[1] White was born in Belfast, the daughter of Dr Thomas Jones, commonly known as "TJ", a noted civil servant, educationalist and friend of the establishment.

She was educated at St Paul's Girls' School, London, and Somerville College, Oxford, where she read Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

During World War II, White joined the Women's Voluntary Service and became Welsh Regional Secretary.

She also worked as a civil servant at the Board of Education until 1945 and after the War as a political correspondent for both the Manchester Evening News and the BBC.

In 1970, she retired from the House of Commons and was created a life peer on 12 October 1970 taking the title Baroness White, of Rhymney in the County of Monmouth.