marginal]] Welsh seat of [[Bridgend (UK Parliament constituency)|Bridgend]] at the [[1983 United Kingdom general election|1983 general election]], which she turned down to pursue a humanities degree at [[Thames Polytechnic]]. Though she was seen in the refectory at Thames a few times, she dropped out before starting the course.<ref name="Bryant-1999-3" /> In that election, she supported [[Paul Boateng]] and Ian Wilson, Labour's candidates for [[Hertfordshire West]] and [[Watford (UK Parliament constituency)|Watford]], respectively. She was also a member of the Arts for Labour group.<ref name="Woodward-1985"/>

In 1986, Jackson visited Ethiopia as part of Oxfam's efforts to help with [[1983–1985 famine in Ethiopia|the famine there]], and in 1989 she approached [[Voluntary Service Overseas]] about the chance of working in Africa for a couple of years. She got involved in the [[African National Congress]] campaign against [[apartheid in South Africa]], and in September 1988 chaired a United Nations committee on the cultural boycott.<ref name="Bryant-1999-3" /> Jackson appeared in a [[party political broadcast]] for Labour in February 1987.<ref>{{cite news |date=26 February 1987 |title=Steady with the props, Glenda! |pages=4 |work=The Fulham Chronicle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105970341/steady-with-the-props-glenda/ |access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref> In June, she was present at a campaign rally with the then Labour leader [[Neil Kinnock]] for the [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987 general election]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Wainwright |first=Martin |author-link=Martin Wainwright (journalist) |date=8 June 1987 |title=When showbusiness is the name of the two-party game |pages=32 |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105970700/when-showbusiness-is-the-name-of-the/ |access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref>

In December 1989, it was rumoured that Jackson had been approached by two branches of [[Leeds East]] CLP to succeed their Labour MP, [[Denis Healey]]. According to her biographer [[Chris Bryant]], she turned down this opportunity. In late 1989, two members of [[Hampstead and Highgate]] CLP got in touch with Jackson about the possibility of standing there. Despite having never been to a Labour ward meeting, she won over the local party, and triumphed in the ballot, which took place on 28 March 1990. Jackson defeated three candidates who were all politically to her left: [[Kate Allen (Amnesty International)|Kate Allen]] ([[Ken Livingstone]]'s partner and a [[Camden London Borough Council|Camden]] councillor), economic history lecturer Sarah Palmer (daughter of former Labour MP [[Arthur Palmer (politician)|Arthur Palmer]]) and Maureen Robinson, a previous Mayor of Camden.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bryant |first=Christopher |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42790640 |title=Glenda Jackson: the biography |date=1999 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=0-00-255911-0 |location=London |pages=195–199 |oclc=42790640}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Postlewaite |first=Jeff |date=27 March 1990 |title=Anxious Glenda waits for a cue |pages=14 |work=[[Evening Standard]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105973211/anxious-glenda-waits-for-a-cue/ |access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=31 March 1990 |title=And now for the part of a lifetime |pages=12 |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105998181/and-now-for-the-part-of-a-lifetime/ |access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref>

Jackson later stated that she felt Britain was being "destroyed" by the policies of the then [[prime minister of the United Kingdom]], [[Margaret Thatcher]], and the Conservative government, so that she was willing to do "anything that was legal" to oppose them.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN15Xa2gMhY&t=182s |title=Glenda Jackson Moved From Acting to Politics |date=15 May 2018 |author=Late Show with Stephen Colbert |via=YouTube |access-date=15 May 2018 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/TN15Xa2gMhY |archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In November 1990, Thatcher stood down as prime minister and [[Leader of the Conservative Party (UK)|leader of the Conservative Party]]. On Thatcher's death, Jackson protested Parliament's tributes to that legacy. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRqdQMlIiYc | title=Glenda Jackson: Late ex-MP delivers immense anti-Thatcher speech days after Thatcher's death | website=[[YouTube]] | date=15 June 2023 }}</ref>

=== In Parliament ===
Jackson retired from acting in 1991 to devote herself to politics full-time as the [[prospective parliamentary candidate]] for Hampstead and Highgate.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bryant |first=Christopher |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42790640 |title=Glenda Jackson: the biography |date=1999 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=0-00-255911-0 |location=London |pages=212 |oclc=42790640}}</ref> Although her party did not win the [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992 general election]], as had been speculated, there was an above average swing to Labour in her constituency, and she gained the seat, narrowly beating the Conservative candidate [[Oliver Letwin]], a former adviser to Thatcher.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hampstead And Highgate :: UK General Election 1992 |url=http://electionhub.co.uk/uk/1992/const/hampsteadhig |access-date=6 July 2022 |website=electionhub.co.uk |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706182204/http://electionhub.co.uk/uk/1992/const/hampsteadhig |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Ward |first=Victoria |date=20 October 2019 |title=Oliver Letwin: The 'cleverest stupid person in Westminster' |language=en-GB |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/10/20/oliver-letwin-cleverest-stupid-person-westminster/ |access-date=6 July 2022 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Bryant |first=Christopher |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42790640 |title=Glenda Jackson: the biography |date=1999 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=0-00-255911-0 |location=London |pages=224 |oclc=42790640}}</ref> Jackson, whose campaign had been sponsored by the train drivers' union, [[ASLEF]], was the first of Labour's 1992 intake to join the front bench when she became shadow transport minister in July 1996.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rentoul |first=John |title=Blair reshuffle rewards loyal mainstreamers |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/blair-reshuffle-rewards-loyal-mainstreamers-1307718.html |work=The Independent |date=1 August 1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Bryant |first=Christopher |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42790640 |title=Glenda Jackson: the biography |date=1999 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=0-00-255911-0 |location=London |pages=236, 240 |oclc=42790640}}</ref>

Following Labour's [[landslide victory]] in the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]], which saw her comfortably re-elected, she was appointed as a junior minister in the government of [[Tony Blair]],<ref name="Debretts">[http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/j/19500/Glenda+JACKSON.aspx "Ms Glenda Jackson, CBE, MP Authorised Biography"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215231252/http://www.debretts.com/people/biographies/browse/j/19500/Glenda+JACKSON.aspx |date=15 December 2013}}, Debrett's</ref> with responsibility in the [[London Regional Transport]].<ref name="electionhub.co.uk">{{cite web |title=Hampstead And Highgate :: UK General Election 1997 |url=http://electionhub.co.uk/uk/1997/const/hampsteadhig |access-date=6 July 2022 |website=electionhub.co.uk |archive-date=6 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706182156/http://electionhub.co.uk/uk/1997/const/hampsteadhig |url-status=dead }}</ref> She resigned from the post in 1999 before an unsuccessful attempt to be nominated as the Labour candidate for the election of the first [[mayor of London]] in the [[2000 London mayoral election]]. In the [[2000 London Labour Party mayoral selection]], she came a distant third behind [[Frank Dobson]] and [[Ken Livingstone]], being eliminated in the first round of voting with 4.4% of the total.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LONDON MAYORALTY CANDIDATE SELECTION 2000–2016 |url=http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~tquinn/london_mayoralty.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804195802/http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~tquinn/london_mayoralty.htm |archive-date=4 August 2016 |access-date=21 July 2022 |website=[[University of Essex]]}}</ref> Jackson was once again re-elected to represent her constituency at the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hampstead And Highgate :: UK General Election 2001 |url=http://electionhub.co.uk/uk/2001/const/hampsteadhig |access-date=6 July 2022 |website=electionhub.co.uk}}</ref>

As a high-profile backbencher, Jackson became a regular critic of Blair over his plans to introduce [[Tuition fees in the United Kingdom|higher education tuition fees]] in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. She also called for him to resign following the Judicial Enquiry by [[Brian Hutton, Baron Hutton|Lord Hutton]] in 2003 surrounding the reasons for going to [[Iraq War|war in Iraq]] and the death of government adviser [[David Kelly (weapons expert)|David Kelly]].<ref>{{cite news |date=19 July 2003 |title=Former minister calls for Blair's resignation |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/former-minister-calls-for-blair-s-resignation-1.488672 |access-date=7 July 2022 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref><ref name="The Guardian-2020">{{cite web |date=26 July 2020 |title=Glenda Jackson: 'I'm an antisocial socialist' |url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2020/jul/26/glenda-jackson-interview-i-am-an-antisocial-socialist |access-date=7 July 2022 |website=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Glenda Jackson – Oscar Winning Actress Turned Labour Politician |url=https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/glenda-jackson/ |access-date=7 July 2022 |website=[[Politics.co.uk]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=20 July 2003 |title=Breakfast with Frost |language=en-GB |publisher=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/breakfast_with_frost/3081661.stm |access-date=7 July 2022}}</ref> At the subsequent [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]], she held her seat, albeit with a reduced majority and a swing to the Conservatives, who had selected local councillor [[Piers Wauchope]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Election 2005 – Results – Hampstead & Highgate |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/vote2005/html/298.stm |access-date=6 July 2022 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> By October 2005, her disagreements with Blair's leadership swelled to a point where she threatened to challenge the prime minister as a [[stalking horse]] candidate in a leadership contest if he did not stand down within a reasonable amount of time.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 June 2023 |title=Glenda Jackson obituary: An actress unafraid to speak her mind |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26234103 |access-date=15 June 2023}}</ref> On 31 October 2006, Jackson was one of 12 Labour MPs to back [[Plaid Cymru]] and the [[Scottish National Party]]'s call for an inquiry into the [[Iraq War]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6104310.stm |title=Labour MPs who rebelled on Iraq |date=31 October 2006 |access-date=31 October 2006 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref>

Her constituency boundaries changed for the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]]. The [[Gospel Oak (ward)|Gospel Oak]] and [[Highgate (Camden ward)|Highgate]] wards became part of [[Holborn and St Pancras]], and the new [[Hampstead and Kilburn (UK Parliament constituency)|Hampstead and Kilburn constituency]] took in territory from [[London Borough of Brent|Brent]] to include Brondesbury, Kilburn and Queens Park wards (from the old [[Brent East]] and [[Brent South]] seats). On 6 May 2010, Jackson was elected as the MP for the new Hampstead and Kilburn constituency by a margin of 42 votes over Conservative [[Chris Philp]], with the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] candidate Edward Fordham less than a thousand votes behind them. She had the closest result in England, and the second smallest majority of any MP at the 2010 election.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 March 2015 |title=England's tightest seat may not be so close this time |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/england-s-tightest-seat-may-not-be-so-close-this-time-1.65452 |access-date=6 July 2022 |website=[[The Jewish Chronicle]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The UK's most marginal seat |language=en-GB |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-northern-ireland-32538051 |access-date=6 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Election 2010 – Constituency – Hampstead & Kilburn |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b99.stm |access-date=6 July 2022 |publisher=BBC News}}</ref> Jackson's seat was marginal for most of her time in politics, with the 1997 election being the only occasion on which she received an absolute majority of votes cast in the constituency.<ref name="electionhub.co.uk" />

In June 2011, Jackson announced that, presuming the [[UK Parliament]] elected in 2010 lasted until 2015, she would not seek re-election. She stated: "I will be almost 80 and by then it will be time for someone else to have a turn."<ref name="reelection">{{cite news |url=http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/glenda_jackson_won_t_stand_in_next_election_1_931028 |title=Glenda Jackson won't stand in next election |date=23 June 2011 |publisher=Ham & High |last=Graham |first=Georgia |access-date=25 June 2011 |archive-date=5 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905173850/http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/glenda_jackson_won_t_stand_in_next_election_1_931028 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The eventual election was held two days before her 79th birthday, 23 years after she had first entered the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]. In April 2012, the ''[[London Evening Standard]]'' reported that, in 2007–2008 she claimed £136,793 in allowances despite turning up for only 27 per cent of votes and speaking in just two debates, and that in 2011 she had to repay more than £8,000 in expenses she had wrongly claimed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dominiczak|first=Peter|date=12 April 2012|title=Climate activist Tamsin Omond takes on 'London's laziest MP' Glenda|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/climate-activist-tamsin-omond-takes-on-london-s-laziest-mp-glenda-jackson-6739200.html|access-date=10 July 2023|website=Evening Standard}}</ref>

On 10 April 2013, Jackson delivered a speech in the House of Commons following the [[death of Margaret Thatcher]], which subsequently went viral.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2013/apr/11/glenda-jackson-margaret-thatcher-video |location=London |work=The Guardian | title=Glenda Jackson criticises Margaret Thatcher in Commons debate – video | date=11 April 2013}}</ref> She accused [[Thatcherism]] of treating "vices as virtues" and stated that, because of Thatcherism, the UK was susceptible to unprecedented unemployment rates and homelessness, chronically underfunded schools and public services, and the closure of mental hospitals.<ref>{{cite news |last=Magnay |first=Jacquelin |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/labour-mp-glenda-jackson-shatters-the-love-during-parliament-tributes/news-story/12df7602ef61edb45400d629784529f2  |work=The Australian | title=Labour MP Glenda Jackson shatters the love during parliament tributes | date=12 April 2013 |location=London |access-date=18 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm130410/debtext/130410-0001.htm|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 10 Apr 2013 (pt 0001)|publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom}}</ref> Another speech of Jackson's went viral in June 2014 when she gave a scathing assessment of [[Iain Duncan Smith's tenure as Work and Pensions Secretary]], telling him that he was responsible for the "destruction of the welfare state and the total and utter incompetence of his department".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/sirajdatoo/iain-duncan-smith-would-like-to-think-he-can-walk-on-water|work=[[BuzzFeed]]|title=People Are Going Absolutely Crazy For This Clip Of An MP Attacking Iain Duncan Smith|date=4 July 2014|access-date=14 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first=Anoosh|last=Chakelian|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/staggers/2014/07/he-s-floating-so-high-his-self-appointed-sanctity-watch-glenda-jackson-lay-iain|magazine=[[New Statesman]]|title="He's floating so high on his self-appointed sanctity": watch Glenda Jackson lay in to Iain Duncan Smith|date=1 July 2014|access-date=18 April 2020|url-access=registration}}</ref>

=== Views ===
Jackson was a borderline [[socialist]], and was generally considered to be a traditional [[leftist]] during her political career, often disagreeing with the dominant [[Blairite]] governing [[Third Way]] faction in the Labour Party; she rebelled against her party in parliamentary votes on a number of occasions. She was also opposed to the politics of [[Arthur Scargill]] and the [[Militant tendency]] that dominated the party's battles in the 1980s. Jackson labelled Militant and [[Derek Hatton]]'s politics as "self-indulgent crap", and she sent leader [[Neil Kinnock]] a congratulatory telegram after his high-profile 1985 [[Labour Party Conference]] speech, in which he criticised the activities of Militant and their allies.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bryant |first=Christopher |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42790640 |title=Glenda Jackson: the biography |date=1999 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=0-00-255911-0 |location=London |pages=166, 193–194 |oclc=42790640}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Voting Record – Glenda Jackson MP, Hampstead and Kilburn (10308) |url=https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Glenda_Jackson&mpc=Hampstead_and_Kilburn&house=commons |access-date=7 July 2022 |website=The Public Whip}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Schilling |first=Mary Kaye |date=29 March 2018 |title="Three Tall Women" star Glenda Jackson was slaying female stereotypes long before Time's Up and #MeToo |url=https://www.newsweek.com/2018/04/13/glenda-jackson-three-tall-women-edward-albee-broadway-866772.html |access-date=9 July 2022 |website=[[Newsweek]]}}</ref> Jackson opposed the [[British monarchy]], and was a [[Republicanism in the United Kingdom|republican]].<ref>{{cite web |date=4 March 2013 |title=Republic &#124; Our Supporters |url=http://www.republic.org.uk/Who%20we%20are/Our%20Supporters%20Include/index.php |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130304173338/http://www.republic.org.uk/Who%20we%20are/Our%20Supporters%20Include/index.php |archive-date=4 March 2013 |access-date=4 October 2015}}</ref> ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'}}s [[Simon Hattenstone]] summed up Jackson's views as "traditional Labour, solidarity, feminism".<ref name="The Guardian-2016">{{cite web |date=14 December 2016 |title=Glenda Jackson on her scary reputation: 'I've never understood the fear thing' |url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/dec/14/glenda-jackson-scary-reputation-never-understood-fear-thing-lear-labour |access-date=7 July 2022 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> Jackson had been an outspoken [[feminist]], criticising the lack of gender equality for women.<ref>{{cite web |last=Graham |first=Jane |date=27 June 2022 |title=Glenda Jackson: 'What made me give up acting and go into politics was Margaret Thatcher' |url=https://www.bigissue.com/news/politics/glenda-jackson-what-made-me-give-up-acting-and-go-into-politics-was-margaret-thatcher/ |access-date=7 July 2022 |website=[[The Big Issue]]}}</ref>

In the [[1992 Labour Party leadership election]], Jackson supported the successful candidate, [[John Smith (Labour Party leader)|John Smith]]. In the [[1994 Labour Party leadership election|1994 leadership election]], she backed [[Tony Blair]], who won the contest and subsequently became prime minister.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bryant |first=Christopher |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42790640 |title=Glenda Jackson: the biography |date=1999 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=0-00-255911-0 |location=London |pages=237 |oclc=42790640}}</ref> Jackson voiced her support for Blair's successor [[Gordon Brown]] as prime minister in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 November 2008 |title=GLENDA JACKSON: Brown is the right man to lead us through crisis |url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/glenda-jackson-brown-is-the-right-man-to-lead-us-7655522 |access-date=7 July 2022 |website=Hampstead & Highgate Express |language=en-GB}}</ref> Brown appeared with Jackson on a campaign visit for the 2010 general election, with him describing her as "a very close friend".<ref>{{cite web |title=Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Kilburn to help 'close friend' Glenda Jackson |url=https://www.camdennewjournal.co.uk/article/prime-minister-gordon-brown-kilburn-help-close-friend-glenda-jackson |access-date=7 July 2022 |website=[[Camden New Journal]] |language=en-GB}}</ref> In the [[2010 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2010 leadership election]], with Brown having stood down, Jackson voted for [[David Miliband]], considered to be more of a political moderate than his younger brother, [[Ed Miliband]], a figure on the party's [[soft left]] who was ultimately elected as party leader.<ref>{{cite web |date=14 August 2014 |title=Glenda Jackson: "Britain is in danger of being governed by pensioners like me" |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk-politics/2014/08/glenda-jackson-britain-danger-being-governed-pensioners-me |access-date=7 July 2022 |website=[[New Statesman]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Following her departure from Parliament, the Labour Party elected [[Jeremy Corbyn]] as its leader. Jackson stated that she supported him "as a person", and would have nominated him in the [[2015 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2015 leadership election]]. She qualified her support, adding: "Never in a million years would I have voted for him, though."<ref name="The Guardian-2016" />

In the [[1975 United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum]], Jackson voted against Britain continuing in the [[European Economic Community]]. She subsequently changed her mind on the issue, and supported Britain remaining in the [[European Union]] in the [[2016 Brexit referendum]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Bryant |first=Christopher |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42790640 |title=Glenda Jackson: the biography |date=1999 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=0-00-255911-0 |location=London |pages=238–239 |oclc=42790640}}</ref><ref name="The Guardian-2020" /> Despite this, she disagreed with calls for a second vote, such as by [[People's Vote]]. To this effect, she stated her admiration for the then prime minister [[Theresa May]]; when this subject matter was queried by the interviewer, ''The Guardian''{{'}}s [[Emma Brockes]], Jackson responded: "I've certainly admired her in the way she has handled herself over [[Brexit]], yes! I do admire her for her tenacity, trying to deliver the referendum result to the people of our country, even though I disapproved of it."<ref name="The Guardian-2020" /><ref name="The Guardian-2019">{{cite web |date=2 March 2019 |title=Glenda Jackson: 'I'm a big admirer of Theresa May' |url=http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2019/mar/02/glenda-jackson-why-i-admire-theresa-may-acting-king-lear-emma-brockes |access-date=7 July 2022 |website=The Guardian}}</ref>

Interviewed in July 2020, shortly after [[Keir Starmer]] had taken over as party leader from Corbyn, Jackson declared herself happy with him in the role.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 August 2020 |title=Glenda Jackson interview: 'My family's anxious every time I sneeze' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/glenda-jackson-interview-elizabeth-is-missing-baftas-boris-johnson-metoo-a9644421.html |access-date=10 July 2022 |website=The Independent}}</ref> In July 2022, she commented on Starmer, saying: "I just wish Keir would get someone to help him develop his voice." She called it "one of his big drawbacks".<ref name="Griffiths-2022" /> That same month, she said that Parliament had not been welcoming to women when she was voted in during the [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992 general election]].<ref name="independent 2022">{{cite web|date=3 July 2022|title=Glenda Jackson says Commons culture is 'by no means equal yet'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/glenda-jackson-commons-mps-gordon-brown-house-of-commons-b2114977.html|access-date=10 July 2023|website=The Independent}}</ref>