Shirley Porter

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Dame Shirley Porter, Lady Porter (née Cohen; 29 November 1930 – 2 May 2026) was a British politician who led Westminster City Council in London from 1983 to 1991, representing the Conservative Party. She was the daughter and heiress of Sir Jack Cohen, the founder of Tesco supermarkets. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1991 by John Major after delivering victory in Westminster for the Conservatives in the 1990 local elections. While leader of Westminster City Council, Porter oversaw the "Building Stable Communities" policy – later described as the "homes for votes scandal" – and was subsequently accused of gerrymandering. The policy was judged illegal by the district auditor, and a surcharge of £27 million was levied on her in 1996. This was later raised to £42 million with interest and costs. She eventually settled in 2004, paying a final settlement of £12.3 million. Porter moved to Herzliya Pituah in Israel in 1994 during the inquiry into homes for votes. She bought a flat in London in 2006, but continued to spend most of her time in Israel. She was a governor of Tel Aviv University and, through the Porter Foundation, funded buildings and projects at the university.