Austin Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Austin Vernon Mitchell is a British
Labour Party
politician who has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Great Grimsby
since a 1977 by-election
.
, Mitchell was educated at Woodbottom Council School, Bingley Grammar School
, the University of Manchester
and Nuffield College
, Oxford.
From 1959–63 he lectured in History at the University of Otago
in Dunedin
, New Zealand
. While lecturing in sociology
, from 1963–67, at the University of Canterbury
, Mitchell wrote a popular book about New Zealand, The Half Gallon Quarter Acre Pavlova Paradise
(1972). The book title became a phrase in the New Zealand English
lexicon.
In the 1960s and 70s, New Zealand had been a socialist laboratory. In the 80s and 90s, it was transformed
into an open market economy. These drastic changes provided ample subject matter for social analysis, and thirty years later Mitchell wrote Pavlova Paradise Revisited (2002), after another New Zealand expedition. From 1967–69, Mitchell was an Official Fellow at Nuffield College.
He was a journalist
at ITV
company Yorkshire Television
from 1969 to 1977, presenting their regional news show Calendar
, although he spent a short period at the BBC
in 1972. During his period at Yorkshire Television, he chaired, in a live studio program, the famous debate between Brian Clough
and Don Revie
on the day Clough had been sacked by Leeds United in 1974.
, following the death of the previous MP, the Foreign Secretary Tony Crosland
. At the time Mitchell identified himself as a Gaitskellite
.
Mitchell supported the introduction of television cameras to the House of Commons, raising it for discussion in 1983. The move opened the proceedings of the House to the wider public, who previously had only been able to follow via newspapers and, from 1978, radio.
In October 2002 he temporarily changed his name to Austin Haddock as haddock
is a staple catch for his constituents that was suffering a decline and it was his wish to promote it.
In 2007 Mitchell wrote a front-page article for The Independent
newspaper in which he criticised the treatment of a family of asylum-seekers in his constituency. This article quoted him as saying that certain correspondents on the subject to the website of the local newspaper, the Grimsby Telegraph
, were 'lumpen lunatics'. The Grimsby Telegraph covered the response in which it stood by the MP but also reported that a number of readers had called for his resignation.
He is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group
– although this affiliation did not prevent him from nominating Gordon Brown
(rather than John McDonnell
) for the 2007 Labour Party leadership election
. As a supporter of the Better Off Out
campaign, Mitchell could be considered a Eurosceptic
and he opposes the Common Fisheries Policy
.
Mitchell is also a keen supporter of the Additional Member System
, (the electoral system used in elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly), and called a Private Members' Debate on this issue on 1 December 2009.
During 2010 Mitchell participated in "Tower Block of Commons", a Channel 4
documentary where MPs live in tower blocks and in with ordinary residents in deprived areas. Mitchell, who insisted on living in his own flat with his wife instead of living with the local residents, was criticised for his apparent lack of engagement in comparison to his Liberal Democrat and Conservative counterparts. He claimed the production company misled him.
of 2009 in which expense claims between 2004 and 2008 for second homes were examined, Mitchell was discovered to have wrongly claimed £10,549 for mortgage repayments. He explained that this was as a result of an oversight in 2006; in January 2010 he issued an apology and repaid the funds.
and with whom he has a son and daughter. He was previously married to Patricia, with whom he had two daughters.
Mitchell has taken photographs for and co-authored the book Parliament in Pictures: Inside the House of Commons and the House of Lords (ISBN 9780500019597).
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 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 Great Grimsby
Great Grimsby (UK Parliament constituency)
Great Grimsby is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, consisting of the town of Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
since a 1977 by-election
Great Grimsby by-election, 1977
There was a by-election for the Great Grimsby in 1977.It was caused by the death of Anthony Crosland, and was retained for Labour by Austin Mitchell.It took place on the same day as the dramatic Labour defeat in Ashfield.-External links:...
.
Education and early life
Born in BradfordBradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, Mitchell was educated at Woodbottom Council School, Bingley Grammar School
Bingley Grammar School
Bingley Grammar School is a school for both boys and girls from the ages of 11–18 and is located on the outskirts of Bingley, West Yorkshire, England.-History:...
, the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
and Nuffield College
Nuffield College, Oxford
Nuffield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is an all-graduate college and primarily a research establishment, specialising in the social sciences, particularly economics, politics and sociology. It is a research centre in the social sciences...
, Oxford.
From 1959–63 he lectured in History at the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. While lecturing in sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
, from 1963–67, at the University of Canterbury
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
, Mitchell wrote a popular book about New Zealand, The Half Gallon Quarter Acre Pavlova Paradise
The Half Gallon Quarter Acre Pavlova Paradise
The Half Gallon Quarter Acre Pavlova Paradise was a popular book by Austin Mitchell, published by Whitcombe and Tombs , with illustrations by Les Gibbard. It provided a witty, satirical description of life in 1960s New Zealand, and Kiwi culture.Described as "a celebrated vision of New Zealand as...
(1972). The book title became a phrase in the New Zealand English
New Zealand English
New Zealand English is the dialect of the English language used in New Zealand.The English language was established in New Zealand by colonists during the 19th century. It is one of "the newest native-speaker variet[ies] of the English language in existence, a variety which has developed and...
lexicon.
In the 1960s and 70s, New Zealand had been a socialist laboratory. In the 80s and 90s, it was transformed
Economy of New Zealand
New Zealand has a market economy which is greatly dependent on international trade, mainly with Australia, the European Union, the United States, China, and Japan. It has only small manufacturing and high-tech sectors, being strongly focused on tourism and primary industries like agriculture...
into an open market economy. These drastic changes provided ample subject matter for social analysis, and thirty years later Mitchell wrote Pavlova Paradise Revisited (2002), after another New Zealand expedition. From 1967–69, Mitchell was an Official Fellow at Nuffield College.
He was a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
at ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
company Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
from 1969 to 1977, presenting their regional news show Calendar
Calendar (News)
Calendar is a regional television news and current affairs programme, produced by ITV Yorkshire at its studios in Leeds, serving Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and parts of the North Midlands and North West Norfolk...
, although he spent a short period at the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in 1972. During his period at Yorkshire Television, he chaired, in a live studio program, the famous debate between Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
and Don Revie
Don Revie
Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE, , was an English footballer who played for Leicester City, Hull City, Sunderland, Manchester City and Leeds United as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United he managed England from 1974 until 1977...
on the day Clough had been sacked by Leeds United in 1974.
Political career
He was elected to Parliament at a by-election in 1977Great Grimsby by-election, 1977
There was a by-election for the Great Grimsby in 1977.It was caused by the death of Anthony Crosland, and was retained for Labour by Austin Mitchell.It took place on the same day as the dramatic Labour defeat in Ashfield.-External links:...
, following the death of the previous MP, the Foreign Secretary Tony Crosland
Anthony Crosland
Charles Anthony Raven Crosland , otherwise Tony Crosland or C.A.R. Crosland, was a British Labour Party politician and author. He served as Member of Parliament for South Gloucestershire and later for Great Grimsby...
. At the time Mitchell identified himself as a Gaitskellite
Gaitskellism
Gaitskellism was the ideology of a faction of the British Labour Party. Led by Hugh Gaitskell, Gaitskellites represented the political right of the Labour Party and were opposed by the Bevanites, a more Leftist faction of the party led by Aneurin Bevan...
.
Mitchell supported the introduction of television cameras to the House of Commons, raising it for discussion in 1983. The move opened the proceedings of the House to the wider public, who previously had only been able to follow via newspapers and, from 1978, radio.
In October 2002 he temporarily changed his name to Austin Haddock as haddock
Haddock
The haddock , also known as the offshore hake, is a marine fish distributed on both sides of the North Atlantic. Haddock is a popular food fish and is widely fished commercially....
is a staple catch for his constituents that was suffering a decline and it was his wish to promote it.
In 2007 Mitchell wrote a front-page article for The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
newspaper in which he criticised the treatment of a family of asylum-seekers in his constituency. This article quoted him as saying that certain correspondents on the subject to the website of the local newspaper, the Grimsby Telegraph
Grimsby Telegraph
The Grimsby Telegraph is a daily British regional newspaper for the town of Grimsby and the surrounding area that makes up North East Lincolnshire. It is owned by Northcliffe Newspapers. The main area for the paper's distribution is in or around Grimsby and Cleethorpes...
, were 'lumpen lunatics'. The Grimsby Telegraph covered the response in which it stood by the MP but also reported that a number of readers had called for his resignation.
He is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group
Socialist Campaign Group
The Socialist Campaign Group is a left-wing democratic socialist grouping of Labour Party Members of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. It was formed in December 1982 as an alternative Parliamentary left-wing group to the Tribune Group...
– although this affiliation did not prevent him from nominating Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
(rather than John McDonnell
John McDonnell (politician)
John Martin McDonnell is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Hayes and Harlington since 1997; he serves as Chair of the Socialist Campaign Group, the Labour Representation Committee, and the "Public Services Not Private Profit Group"...
) for the 2007 Labour Party leadership election
Labour Party (UK) leadership election, 2007
The 2007 Labour Party Leadership Election was formally triggered on 10 May 2007 by the resignation of Tony Blair, Labour Leader since the previous leadership contest on 21 July 1994...
. As a supporter of the Better Off Out
Better Off Out
Better Off Out is the name of a non-party campaign run by The Freedom Association to call for the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union...
campaign, Mitchell could be considered a Eurosceptic
EuroSceptic
EuroSceptic is the second album of British singer Jack Lucien. It was released in October 2009.Due to being an album influenced by Europop, it features songs with parts in different languages...
and he opposes the Common Fisheries Policy
Common Fisheries Policy
The Common Fisheries Policy is the fisheries policy of the European Union . It sets quotas for which member states are allowed to catch what amounts of each type of fish, as well as encouraging the fishing industry by various market interventions...
.
Mitchell is also a keen supporter of the Additional Member System
Additional Member System
The Additional Member System is the term used in the United Kingdom for the mixed member proportional representation voting system used in Scotland, Wales and the London Assembly....
, (the electoral system used in elections to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly), and called a Private Members' Debate on this issue on 1 December 2009.
During 2010 Mitchell participated in "Tower Block of Commons", a Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
documentary where MPs live in tower blocks and in with ordinary residents in deprived areas. Mitchell, who insisted on living in his own flat with his wife instead of living with the local residents, was criticised for his apparent lack of engagement in comparison to his Liberal Democrat and Conservative counterparts. He claimed the production company misled him.
Expenses claims
As part of an independent audit conducted after the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandalUnited Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal
The United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal was a major political scandal triggered by the leak and subsequent publication by the Telegraph Group in 2009 of expense claims made by members of the United Kingdom Parliament over several years...
of 2009 in which expense claims between 2004 and 2008 for second homes were examined, Mitchell was discovered to have wrongly claimed £10,549 for mortgage repayments. He explained that this was as a result of an oversight in 2006; in January 2010 he issued an apology and repaid the funds.
Personal life
Austin lives with his second wife, the journalist and author Linda McDougal, whom he married in 1976 in RochdaleRochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
and with whom he has a son and daughter. He was previously married to Patricia, with whom he had two daughters.
Mitchell has taken photographs for and co-authored the book Parliament in Pictures: Inside the House of Commons and the House of Lords (ISBN 9780500019597).
External links
- Austin Mitchell MP official site
- Austin Mitchell's Weblog
- ePolitix – Austin Mitchell MP
- Guardian Unlimited Politics – Ask Aristotle: Austin Mitchell MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com – Austin Mitchell MP
- The Public Whip – Austin Mitchell MP voting record
- BBC News – Austin Mitchell profile 10 February 2005
- ElectionsUK article