Contributor(s): Jacqui Smith MP | Jacqui Smith is Home Secretary, a position she has held since June 2007. Prior to this she held several ministerial posts. From 1999 she served for two years as parliamentary under secretary of state at the Department for Education. In 2001 she was promoted to minister of state for health with responsibility for social services. She was promoted again to be minister of state at the Department for Trade and Industry, and deputy minister for women. After the 2005 general election she became minister of state for schools. In May 2006 she joined the cabinet as chief whip.