May grew up in Oxfordshire and attended St Hugh 's College , Oxford . After graduating in 1977 , she worked at the Bank of England and UK Payments Administration . She also served as a councillor for Durnsford in Merton . After two unsuccessful attempts to be elected to the House of Commons , she was elected as the MP for Maidenhead in 1997 . From 1999 to 2010 , May held a number of roles in Shadow Cabinets . She was also Chairwoman of the Conservative Party from 2002 to 2003 . When the coalition government was formed after the 2010 general election , May was appointed Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities , but gave up the latter role in 2012 . Reappointed after the Conservative success in the 2015 general election , she became the longest-serving home secretary in over 60 years . During her tenure she pursued reform of the Police Federation , implemented a harder line on drugs policy including the banning of khat , oversaw the introduction of elected Police and Crime Commissioners , the deportation of Abu Qatada , the creation of the National Crime Agency , and brought in additional restrictions on immigration . She is to date , the only woman to hold two of the Great Offices of State
was formed
2010 United Kingdom government formation
Theresa May