Anthony David Wright
Encyclopedia
Anthony David Wright is a British
Labour Party
politician who was the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Great Yarmouth
from 1997
until losing his seat at the 2010 election.
From 1970–74, he was an engineer
ing apprentice, then a mechanical engineer from 1974–83. He worked originally with ErieElectronics, and then was subsequently employed at Brown and Root and Probe Oil Tools.
It was through his work as an engineer that he became involved in a trade union and entered politics.
In total he served fourteen years for Great Yarmouth Borough Council
and was chairman of various committees, Deputy Leader for four years and Leader of the council for over two years from 1995 until 1997.
In addition, in 1983 Wright was employed by Great Yarmouth Labour Party as full time organiser up until the 1997 general election
when he was elected as Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth and retained his seat at both the 2001
and 2005
elections.
He is a member of Amicus
and the GMB Union
.
Over his time in Parliament, Wright has sat on several committees including the Public Administration Committee and currently the Trade and Industry Select Committee. He is active on many All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG's), and currently chairs the APPG for Sea Cadets and is Treasurer of the United Kingdom Parliamentary Football Club which is itself attributed to a great deal of charity work.
He includes in his main successes in his career as a MP as; the securing of Objective 2 status for Great Yarmouth, securing Assisted Area status helping to attract new investment to the area, the increase in funding to Great Yarmouth's schools, police force and hospital and the introduction of SureStart services.
He lost his seat as MP for Great Yarmouth to the Conservative candidate with a swing over 9% against him.
Shortly after on 1 June, Wright issued a statement on this issue on his personal website:
Wright was not asked to repay anything in the results of the Legg Report but later had to repay a duplicated claim of £3,050.
.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
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 who was 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 Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Great Yarmouth is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
from 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...
until losing his seat at the 2010 election.
Early life
Wright attended to St George's Infant School, Priory Junior School, and Hospital Secondary Modern School.From 1970–74, he was an engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
ing apprentice, then a mechanical engineer from 1974–83. He worked originally with ErieElectronics, and then was subsequently employed at Brown and Root and Probe Oil Tools.
It was through his work as an engineer that he became involved in a trade union and entered politics.
Political career
In his political career, Wright first stood for a Council seat in 1979 and missed out losing by 86 votes. He was subsequently voted in in 1980 until 1982 when he lost by 15 votes. Wright was then re-elected in 1986 and remained a Councillor until 1998.In total he served fourteen years for Great Yarmouth Borough Council
Great Yarmouth (borough)
The Borough of Great Yarmouth is a local government district with borough status in Norfolk, England. It is named after its main town, Great Yarmouth.-History:...
and was chairman of various committees, Deputy Leader for four years and Leader of the council for over two years from 1995 until 1997.
In addition, in 1983 Wright was employed by Great Yarmouth Labour Party as full time organiser up until 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...
when he was elected as Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth and retained his seat at both the 2001
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...
and 2005
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....
elections.
He is a member of Amicus
Amicus
Amicus was the United Kingdom's second-largest trade union, and the largest private sector union, formed by the merger of Manufacturing Science and Finance, the AEEU agreed in 2001, and two smaller unions, UNIFI and the GPMU...
and the GMB Union
GMB Union
The GMB is a general trade union in the United Kingdom, and has more than 600,000 members. Its members are drawn from many sectors, with particular strength amongst manual workers in local government and the health service...
.
Over his time in Parliament, Wright has sat on several committees including the Public Administration Committee and currently the Trade and Industry Select Committee. He is active on many All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG's), and currently chairs the APPG for Sea Cadets and is Treasurer of the United Kingdom Parliamentary Football Club which is itself attributed to a great deal of charity work.
He includes in his main successes in his career as a MP as; the securing of Objective 2 status for Great Yarmouth, securing Assisted Area status helping to attract new investment to the area, the increase in funding to Great Yarmouth's schools, police force and hospital and the introduction of SureStart services.
He lost his seat as MP for Great Yarmouth to the Conservative candidate with a swing over 9% against him.
Controversy
Wright found himself landed in controversy in June 2009 during the British MPs' expenses scandal when it emerged that he had accepted a £10,000 sweetener from the new owners of a rented accommodation in Dolphin Square, London SW1 on the understanding he accepted a £1,000 a month rent increase at the tax payers expense. He justified keeping the money by claiming "he took a financial hit from having to work in London when he was first elected in 1997" and highlighting how the money actually saved the tax payer £10,000 as it was not from the public purse.Shortly after on 1 June, Wright issued a statement on this issue on his personal website:
When I was first elected I decided not to purchase a property in London but to rent instead as it was not my priority to get into the 'housing market' in order to make a potential 'profit'. It was necessary however to have somewhere to stay in London whilst I was carrying out my parliamentary duties and for this reason, I rented. In the first few years the rent and other costs exceeded the allowance at that time but I met these extra costs personally. The lease ownership of this rented flat changed and as a result of this I received a payment from the new owners.
Wright was not asked to repay anything in the results of the Legg Report but later had to repay a duplicated claim of £3,050.
Personal life
Wright married Barbara Marley on 13 August 1988 in Great Yarmouth. They have a son and daughter, and a step daughter. He supports Norwich City F.C.Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
.
External links
- http://tonywright4greatyarmouth.com Tony Wright's Official Website
- ePolitix - Tony D Wright MP official site
- Guardian Politics Ask Aristotle - Anthony Wright MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Anthony D Wright MP
- BBC Politics page (incorrect date of birth)
- http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=NewsSplash&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED31%20May%202009%2016%3A35%3A42%3A363 EDP: 'Norfolk MP: I'll keep my £10,000 payout