Ruth Ashley Charman Dalton (born 15 August 1972) is a British politician and former community worker who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for West Lancashire since the 2023 West Lancashire by-election, succeeding Rosie Cooper.

[1] A member of the Labour Party, she was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health and Prevention in 2025.

Ruth Ashley Charman Dalton[2] was born on 15 August 1972[3][4] and raised in Leyland, South Ribble, in Lancashire.

[7] She attended All Hallows Catholic High School in Penwortham (1983–1988) and Preston College (1989–1991), and obtained a BA in English and politics (1996) and a DipHE in professional development (voluntary sector) (1997) from Middlesex University.

[16] In the House of Commons she was Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities on the Opposition frontbench of Keir Starmer until July 2024.