Valerie Shawcross (born 1958) is a former Labour and Co-operative councillor and London Assembly member. Born in the Middleton area of Lancashire she was brought up in Rochdale. After studying at the University of Liverpool, Shawcross moved to Croydon in 1986 and took up employment with the Inner London Education Authority and then with the Commonwealth Secretariat. In 1994 she was elected to Croydon London Borough Council as a councillor for New Addington ward. In 1997 she became leader of Croydon Council. She held the seat until 2000.