Deborah was born in Bolton, She was also brought up in Bolton and educated at Mount Saint Josephs Grammar School, Bolton.

Professionally, she was a company Director of a firm of Independent Financial Advisers and holds the professional qualification of Cert PFS. She specialises in investments and pension advice for small companies. Prior to the 2010 GE Deborah gave up her Directorship to concentrate full time on her Parliamentary ambitions.

Deborah lives in Turton, Bolton with her husband Mark and 3 children, Olly, Isabella and Scarlett.

Her interests outside politics include football, just watching now but she previously coached junior football and holds an FA coaching certificate, and walking in the Lake District where her sister and Brother in Law run a country house hotel.

Deborah Dunleavy’s Experience

Deborah became involved in politics in 1992, when she was appointed vice chair for a ward in Bolton NE, where she campaigned with the sitting MP to keep his seat in the 1992 GE. This was achieved with a majority of a little over 180.

She stood for Parliament in 2005 in Bolton South East. She is currently chair of North Turton in the Rossendale & Darwen constituency. Deborah also sat on a working Party chaired by a Board Member directly under David Cameron’s scrutiny.
Deborah went on to stand in a key marginal seat at the 2010 GE. Latterly she has just completed a years contract with The Department of Health as Director of Patient and Public Involvement.
She has also sat on a Roundtable for The Pensions Minister to look at the future of personal pensions.
She is currently Director of Business for Peel Policy Forum.

Her special interests are education and the link from leaving school to employment, and pensions.