Paul Holmes (politician)

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Paul Holmes MP

Paul Robert Holmes (born 16 January 1957, Sheffield) is a politician in the United Kingdom. He is Liberal Democrat parliamentary party chairman and Member of Parliament for Chesterfield, previously held by Tony Benn, and was first elected in 2001. Before becoming an MP, Holmes was a history teacher for 23 years.

His election as chairman of the parliamentary party in 2005 was a surprise to many, since it came at the expense of incumbent chairman Matthew Taylor (a close friend of Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy). Commentators have since attributed the result to dissatisfaction with some elements of Kennedy's leadership and a belief amongst MPs that the role of party chairman should be more that of a backbenchers' shop steward and less under the influence of the leadership.

Holmes supported Simon Hughes in the leadership election following Paddy Ashdown's retirement in 1999. At the 2005 party conference, he voted against plans by the leadership to support capping the European Union budget at 1% of GDP and to privatise the post office (and was on the winning side in both votes). However, he publicly declared himself to be in full support of Kennedy's leadership following rumours that Hughes was planning a leadership challenge. [1]

Holmes is a member of the House of Commons Education & Skills Select Committee.

In the leadership election caused by the resignation of Charles Kennedy, Paul Holmes took on the role of chair to Simon Hughes' leadership campaign

Paul Holmes is a founding member of the centre-left Beveridge Group within the Liberal Democrats. He is also an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society.