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.

Randall was educated 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-Croatian language and literature. His involvement in politics came about through his family's store, Randalls of Uxbridge, where he was managing director.

In 1994, he became Honorary Treasurer of Uxbridge Conservative Association and was later elected him Chairman.

Randall was elected Member of Parliament for Uxbridge in a by-election following the death of Sir Michael Shersby in the wake of the Labour Party's 1997 landslide election victory. Randall had been an Agent for Shersby throughout the 1997 General Election campaign. He became the first Conservative candidate to win a parliamentary by-election since William Hague's victory in Richmond in 1989.

During his political career he has sat on the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee and its Environment Sub-Committee. He is strongly in favour of 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. He was later reappointed as a Whip in 2003. At the end of 2005 he was promoted to Conservative Assistant Chief Whip.

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