Martin Callanan
| The Lord Callanan | |
|---|---|
| Chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists | |
| In office 11 December 2011 – 12 June 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Jan Zahradil |
| Succeeded by | Syed Kamall |
| Leader of the Conservative Party in the European Parliament | |
| In office 23 November 2010 – 1 March 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Timothy Kirkhope |
| Succeeded by | Richard Ashworth |
| Member of the European Parliament for North East England | |
| In office 10 June 1999 – 2 July 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Jonathan Arnott |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 August 1961 Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Alma mater | Northumbria University |
Martin John Callanan, Baron Callanan (born 8 August 1961) is a British Conservative Party politician. He was Member of the European Parliament for North East England and Chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists group from 1999 to 2014.[1] Callanan failed his bid to win re-election in the 2014 European Parliament elections, becoming the first ever sitting chairman of a European parliamentary group to lose his seat.[2] On 8 August 2014, it was announced that he will be made a Conservative life peer in the House of Lords.[3]
Early life
Callanan was born on 8 August 1961 in Newcastle upon Tyne.[4] In 1985,[4] he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Newcastle Polytechnic.[5]
Political career
Local Councillor
Callanan was a Conservative Councillor on Tyne and Wear County Council between 1983 and 1986 (when the council was abolished) and Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council between 1987 and 1996. He was the last Conservative to win an election in Gateshead. He worked as a project engineer at Scottish and Newcastle breweries from 1986 to 1998, when he was elected to the European Parliament.[4]
He unsuccessfully stood as a parliamentary candidate for Washington (in the 1987 election), Gateshead East (in the 1992 election), and Tynemouth (in the 1997 election).[6]
Member of European Parliament
He was a Member of the European Parliament for the North East England constituency from 1999, re-elected in 2004 and 2009.[7] In December 2011, he became the leader of the European Conservatives and Reformists group in the Parliament; as a leader of a parliamentary group, he had a seat in the political leadership of the European Parliament, the Conference of Presidents.[8]
He was a member of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, and was also member of the two European Parliament's committee on the environment, public health and food safety (ENVI).[8] Callanan is a regular contributor to ConservativeHome, writing a monthly report.[9]
Callanan failed his bid to win re-election in the 2014 European Parliament elections, becoming the first ever sitting chairman of a European parliamentary group to lose his seat.[2]
Callanan was created a Life Peer on 24 September 2014 taking the title Baron Callanan, of Low Fell in the County of Tyne and Wear.[10]
Personal life
Callanan vehemently opposed the erection of the "Angel of the North" sculpture by Antony Gormley.[11] Martin has a wife, Jayne and a son, Joe.
References
- ↑ "Conservative MEPs elect new Chairman". Conservative Party. 24 November 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "ECR leader out of Parliament". EUObserver. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- ↑ "Michael Cashman becomes lord". European Voice. 8 August 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Martin CALLANAN". MEP Biographies. European Parliament. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- ↑ "Profile at martincallanan.com".
- ↑ "Martin Callanan MEP at conservatives.com". Retrieved 31 July 2011.
- ↑ "European Election 2009: North East". BBC News. 7 June 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/4536/MARTIN_CALLANAN_home.html
- ↑ "Martin Callanan MEP". Conservative Home.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 61002. p. 18966. 30 September 2014.
- ↑ "Why the nation needs an Angel of the South", The Guardian, 29 January 2008