Nicholas Winterton

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Sir Nicholas Raymond Winterton, (born March 31, 1938, Rugeley, Staffordshire) is a British politician, and Conservative Member of Parliament for Macclesfield. Sir Nicholas undertook his National Service 1957-1959 and was commissioned into the 14/20 Kings Hussars serving in Germany.

He served as a member of the West Midlands Conservative Council from 1967 to 1971 and was a Warwickshire County Councillor representing a coal mining and industrial division in North Warwickshire from 1967-1972. He has been MP for Macclesfield since 1971, when he won a by-election and has always held the seat comfortably. He has never been promoted to a ministerial or shadow role due to his reputation for being bold and outspoken.

When dealing with the concerns of his constituents, he prefers to visit their residence rather than call them to his office. It is a much more effective way of 'finding the seat of a problem' as Sir Nicholas said.

Sir Nicholas is considered a right-wing Tory, and opposed the reduction of the age of consent for same-sex sex to 16, the ban on fox hunting and supported Section 28. For some years he was a member of the Conservative Monday Club and as far back as 26 January 1981 he was the Guest-of-Honour at the Club's Africa Group Dinner at St Stephen's Club, Westminster, where Harold Soref was in the chair.

Sir Nicholas wears a small badge in the design of the pound sterling symbol. This is to show his opposition to any plans for the Euro being instated as Great Britain's national currency.

He is currently the senior member of the Speaker's Panel of Chairmen, and one of the four members of the panel who takes sittings in Westminster Hall on a frequent basis with the honorary title of Deputy Speaker. In 2002, he was knighted for his services to Parliament.

He is also Patron, and Chairman, of The Zimbabwe-Rhodesia Relief Fund, a registered charity.

Sir Nicholas is married to Ann Winterton, MP for the neighbouring constituency of Congleton. In May 2002 Ann was sacked from her position as Shadow Rural Affairs Minister for telling a racist joke at a dinner at Congleton Rugby Club. Speaking to reporters about the incident, Nick said:

"Would you condemn your wife? I will not condemn my wife."

"Am I a racist? No. Is my wife a racist? No. If she offended anybody, she has apologised. I hope you will leave it at that."[1]

Winterton supported a bill put forth in June 2005 by Laurence Robertson that would almost entirely ban abortion. [2]

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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Arthur Vere Harvey		 Member of Parliament for Macclesfield
1971 – present		 Incumbent
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