Andrew Dismore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Andrew Dismore MP | |
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Member of Parliament
for Hendon |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1 May 1997 |
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| Preceded by | constituency re-created |
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| Born | 2 September 1954 Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | London School of Economics |
Andrew Hartley Dismore (born September 2, 1954) is a British politician and lawyer. He is the Labour Member of Parliament for Hendon in London.
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[edit] Early life
Andrew was born in Bridlington, Yorkshire, the son of a hotelier. He was educated at the Bridlington grammar school before attending the University of Warwick, where he received a Bachelor of Laws in 1975, and the London School of Economics, where he was awarded his Master of Laws in 1976. He graduated from the The College of Law in 1978.
[edit] Professional life
Andrew joined the Labour Party in 1974. After a brief time during his studies when he worked as an education officer with the General, Municipal, Boilermakers and Allied Trade Union, he began his professional career as a partner with Robin Thompson and Partners Solicitors in 1978. He became a partner in the firm Russell Jones & Walker Solicitors in 1995.
He was elected as a councillor in the City of Westminster in 1982, becoming the Labour group leader in 1990. During his time there, he led the criticism of Shirley Porter and the so-called "homes for votes" scandal.
He was elected to the British House of Commons at the 1997 General Election for the new seat of Hendon, defeating John Gorst, the sitting Conservative MP for the former constituency of Hendon North, by 6,155 votes. He made his maiden speech on June 6, 1997, in which he criticised the government of John Major for closing the Edgware general hospital.[1] He became a member of the Social Security select committee in 1998, and after the 2001 General Election its replacement, the Work and Pensions Select Committee, on which he remained until 2005. He has been a member of the Standards and Privileges Select Committee since 2001, and has also been a member of the Human Rights and Liaison committees since 2005.
Andrew asked Tony Blair a parliamentary question about Holocaust memorial and education, and received a written answer on 10 June 1999. This led to the establishment of Holocaust Memorial Day in the UK.[2] He set the 21st century record for a filibuster in the House of Commons [1] by talking for 197 minutes during the debate of the Criminal Law (Amendment) (Protection of Property) Bill. [2]
He was criticised in 2001 for allowing the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone to campaign for him at the election, even though Livingstone had been expelled from the Labour Party for standing against the Labour mayoral candidate Frank Dobson.
He also gained notoriety for blocking a motion that was supported by all parties by talking so long that the time ran out.[3]
[edit] Voting record
How Andrew Dismore voted on key issues since 2001 (They Work For You):
- Voted against a transparent Parliament.
- Voted for introducing a smoking ban.
- Voted for introducing ID cards.
- Voted for introducing foundation hospitals.
- Voted for introducing student top-up fees.
- Voted for Labour's anti-terrorism laws.
- Voted for the Iraq war.
- Voted against investigating the Iraq war.
- Has never voted on replacing Trident.
- Voted for the hunting ban.
- Voted for equal gay rights.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Andrew Dismore MP's website
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Andrew Dismore MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Andrew Dismore MP
