| Sir Graham Bright | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Luton South |
|
| In office 9 June 1983 – 1 May 1997 |
|
| Preceded by | New constituency |
| Succeeded by | Margaret Moran |
| Member of Parliament for Luton East |
|
| In office 3 May 1979 – 9 June 1983 |
|
| Preceded by | Ivor Clemitson |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 April 1942 Horndon-on-the-Hill |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse(s) | Lady Valerie Bright |
| Children | Rupert |
| Religion | Christian |
Sir Graham Frank James Bright (born 2 April 1942, in Horndon-on-the-Hill) is a British politician and businessman. A member of the Conservative Party, he served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1979-97.
Bright became an MP by winning the constituency of Luton East from the Labour Party at the 1979 general election. After constituency boundary changes, he transferred to Luton South at the 1983 general election, holding the seat until his defeat at the 1997 general election by Labour's Margaret Moran.
During his time in Parliament, Bright served as a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to various members of the Cabinet for 18 years, most notably to John Major for his first four years as Prime Minister (1990–94). Bright then went on to serve as a Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1994-97. He received a knighthood in 1994.
Bright introduced a Private Member's Bill to the House of Commons in 1983. This was passed as the Video Recordings Act 1984 that required all commercial video recordings offered for sale or for hire within the UK to carry a classification.
Until he was 15, Bright was educated at Hassenbrook Secondary Modern School in Stanford-le-Hope, which became a comprehensive school from September 1972. He later took courses at Thurrock Technical College. Outside politics, he worked as a marketing executive, factory manager and company director. An active Young Conservative, he cut his political teeth as a member of Thurrock Borough Council from 1965–79, and of Essex County Council from 1967-70. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament in 1970 and 1974 in Thurrock, and in Dartford at the second general election of 1974, before being elected in Luton South in 1979.[1]
Bright was also featured in the infamous comedy programme, Brass Eye, although after successfully complaining to the Independent Television Commission clips featuring him were removed from all subsequent broadcasts.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ivor Clemitson |
Member of Parliament for Luton East 1979–1983 |
Constituency abolished |
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for Luton South 1983–1997 |
Succeeded by Margaret Moran |