Barry Sheerman

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Barry John Sheerman (born 17 August 1940, Middlesex) is a politician in the United Kingdom. He is Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament (MP) for Huddersfield.

He was educated at the London School of Economics (BSc Economics 1965) and at London University (MSc 1967). He became a lecturer at the University of Wales, Swansea in 1966 and remained there until his election to parliament in 1979.

Sheerman unsuccessfully contested Taunton in the February 1974 election, and became the MP for Huddersfield East from 1979-1983 and for Huddersfield since the 1983 general election. At the 2005 election, his majority was just 8,351- a swing of 7.1% from Sheerman to his Liberal Democrat challenger.

From 1983-1988 he was the Labour spokesperson on education and employment; for Home Affairs (as Shadow Deputy Home Secretary) from 1988-1992; and for Disabled People's Rights from 1992-1994. He has been Chair of the House of Commons Education and Skills select committee since 2001. The Committee is often critical of government policy.

He is Chair of the Labour Forum for Criminal Justice and of the Cross-Party Advisory Group on Preparation for European Monetary Union. Outside parliament, he is Chair of the National Educational Research and Development Trust, and a trustee of the National Children's Centre. His political interests are listed as trade, industry, finance, further education, education, economy, the European Union, South America and the United States. His recreations include walking, biography and films.

The electoral outlook for the Huddersfield Constituency has been complicated by the opposition parties being split to almost the same total of votes. One possibility is the growing strength of the “Save Huddersfield NHS” candidate, Jackie Grunsell, who was elected to the local authority (Kirklees Council) in 2006. Should this Councillor chose to run in Huddersfield at the next election, the seat could become a four way marginal with the prospect of a candidate under the “NHS First” banner being elected to represent the area.

Barry Sheerman married Pamela Elizabeth Brenchley in 1965 with whom he has one son and three daughters. He lives in a nearby village called Norwood Green, which is outside the constituency town of Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

[edit] External links

• MP Homepage

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Joseph Mallalieu	Member of Parliament for Huddersfield East 1979–1979	Succeeded by constituency abolished
Preceded by new constituency	Member of Parliament for Huddersfield 1983 – present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Malcolm Wicks	Chairman, Education & Skills Select Committee 2001 – present	Incumbent