Members Of Parliament in Southampton, Hampshire - Wiltshire Times

MPs: John Denham MP; Keith Taylor MEP;

Southampton, Itchen (House of Commons)

Rt Hon. John Denham MP (Labour)

Surgery: 20-22 Southampton Street
Southampton
SO15 2ED

Surgery Tel: 023 80339807

MP Since - 1992 Majority - 192 Born - 15/07/1953, Divorced 1 son, 1 daughter, Partner, 1 son.
Education - Woodroffe Comprehensive School Lyme Regis. Southampton University.
Previous Occupation - Campaigner for Friends of the Earth (1977-79). Campaign Organiser 'War on Want' (1984-88). Author of several publications (on poverty, youth and reconstruction). Ex Consultant to voluntary organisations on lobbying (1988-92). Is the author of several publications.

Personal Overview - Comes from the left of the Labour Party, but has adapted his thinking in recent years to the satisfaction of the New Labour leadership. He has had local authority experience on Southampton City Council where he focused on directly community related issues (see History). Seems inclined towards a positive stance on European issues. Tends to be quite liberal on social issues, having interests in Health, Housing and Environment. Has advanced in Government, gaining the Welfare Reform responsibility in the 1998 Government reshuffle, and moved into the Department of Health following changes caused by the resignation of Peter Mandleson MP. Although initially with the difficult pensions portfolio (caught between then Social Security and Treasury) he then prospered in Government, partly through short tenures avoiding any mud sticking. Resigned as a Minister at the Home Office in March 2003 in protest at the Government's decision to go into conflict with Iraq without a second UN resolution. Was appointed the Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee in the Summer of 2003. Made a surprising return to the Cabinet in 2007, covering the Innovation, Universities and Skills part of the revamped Education and Skills Department. Replaced Hazel Blears, who had resigned as the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government at the June 2009 reshuffle. Achieved promotion in October 2010 to hold the Shadow Business portfolio. Anounced just prior to the October 2011 reshuffle that he would be standing down from the Labour front bench.

Political History - Cllr Hampshire County Council (1981-89). Cllr Southampton City Council (now Unitary) (1989-93, St Luke's Ward), Chairman, Housing Committee, and Community Action Committee. Member for Southampton Itchen (1992-). Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Pensions) (1997-98), Social Security Minister with responsibility for Welfare Reform (1998), Minister of State, Department of Health (1999-2001), Home Office (2001-03). Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee (2003-07), member of the Liaison Select Committee (2003-07). Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills (2007-09). Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (2009-10). Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (2010). Shadow Minister for the South East of England (2010-11). Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (2010-11). Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband (2011-).

Characteristics - An ex issue campaigner, is locally aware with Local Government experience.

Business Tel: 020 7219 4515

Email: denhamj@parliament.uk

Rt Hon. John Denham MP (Labour) on Twitter

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Interests: Environment,Housing,Law & Order,General Economy,Health,Development Issues,Local Government

Commitee membership

• All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cardiac Risk in the Young (Member)
• Lords and Commons Cricket Club (Associate Group) (Member)
• All-Party Parliamentary Group on Faith and Society (Member)

South East (European Parliament)

Mr Keith Taylor MEP (Green)

MEP Since - 2010 Born - 01/08/1953. Partner (Lizzie).
Education - N/a.
Previous Occupation - Worked in sales (1972-1980). Self-employed/Co-Director of a local business (1980-1999). Regional Liaison Officer for Caroline Lucas MEP (2002-2007).

Personal Overview - Replaced the outgoing Caroline Lucas here in June 2010 after she was successful in her bid to become the Green party's first MP at Westminster. He is an experienced Councillor, having led the Green Group in Brighton for a number of years. He has also shown an interest in foreign affairs issues, as a Councillor was active in campaigning to secure the release of Brighton resident Omar Degayes from the Guantanamo Bay detention facility. He has also been involved in High Court action supporting families with Autistic children. Within the party, he has been a spokesperson on planning and regeneration as well as a Principal Speaker at the time when the party had not adopted a single leader. He has also been involved in policy development with the party election manifesto. Locally, he he is likely to have gained a good knowledge of his electoral region through his work for his predecessor.

Political History - Councillor, Brighton and Hove City Council (1999-2010). Green Group Leader (2001-08). Chair, Association of Green Councillors (2001-2002). Principal Speaker for the Green Party of England & Wales (2004-2006). Regeneration Spokesperson (2008-10). MEP South East Region (2010-). Member of the Afghanistan Delegation (2010-), Substitute member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (2010-) and the Iran Delegation (2010-). Member of the International Trade Committee (2010-) and the Transport and Tourism Committee (2010-). Substitute member of the Petitions Committee (2010-).

Other Information - Has been a Vice President of the UK’s Local Government Association Group in the European Parliament. Former representative for Brighton and Hove on the UN Peace Messenger City project and a City representative to the Local Government Association.

Intergroups - Member of the LGBT Rights Group.

Business Tel: +32 (0)2 28 45153

Email: keith.taylor@europarl.europa.eu

Mr Keith Taylor MEP (Green) on Twitter

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Interests: Environment,Economic Regeneration,Womans Issues,Regional Policy,Conservation

Commitee membership

• Petitions (Substitute)
• Transport & Tourism (Member)
• International Trade (Member)

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