David Tredinnick (politician)

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David Tredinnick MP
Member of Parliament
for Bosworth
Incumbent
Assumed office
11 June 1987
Preceded by Adam Butler
Majority 5,032 (9.3%)
Personal details
Born (1950-01-19) 19 January 1950
Worthing, West Sussex, England
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Rebecca Shott
Alma mater Eton College
St John's College, Oxford
University of Cape Town
Website bosworthconservatives.com

David Arthur Stephen Tredinnick (born 19 January 1950) is a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom.

A former officer in the Grenadier Guards Tredinnick has been Member of Parliament for Bosworth in Leicestershire since first being elected in 1987. His main interest in Parliament is health and he has been Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Integrated Healthcare (previously Integrated and Complementary Healthcare) since 2002.[1]

Early life

Tredinnick went to Eton College, then St John's College, Oxford, gaining a MLitt. He then went to the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town, where he gained an MBA. From 1972-3, he was a trainee at EB Savory Milln & Co stockbrokers, then in 1974 he was an account executive at Quadrant Int in 1974. In 1976, he was a salesman at Kalle Infotech UK, and sales manager at Word Right Word Processing from 1977-8. From 1978-9, he was a consultant at Baird Communications NV, and marketing manager at QI Europe Ltd from 1979-81. He was manager at Malden Mitcham Properties from 1981-7.

Parliamentary career

Tredinnick contested the new seat of Cardiff South and Penarth in 1983, winning 35.9% of the votes but losing to James Callaghan. He won Bosworth in Leicestershire in 1987. He was once a Parliamentary Private Secretary, but was forced to resign and was suspended for 20 days [2] after he was found to have accepted a £1000 bribe to ask questions in Parliament, possibly following financial losses as a Lloyds of London name.[3] He has been a Member of Parliament for over 20 years making him one of the most long standing current MPs.

Committee membership

Tredinnick was the Chair of the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments from 1997-2005[4] -which also made him a member of the Liaison Committee, and he became a Member of the Health Select Committee in 2010.[4]
In January 2013 he was co-opted into the Science and Technology Select Committee[5][6] after Caroline Dinenage stepped down and there were no other nominations from the Conservative party.[7]

Support for complementary and alternative medicine

He is a supporter of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). He has made supportive comments in Parliament on homeopathy,[8] despite continued lack of evidence of its effectiveness.[9][10][11] He has supported chiropractic and mentioned the influence of the Moon on blood clotting.[12] In this same debate he characterised scientists as "racially prejudiced".[12] He has tabled several early day motions in support of homeopathy's continued funding on the National Health Service.[13] Tredinnick's views continue to cause amused disbelief[14] in some quarters and a spokesman for the Royal College of Surgeons of England said they would "laugh their heads off" at the suggestion they could not operate at the full moon.[14]

At the 2010 general election, in addition to candidates from the two main parties, Tredinnick was opposed by New Scientist journalist Dr. Michael Brooks who objected to "Tredinnick's outspoken promotion of complementary and alternative medicine." [15] During a hustings debate called by Brooks to "highlight the scientific literacy of the UK's elected representatives" Brooks claimed that Tredinnick regarded homeopathy as a suitable treatment for Malaria and HIV, which Tredinnick did not deny.[15] Tredinnick in turn argued that "alternative treatments are incredibly good value for money" and stated his belief that randomised controlled trials are not effective at evaluating very dilute preparations.[15]

In March 2013 Tredinnick was ridiculed as "nonsensical" by the government's outgoing chief scientist, Sir John Beddington, who said the MP had fallen for the "Galileo fallacy" (Galileo was laughed at but was right, therefore since I am laughed at I must be right).[16]

Support for veterinary homeopathy

In July 2013 Tredinnick sponsored an EDM congratulating a farmer on his decision to use homeopathy with what were claimed to be positive results.[17] The motion was supported by one other MP but the British veterinary association says there is no evidence of any benefit.[17]

Support for astrology

Tredinnick is a supporter of astrology especially the use of it in medical practice.[18] In November 2009, he spoke at a meeting organised by the Astrological Association of Great Britain,[18] where he related his personal experience of astrology and illness, advocating that astrology be integrated into the NHS.[18]

Press comments

Tredinnick's appointment to the Health committee in June 2010 was criticised in two science reports in the Guardian.[19][20] Martin Robbins said his appointment was "an extremely disturbing development" even though "Tredinnick is a figure unlikely to be taken seriously by policymakers"[19] whilst Nature's Adam Rutherford described Tredinnick as "misinformed about a great many things" and said that "giving [him] influence on medical policy ..is a bad move."[20] The Telegraph writer Ian Douglas also described it as "a problem."[14]

His appointment to the Science and technology committee also drew criticism. Andy McSmith in the Independent, cited his views that homeopathy could cure HIV, TB, malaria, urinary infections, diarrhoea, skin eruptions, diabetes, epilepsy, eye infections, intestinal parasites, cancer, and gangrene amongst others and quoted Imran Khan, head of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, as saying that "someone with such incredibly odd views is not helpful".[5] Tom Whipple in the Times said his appointment caused despair,[6] whilst Elizabeth Gibney in the Times Higher Education quoted the Skeptical Voter website as saying that Tredinnick is "perhaps the worst example of scientific illiteracy in government".[7]

Freedom of Information and expenses

In May 2007, David Tredinnick was among 98 MPs who voted to exempt themselves from the Freedom of Information Act,[21] ending the compulsory legal requirement for MPs to disclose their expenses.[22] The move was later overturned by the House of Lords.[23]

In 2009 Tredinnick attempted to claim the £125 cost of attending a course on "intimate relationships" through his Parliamentary expenses.[24] He was also found to have used expenses to purchase astrology software, claiming it was for a debate on alternative medicine.[25]

Personal life

He has a daughter (born February 1987) and son (born July 1989).

References

  1. ↑ "About David". Retrieved 24 July 2013. 
  2. ↑ BBC profile Accessed 20 Feb 2008.
  3. ↑ Patricia Wynn Davies (11 July 1994). "MPs face 'cash for questions' inquiry". Independent newspapers. Retrieved 2 February 2013. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "David Tredinnick". Parliament.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2013. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Andy McSmith (31 January 2013). "David "the awesome power of the moon" Tredinnick joins the Commons Science Committee". The Independent. Retrieved 5 February 2013. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Tom Whipple:Science correspondent (31 January 2013). "Scientists despair as homeopathy Tory MP, David Tredinnick, gets key post". The Times. Retrieved 5 February 2013. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Elizabeth Gibney (1 February 2013). "Tory MP Tredinnick's committee nomination sparks concern". Times Higher Educational. Retrieved 5 February 2013. 
  8. ↑ "House of Commons Debate 19 Feb 2008". Theyworkforyou.com. 2008-02-19. Retrieved 2011-07-25. 
  9. ↑ Ernst E (2002), "A systematic review of systematic reviews of homeopathy", Br J Clin Pharmacol 54 (6): 577–582, doi:10.1046/j.1365-2125.2002.01699.x, PMC 1874503, PMID 12492603 
  10. ↑ "Homeopathy - Issues", National Health Service, retrieved 2009-07-30 
  11. ↑ Altunç U, Pittler MH, Ernst E (2007), "Homeopathy for childhood and adolescence ailments: systematic review of randomized clinical trials", Mayo Clin Proc 82 (1): 69–75, doi:10.4065/82.1.69, PMID 17285788, "However, homeopathy is not totally devoid of risks ... it may delay effective treatment or diagnosis." 
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "House of Commons Debate 14 Oct 2009". Theyworkforyou.com. 2000-06-06. Retrieved 2011-07-25. 
  13. ↑ Tredinnick, David. "Early Day Motions". Retrieved 18 Oct 2010. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Ian Douglas (11 October 2010). "MPs believe the funniest things". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 18 October 2010. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Adam Duckett -deputy editor of the Chemical engineer (2010-04-29). "UK election: Round one to the Science Party". Newscientist.com. Retrieved 2013-02-01. 
  16. ↑ Paul Jump (12 March 2013). "MP triggers homeopathy dispute at science committee". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 14 March 2013. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Matthew Holehouse (9 July 2013). "The MP who wants homeopathy for sheep". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 July 2013. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 http://www.astrologicalassociation.com/pages/reviews/eventDays/09-Brighton.php
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Martin Robbins (26 June 2010). "Conservatives put Dumb and Dumber on the health select committee". Guardian newspapers. Retrieved 3 February 2013. 
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Adam Rutherford (25 June 2010). "Health select committee lunacy". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 February 2013. 
  21. ↑ ""How did my MP vote on the Maclean Bill?", Campaign For Freedom of Information, May 2007". Cfoi.org.uk. Retrieved 2011-07-25. 
  22. ↑ David Hencke, Westminster correspondent (19 May 2007). "MPs vote to exempt themselves from anti-secrecy law". Guardian. Retrieved 2011-07-25. 
  23. ↑ ""The Lords destroy bid to keep MPs' expenses secret", Evening Standard, 14 June 2007". Thisislondon.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-07-25. 
  24. ↑ Allen, Nick (2009-06-20). "MPs' expenses: David Tredinnick tried to claim for 'intimate relationships' course". Telegraph.co.uk. Telegraph Media Group. Retrieved 2010-05-28. 
  25. ↑ Ward, Simon (2009-06-19). "David Tredinnick: £6,000 in phone calls over a year". Leicester Mercury. Northcliffe Media. Retrieved 2010-05-28. 

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Adam Courtauld Butler		 Member of Parliament for Bosworth
1987–present 		Incumbent
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