In this episode of Order Order!, Terry Wiggins is joined by Dame Tracey Crouch, former Member of Parliament for Chatham and Aylesford, former Minister for Sport, Civil Society and Loneliness, and a lifelong sportswoman who is still running, cycling and captaining a women’s football team.
Tracey talks to Terry about growing up in Kent, studying at Hull University, and the cheeky question that landed her first job in Parliament just days after her final exam. From there, the conversation moves through her election as an MP in 2010, life as a minister, the changing role of women in Parliament, and the extra demands that come with trying to serve both a constituency and a government department.
It is also a very personal conversation. Tracey reflects on becoming the first Conservative minister to take maternity leave, turning down a cabinet role, and being diagnosed with breast cancer during Covid. She speaks openly about treatment, returning to Parliament, and the strange sense of community that formed among those going through similar experiences.
And, of course, there is plenty of food.
Tracey shares her memories of the Portcullis House canteen, the Members’ Tea Room, cheese and ham toasties, vegetarian options, portobello mushroom shakshuka, sausage rolls and the staff who went the extra mile. Terry and Tracey also discuss how parliamentary catering changed over the years, from old-school food and stodgy puddings to wider choices, better vegetarian dishes and the personal relationships built between MPs, staff and the kitchen teams.
There are stories about rugby tours, Tottenham, Brian May, Prince William asking whether Tracey is related to Peter Crouch, family trips to Cornwall, and life now as Managing Director of Hanover Sport.
A warm, funny and honest conversation about politics, sport, recovery, friendship and the food that helps keep Westminster running.
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