Susan Williams was born in Cork, Ireland.  She was brought up in the North West of England and educated at La Sagesse High School in Jesmond.

She has a degree in Applied Nutrition and before entering politics she worked for ten years as a nutritionist for a charity specialising in help and support for sufferers of Multiple Sclerosis.

Susan lives in Hale, Cheshire and is married to Alex and has three children Jessica, Edward and Elizabeth. Her interests outside of politics include playing squash (for beginners), pool, gardening and reading.  She also enjoys hill walking in Scotland when times permits.

Susan Williams became involved in politics in 1997, when legislation was introduced to allow parents to petition for a ballot to end Grammar School education.  She led a campaign in Trafford to raise awareness of the implications of this legislation and thus Grammar Schools remain safe in Trafford.

Susan was elected to Trafford Council in 1998 and became Deputy Leader f the opposition in 2000, the first female leader of the Trafford Conservative Group in August 2002 and the youngest Council Leader on Trafford Council in June 2004, when the Conservatives won by a landslide majority.  Trafford remains one of the few Metropolitan authorities in overall Conservative control.

Susan stood down as leader of Trafford Council in May 2009 in orde to devote her full time efforts to Bolton West.

She stood for Parliament in 2001 in Wythenshawe and Sale East.  Her special interests are education and health.