Alan Campbell (politician)
Encyclopedia
Alan Campbell is a British
Labour Party
politician
who has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Tynemouth
since 1997
. He served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
at the Home Office
from 2008 until 2010, when the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats came to power. He is currently the Deputy Chief Whip
of the Labour Party
.
and went to the Blackfyne Grammar School (in the year above the actress Denise Welch
) on Durham Road (A691), Blackhill in the town before attending the University of Lancaster
where he was awarded a BA
in Politics. He then gained a PGCE
at the University of Leeds
, before finishing his education at the Newcastle Polytechnic
with a MA
in History. He began his career as a history teacher at Whitley Bay High School
in 1981, after eight years there he became the Head of the Sixth Form
at the Hirst High School on Lichfield Close in Ashington
, then head of department, where he remained until he was elected to the British House of Commons
.
-held marginal constituency of Tynemouth at the 1997 general election
where he defeated Martin Callanan
by 11,273 votes. He made his maiden speech
on 2 June 1997.http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo970602/debtext/70602-17.htm#70602-17_spnew0. Following his election, Alan Campbell was a member of the Public Accounts Select Committee for the duration of his first parliament. After the 2001 General Election
he became the Parliamentary Private Secretary
(PPS) to the Minister of State
at the Cabinet Office
Gus Macdonald
, and in 2003 became the PPS to Adam Ingram
at the Ministry of Defence
. He entered the government of Tony Blair
after the 2005 General Election
as an assistant Whip, being promoted to a full whip in 2006. On 5 October 2008, Campbell was promoted to the Home Office
as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
.
At the 2010 General Election
Alan Campbell was one of the very few Labour MPs re-elected by an increased majority. After Ed Miliband
was appointed party leader Alan was appointed Deputy Chief Whip of the Labour Party serving under Rosie Winterton
as Chief Whip
.
In Parliament, Campbell has not broken the Labour Party whip
and voted in favour of committing UK troops to the raq war.
As a member of the government, he supported proposals for foundation hospitals, top-up fees
for students, Identity cards, and renewing Trident missiles
. With regard to issues on which there was no whip, Campbell supported equal gay rights, legal restrictions on hunting
foxes with hounds, and a partially elected House of Lords
.
More recently, he opposed raising the tuition fee cap to £9,000 and the government's education proposals on Academies and Free Schools.
His Additional Cost Allowance for 2007/2008 was £21,188 .
This was broken down as
and they have a son, James (born September 1995), a daughter, Emily (born September 1993). In May 2000, he had an operation at Newcastle General Hospital
to remove a benign tumour from the top of his spine.
Articles
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Tynemouth
Tynemouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Tynemouth is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament using the first past the post voting system.-History:...
since 1997
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
. He served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
A Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State is the lowest of three tiers of government minister in the government of the United Kingdom, junior to both a Minister of State and a Secretary of State....
at the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
from 2008 until 2010, when the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats came to power. He is currently the Deputy Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
of the Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
.
Early life
Alan Campbell was born and bred in ConsettConsett
Consett is a town in the northwest of County Durham, England, about southwest of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is home to 27,394 .Consett sits high on the edge of the Pennines. In 1841, it was a village community of only 145, but it was about to become a boom town: below the ground was coking coal and...
and went to the Blackfyne Grammar School (in the year above the actress Denise Welch
Denise Welch
Jacqueline Denise Healy is an English actress, dancer and television presenter.-Early life:Denise Welch was born in Ebchester, County Durham, to father Vin and mother Ann and has a younger sister Debbie...
) on Durham Road (A691), Blackhill in the town before attending the University of Lancaster
Lancaster University
Lancaster University, officially The University of Lancaster, is a leading research-intensive British university in Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964 and initially based in St Leonard's Gate until moving to a purpose-built 300 acre campus at...
where he was awarded a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Politics. He then gained a PGCE
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a one-year course in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for undergraduate degree holders that allows them to train to be a teacher....
at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, before finishing his education at the Newcastle Polytechnic
Northumbria University
Northumbria University is an academic institution located in Newcastle upon Tyne in the North East of England. It is a member of the University Alliance.- History :...
with a MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in History. He began his career as a history teacher at Whitley Bay High School
Whitley Bay High School
Whitley Bay High School is a foundation state school in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, England.-Admissions:It is a mixed school with around 1600 pupils, 500 of these being in the school's Sixth Form. In 2006 the school was awarded Specialist College Status in Science & Humanities. The school has...
in 1981, after eight years there he became the Head of the Sixth Form
Sixth form
In the education systems of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and of Commonwealth West Indian countries such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Jamaica and Malta, the sixth form is the final two years of secondary education, where students, usually sixteen to eighteen years of age,...
at the Hirst High School on Lichfield Close in Ashington
Ashington
Ashington is a town and civil parish in Northumberland, England with a population of around 27,000 people; it was once a centre of the coal mining industry. The town is located some north of Newcastle upon Tyne off the A189. The south of the town is bordered by the River Wansbeck...
, then head of department, where he remained until he was elected to the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
.
Parliamentary career
He contested the ConservativeConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
-held marginal constituency of Tynemouth at the 1997 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
where he defeated Martin Callanan
Martin Callanan
Martin Callanan is a British Conservative Party politician. He has been a Member of the European Parliament for the North East England constituency since 1999, and was re-elected in 2004 and 2009...
by 11,273 votes. He made his maiden speech
Maiden speech
A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country...
on 2 June 1997.http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199798/cmhansrd/vo970602/debtext/70602-17.htm#70602-17_spnew0. Following his election, Alan Campbell was a member of the Public Accounts Select Committee for the duration of his first parliament. After the 2001 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
he became the Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
(PPS) to the Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
at the Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
Gus Macdonald
Gus Macdonald, Baron Macdonald of Tradeston
Angus John "Gus" Macdonald, Baron Macdonald of Tradeston, CBE, PC , is a member of the House of Lords, taking the Labour Party Whip....
, and in 2003 became the PPS to Adam Ingram
Adam Ingram (Labour politician)
Adam Paterson Ingram is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow from 1987 to 2010.-Early life:...
at the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
. He entered the government of Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
after the 2005 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
as an assistant Whip, being promoted to a full whip in 2006. On 5 October 2008, Campbell was promoted to the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
A Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State is the lowest of three tiers of government minister in the government of the United Kingdom, junior to both a Minister of State and a Secretary of State....
.
At the 2010 General Election
2010 general election
2010 general election may refer to:* Anguillan general election, 2010* Australian federal election, 2010* Bougainvillean general election, 2010* Brazilian general election, 2010* Burmese general election, 2010* Cook Islands general election, 2010...
Alan Campbell was one of the very few Labour MPs re-elected by an increased majority. After Ed Miliband
Ed Miliband
Edward Samuel Miliband is a British Labour Party politician, currently the Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition...
was appointed party leader Alan was appointed Deputy Chief Whip of the Labour Party serving under Rosie Winterton
Rosie Winterton
Rosalie "Rosie" Winterton is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Doncaster Central since 1997. Formerly a minister within both the Blair and Brown Governments, she first entered the Shadow Cabinet in May 2010 as the Shadow Leader of the House of Commons...
as Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
.
In Parliament, Campbell has not broken the Labour Party whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
and voted in favour of committing UK troops to the raq war.
As a member of the government, he supported proposals for foundation hospitals, top-up fees
Top-up fees
Tuition fees were first introduced across the entire United Kingdom in September 1998 as a means of funding tuition to undergraduate and postgraduate certificate students at universities, with students being required to pay up to £1,000 a year for tuition...
for students, Identity cards, and renewing Trident missiles
UK Trident programme
The UK Trident programme is the United Kingdom's Trident missile-based nuclear weapons programme. Under the programme, the Royal Navy operates 58 nuclear-armed Trident II D-5 submarine-launched ballistic missiles and around 200 nuclear warheads on 4 Vanguard-class ballistic missile submarines from...
. With regard to issues on which there was no whip, Campbell supported equal gay rights, legal restrictions on hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
foxes with hounds, and a partially elected House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
.
More recently, he opposed raising the tuition fee cap to £9,000 and the government's education proposals on Academies and Free Schools.
Expenses
Campbell was not found to have misappropriated any funds by the Legg inquiry in 2010.His Additional Cost Allowance for 2007/2008 was £21,188 .
This was broken down as
- Mortgage / Rent £9,875.00
- Cleaning / Laundry £480.00
- Food £4,150.00
- Gardening £0.00
- Repairs / Renovations £244.00
- Furniture / Electrical £274.00
Personal life
He married Jayne Lamont in August 1991 in Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
and they have a son, James (born September 1995), a daughter, Emily (born September 1993). In May 2000, he had an operation at Newcastle General Hospital
Newcastle General Hospital
Newcastle General Hospital was for many years the main hospital for the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and is managed by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust...
to remove a benign tumour from the top of his spine.
External links
- Alan Campbell MP official site
- Alan Campbell Profile at New StatesmanNew StatesmanNew Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
Articles