Michael Fallon

For the American physician/candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, see Mike Fallon.
The Right Honourable
Michael Fallon
Secretary of State for Defence
Incumbent
Assumed office
15 July 2014
Prime Minister David Cameron
Preceded by Philip Hammond
Minister of State for Portsmouth
In office
16 January – 15 July 2014
Prime Minister David Cameron
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by Matthew Hancock
Minister of State for Energy
In office
28 March 2013 – 15 July 2014
Prime Minister David Cameron
Preceded by John Hayes
Succeeded by Matthew Hancock
Minister of State for Business and Enterprise
In office
4 September 2012 – 15 July 2014
Prime Minister David Cameron
Preceded by Mark Prisk
Succeeded by Matthew Hancock
Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party
In office
4 September 2010 – 4 September 2012
Leader David Cameron
Preceded by Lord Ashcroft
Succeeded by Sarah Newton
Member of Parliament
for Sevenoaks
Incumbent
Assumed office
1 May 1997
Preceded by Mark Wolfson
Majority 17,515 (35.4%)
Member of Parliament
for Darlington
In office
9 June 1983 – 9 April 1992
Preceded by Ossie O'Brien
Succeeded by Alan Milburn
Personal details
Born 14 May 1952
Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Wendy Elisabeth Payne
Alma mater University of St Andrews

Michael Cathel Fallon MP (born 14 May 1952) is a British Conservative politician and Member of Parliament for Sevenoaks.

Since 15 July 2014, he has served as Secretary of State for Defence and a member of the National Security Council (United Kingdom), having previously been Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party.

Early life

Epsom College

Fallon, the son of surgeon Martin Fallon OBE, was educated at Craigflower Preparatory School near Dunfermline and at Epsom College, an independent boys' school in Surrey. He then went up to the University of St Andrews, where he read Classics and Ancient History, graduating in 1974 with a Master of Arts (MA) degree.

Political career

As a student, Fallon was active in the European Movement and the "Yes" youth campaign in the 1975 referendum. After university he joined the Conservative Research Department, working first for Lord Carrington in the House of Lords until 1977 and then as European Desk Officer until 1979. In 1979 he became Research Assistant to former MEP, Baroness Elles.

In July 1982 he was selected as the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Darlington to fight the Darlington by-election on 24 March 1983, following the death of Labour MP Ted Fletcher. Although he lost to Labour's Ossie O'Brien by some 2,412 votes, just 77 days later he defeated O'Brien by 3,438 votes in the June 1983 general election. He remained MP for Darlington until the 1992 General Election when he was defeated by Labour's Alan Milburn by a margin of 2,798 votes.

He re-entered Parliament at the 1997 general election representing the safe Conservative constituency of Sevenoaks following the retirement of the sitting Tory MP, Mark Wolfson, and has served as the MP there since.

Parliamentary career

In parliament Michael Fallon was appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Energy Cecil Parkinson following the 1987 General Election, and in 1988 joined the government of Margaret Thatcher as an Assistant Whip, becoming a Lord Commissioner to the Treasury in 1990.

Mrs Thatcher appointed him Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Education and Science in July 1990 a position he continued to hold under the new premiership of John Major. He remained in that office until his 1992-General Election defeat.

Between 1992-97, Fallon set up a chain of children’s nurseries called Just Learning with funding from Dragons' Den (UK) star Duncan Bannatyne, where he became chief executive.[1]

Following his return to Parliament at the 1997 General Election he was appointed Opposition Spokesman for Trade and Industry and then Shadow Financial Secretary to the Treasury, but he resigned from the front-bench owing to ill-health in October 1998, and remained on the backbenches until his promotion as Deputy Chairman of the Party.

From 1999 he was a member of the Treasury Select Committee, and chairman of its Sub-Committee (2001–10). He also served as a 1922 Committee executive between 2005-07.

In September 2012, he was sworn of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom,[2] upon his appointment as Minister for Business and Enterprise.

Fallon has been a director at Tullett Prebon, a leading brokerage firm in the City of London, and one of the biggest supporters of the privatisation of Royal Mail.[3]

In January 2014 Fallon was appointed Minister for Portsmouth,[4] subsequently being promoted to the Cabinet, on 15 July 2014, as Secretary of State for Defence.

Run-up to the 2015 General election

During the run-up to the 2015 general election Fallon wrote an article in the Times saying that Ed Miliband had stabbed his brother in the back to become Labour leader and he would also stab the UK in the back to become prime minister. Fallon subsequently declined the opportunity to describe Miliband as a decent person and his comments embarrassed Conservative supporters. Miliband’s response saying that Fallon had fallen below his usual standards and demeaned himself were seen by the New Statesman as dignified, contrasting with Fallon’s counter-productive personal attack.[5]

An Election Communication posted to his constituents states that Fallon "has taken a close interest in family issues, voting against gay marriage and supporting parental responsibility. He works closely with local churches when moral matters come before Parliament.". [6]

Expenses scandal

According to the Daily Telegraph, Fallon, Deputy Chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, claimed for mortgage repayments on his Westminster flat in their entirety. MPs are only allowed to claim for interest charges.[7]

Between 2002 and 2004, Fallon regularly claimed £1,255 per month in capital repayments and interest, rather than the £700-£800 for the interest-component alone.[7] After his error was noticed by staff at the Commons Fees Office in September 2004, he asked: "Why has no one brought this to my attention before?" [7] He repaid £2,200 of this over-claim, but was allowed to offset the remaining £6,100 against his allowance. After realising they had failed to notice the excessive claims, Commons staff reportedly suggested Fallon submit fresh claims which would "reassign" the surplus payments to other costs he had legitimately incurred.[7]

Personal life

Fallon has been married to Wendy Elisabeth Payne since 1986 and they have two sons. The family lives in Sundridge, Kent. While he was out of Parliament he was a director of Quality Care Homes plc and other companies founded by Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne.

He was banned from driving for 18 months back in 1983 after admitting a drink driving offence during the general election campaign.[8]

Publications

References

  1. ↑ Holland, Tiffany (14 September 2012). "Profile: Michael Fallon, Minister for business". retail-week.com. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  2. ↑ "Michael Fallon becomes business minister". Telegraph.co.uk. 5 September 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "Debate on Royal Mail Privatisation". Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  4. ↑ "BBC News - Minister for Portsmouth to be Michael Fallon". BBC News. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  5. ↑ George Eaton (9 April 2015). "Michael Fallon's attack backfires, leaving Miliband to emerge as the decent man". The New Statesman. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  6. ↑ http://www.michaelfallon.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Fallon-M-A5-4pp-Royal-Mail.pdf
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Jon Swaine (21 May 2009). "MPs' expenses: Michael Fallon claimed £8,300 too much in mortgage expenses". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  8. ↑ The Guardian, News in Brief, 5 July 1983:

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Ossie O'Brien		 Member of Parliament
for Darlington
1983–1992 		Succeeded by
Alan Milburn
Preceded by
Mark Wolfson		 Member of Parliament
for Sevenoaks
1997–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
The Lord Ashcroft		 Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party
2010–2012 		Succeeded by
Sarah Newton
Political offices
Preceded by
Mark Prisk		 Minister of State for Business and Enterprise
2012–2014 		Succeeded by
Matthew Hancock
Preceded by
John Hayes		 Minister of State for Energy
2013–2014
New office Minister of State for Portsmouth
2014
Preceded by
Philip Hammond		 Secretary of State for Defence
2014–present 		Incumbent