Clare Short was MP for Birmingham Ladywood from 1983 to 2010 and Secretary of State for International Development from 1997 to May 2003. She was Opposition spokesperson on Overseas Development from 1999 to 1997. In 2003, Ms Short resigned from the Government over the Iraq war and in 2006, she resigned the Labour whip. In November 2004, Ms Short’s book An Honourable Deception? New Labour, Iraq, and the Misuse of Power, was awarded Political Book of the Year by Channel 4. In 2006, Ms Short became member of the Advocacy Panel of Cities Alliance. She stood down from Parliament in 2010, and is now active in various organisations working on slum upgrading in the developing world, African-led humanitarian action, Gay Pride in Birmingham, Trade Justice for the developing world and for a just settlement of the Palestinian/ Israeli conflict. She is a trustee of Hope Projects (West Midlands) Ltd, Trade Out of Poverty, the Welfare Association, Africa Humanitarian Action, and the Human Trafficking Foundation.