Members of Parliament for Prestwich - Prestwich and Whitefield Guide

Member of Parliament for Bury South

Party

Committees

Group Against Antisemitism, Justice For Road Traffic Victims (associate Group), War Crimes Group

Biography

MP Since - 1997 Majority - 8,912 Born - 04/03/1967, Married, 2 sons.

Education - William Hulme Grammar School, Stand College, Bury Further Education College.

Previous Occupation - Coordinator, Contact Community Care Group (1986-89), Community Care Manager, Jewish Social Services (1989-92), Chief Executive, Jewish Federation (1992-97).

Personal Overview - Elected in 1997, with a keen interest in Local Government sectors of Education and Social Services. Also interested in Law and Order issues. Member of the Co-operative Party. Resourceful and focused - set up Contact Community Care Group in the mid-1980s to provide support for people with learning disabilities. Committed Manchester City supporter. Promotion to junior ministerial office meant he could step aside from the burden of carrying Stephen Byers' bags, instead getting to deal with his own Red Boxes. He has arguably the highest profile of any serving MP (Greville Janner is now a peer) in terms of Jewish links - his wife has worked for Kosher food company Rakusens, and he was employed in Jewish social care services. Staunchly loyalist he has been unfavourably described as possessing 'glutinous fealty'; whatever critics claim, his ministerial promotions initially indicated that he had the favour of the leadership, although sideways moves in both May 2006 and October 2008 may signal a change of fortunes. Was promoted into the Foreign Office at the June 2009 reshuffle.

Political History - Councillor, Bury Metropolitan Borough Council (1990-98). Member for Bury South (1997-). Member of the Deregulation Select Committee (1997-99), Health Select Committee (1999). PPS to Rt. Hon. Stephen Byers at the Department of Trade & Industry (1999-2001), Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Education & Skills (2001-05). Economic Secretary to the Treasury (2005-06). Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health (for Care Services) (2006-08). Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Development (2008-09). Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2009-).

Characteristics - With age and a strong constituency base in his favour he has the opportunity to gain direct political experience.

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