Lurline Champagnie OBE, (born 1935/1936 in Jamaica),^[1] is a British politician who became the first black woman to stand as a parliamentary candidate for the Conservative Party in the 1992 general election, losing to future Labour Party leader, Jeremy Corbyn. She was a Mayor in the London Borough of Harrow, and a councillor for the Pinner ward, being the first black person to hold these positions.^[2]

Born in Jamaica, Champagnie emigrated to Britain in 1956.^[2][3] She was first employed in London as a punch operator.^[4] She trained as a nurse at Mount Vernon Hospital,^[2][3][5] including time in the burns and plastic surgery unit.^[2] After travelling to the US on a scholarship in 1964, she became aware of the possible supports available for women after mastectomies.^[5] She worked for a prosthesis supplier, and then ran her own business catering for post-mastectomy patients.^[5]

She began her political career at the 1982 Tory party conference declaring: "I am Conservative, black and British, and I'm proud of all three",^{[2][3][4][6][7]} for which she received a standing ovation.^[3][4][6][7] At the 1984 Tory party conference, Champagnie was caught up in the Brighton bombing, and as a trained nurse, was able to administer help to the victims.^[2]

In 1986, she was elected as a councillor for the ward of Pinner, thus becoming the first black councillor in the London Borough of Harrow.^[4] She represented Pinner until 2010.^[2] In 1992, when Champagnie stood for election to Parliament in Islington North, she became the first black woman to stand as a parliamentary candidate for the Conservatives.^{[3][8][9][10]} In 2004, Champagnie became the first black Mayor of Harrow,^[2] and in 2005 was runner-up in Britain's "Mayor of the Year Award".^[11]

In 2008, Champagnie became part of the Government Equalities Office cross-party task force in aid of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) women.^[11][1]

In December 2009, Champagnie was appointed an OBE in the Queen's 2010 New Year Honours list.^[2][1]

Champagnie and her husband Clive have three sons.^[3][4]

• British African-Caribbean people