Julie Girling

Julie McCulloch Girling MEP (born 21 December 1956) is a British Conservative politician, currently serving as a Member of European Parliament for the South West of England.

Girling was educated at the Twickenham County Grammar School, followed by the University of Liverpool, where she graduated BA in History and Politics in 1979. Her first job was as a graduate trainee with Ford Motors from 1979 to 1982. She then spent six years as a buyer with Argos, leaving in 1988 to become a marketing manager at Dixons. She then held similar positions with Boots and Halfords, which she left in 1993. She was a freelance trainer from 1995 to 2009.

In 1981, she married Warren Glyn Girling, and they have one son.

Girling was a Conservative member of Cotswold District Council from 1999 to 2009, serving as Leader of the Council from 2003 to 2006. She also served on Gloucestershire County Council from 2000 to 2009, rising to become its Cabinet Member for the Environment. She stepped down from both local government leadership positions in the run-up to the European Parliament elections of 2009, at which she was elected as a Member of European Parliament for South West England.