John Randall (UK politician)

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For other persons named John Randall, see John Randall (disambiguation).

Alexander John Randall, known as John Randall, (born August 5, 1955, Uxbridge) is a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom.

He went to school at Rutland House School in Hillingdon and later to Merchant Taylors' School in Hertfordshire. In 1979, he graduated from the University of London with an Upper Second degree in Serbo-Croat language and literature. His involvement in politics came about through his family's shop: Randalls of Uxbridge where he was managing director.

In 1994, he became Honorary Treasurer of Uxbridge Conservative Association, a group which later elected him Chairman.

In 1997, Randall was elected Member of Parliament for Uxbridge, which was the result of a by-election following the death of Sir Michael Shersby to whom he had been an Agent throughout the General Election campaign. The by-election success was the first for the Conservatives for several years.

During his political career he has sat on the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee and its Environment Sub-Committee and has often disputed environmental issues strongly, as well as those of services in his constituency. He has a strong interest in preventing the expansion of Heathrow Airport.

In 1999 he was appointed as an Opposition Whip, but, due to his opposition to Britain's involvement in the Iraq War, he resigned as a matter of conscience in March 2003, one of the few Conservative MPs to do so. He was later reappointed as a Whip in 2003. At the end of 2005 he was promoted to become the Conservative Assistant Chief Whip.

John Randall is married to Kate, and has two sons and a daughter. He has interests in birdwatching, and is a member of Middlesex Cricket Club and Uxbridge Football Club.