.gif)
Brian Jenkins (politician)
Encyclopedia
Brian David Jenkins is a British
Labour Party
politician who was the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Tamworth
from 1997
until 2010, and has lived in the constituency for over 50 years. From 1996
to 1997, he was MP for South East Staffordshire before minor boundary changes in 1997.
) on Tamworth Road in Kingsbury, Warwickshire
. He then attended Coventry College (now called City College Coventry
) and Coleg Harlech
. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics
where he obtained a BSc
in Economics and Wolverhampton Polytechnic
where he gained a PGCE
. He was a student from 1975 to 1981.
From 1961 to 1968, Jenkins was an instrument mechanic for the CEGB
. From 1968 to 1973, he was an industrial engineer at Jaguar Cars Ltd in Coventry
, and Percy Lane Products in Tamworth (1973–1975). From 1981 to 1983, he was a college lecturer at the Isle of Man College
, then at Tamworth College (now South Staffordshire College
) (1983–1996).
in April 1996, following the death of Conservative Party
MP David Lightbown
. He had contested the seat in 1992.
The South East Staffordshire constituency was abolished in boundary changes at the 1997 general election
, when he was returned to Parliament for the new Tamworth constituency
. He was re-elected at the 2001 general election
and again in 2005
, but lost the seat to the Conservatives in 2010.
He was Leader of Tamworth Borough Council 1995–6 and has also served as Mayor 1993–4.
Committees on which he has served include the Public Accounts Committee, the Standards and Privileges Committee and the House of Commons Defence Select Committee. He make regular contributions in the chamber, with his attendance rated as "well above average".
and The Sunday Telegraph.
In response, Jenkins wrote to Clegg stating that he had no record of receiving a letter regarding Gurkhas from Mr Clegg. He also said that he had replied to previous letters Mr Clegg had sent regarding Gaza. The letter asked for a public apology to be given and "false claims" to be retracted, and that if this was not forthcoming legal action might be pursued.
Clegg's mother responded to the legal threats by contacting the Daily Mail, writing to the Prime Minister
and handing copies of the letter to Conservative blogger Iain Dale
. At no stage was the important contextual information about the role of Warren Clegg as a local Conservative Party activist and member of Conservative Future made apparent by either the Mail on Sunday or Iain Dale.
Bloggers later discovered a photograph of Warren Clegg in his role in Conservative Future pictured with Conservative Party leader David Cameron
on the Conservative Party website which, in some eyes, damaged the credibility of the claims being made.
Mr Jenkins later shared extensive previous correspondence he had had with Mr Clegg with local Tamworth paper, The Herald. However, Mr Clegg continues to deny writing any letters to Brian Jenkins and has stated that he plans to use the Freedom of Information Act 2000
to force the MP to come up with the referred documents.
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 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 Tamworth
Tamworth (UK Parliament constituency)
Tamworth is a parliamentary 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.- History :...
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 2010, and has lived in the constituency for over 50 years. From 1996
South East Staffordshire by-election, 1996
A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of South East Staffordshire on 11 April 1996 following the death of sitting Conservative MP Sir David Lincoln Lightbown.The result was a Labour gain from the Conservatives....
to 1997, he was MP for South East Staffordshire before minor boundary changes in 1997.
Early life
He went to Kingsbury High School (now called Kingsbury SchoolKingsbury School, Warwickshire
Kingsbury School is a comprehensive school in the village of Kingsbury, Warwickshire, England. Its main catchment area is Kingsbury, but students also attend from a number of neighbouring villages, such as Hurley and Whitacre Heath, Picadilly, Wood End, Bodymoor Heath and Middleton.The school...
) on Tamworth Road in Kingsbury, Warwickshire
Kingsbury, Warwickshire
Kingsbury is a large village and civil parish in the North Warwickshire district of the county of Warwickshire, in the West Midlands region of England....
. He then attended Coventry College (now called City College Coventry
City College Coventry
City College Coventry is a further education college based in the Swanswell area of Coventry, West Midlands. In January 2009, the college completed its move to its new location, Swanswell...
) and Coleg Harlech
Coleg Harlech
Coleg Harlech is a further education college for mature students in Harlech, Gwynedd.It is Wales' only long-term, mature students education college and was established in 1927 by Thomas Jones , Cabinet Secretary to both David Lloyd George and Stanley Baldwin, to continue the work of Workers'...
. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
where he obtained a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Economics and Wolverhampton Polytechnic
University of Wolverhampton
The University of Wolverhampton is a British university located on four campuses across the West Midlands and Shropshire. The city campus is located in Wolverhampton city centre with a second campus at Compton Park, Wolverhampton; a third in Walsall and a fourth in Telford...
where he 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....
. He was a student from 1975 to 1981.
From 1961 to 1968, Jenkins was an instrument mechanic for the CEGB
CEGB
The Central Electricity Generating Board was the cornerstone of the British electricity industry for almost 40 years; from 1957, to privatisation in the 1990s....
. From 1968 to 1973, he was an industrial engineer at Jaguar Cars Ltd in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, and Percy Lane Products in Tamworth (1973–1975). From 1981 to 1983, he was a college lecturer at the Isle of Man College
Isle of Man College
The Isle of Man College is the primary centre for tertiary and vocational education on the Isle of Man.-External links:*...
, then at Tamworth College (now South Staffordshire College
South Staffordshire College
South Staffordshire College is a further education college located over four sites in Staffordshire, England.The college was created in 2009 as a result of a merger of Cannock Chase Technical College, Rodbaston College and Tamworth and Lichfield College...
) (1983–1996).
Parliamentary career
Jenkins was elected to the House of Commons at the South East Staffordshire by-electionSouth East Staffordshire by-election, 1996
A by-election was held for the British House of Commons constituency of South East Staffordshire on 11 April 1996 following the death of sitting Conservative MP Sir David Lincoln Lightbown.The result was a Labour gain from the Conservatives....
in April 1996, following the death of Conservative Party
Conservative 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...
MP David Lightbown
David Lightbown
Sir David Lincoln Lightbown was the Conservative Member of Parliament for South East Staffordshire from 1983 until he died in office in 1995...
. He had contested the seat in 1992.
The South East Staffordshire constituency was abolished in boundary changes 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...
, when he was returned to Parliament for the new Tamworth constituency
Tamworth (UK Parliament constituency)
Tamworth is a parliamentary 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.- History :...
. He was re-elected at 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...
and again in 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....
, but lost the seat to the Conservatives in 2010.
He was Leader of Tamworth Borough Council 1995–6 and has also served as Mayor 1993–4.
Committees on which he has served include the Public Accounts Committee, the Standards and Privileges Committee and the House of Commons Defence Select Committee. He make regular contributions in the chamber, with his attendance rated as "well above average".
Expenses history
Mr Jenkins was placed in the category of "the saints" during the 2009 MPs expenses scandal published in The Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
and The Sunday Telegraph.
Warren Clegg controversy
A Mail on Sunday story on 24 May 2009 accused Jenkins of attempting to bully Warren Clegg, a local Conservative Party activist, with threats of legal action in response to allegedly libellous allegations Mr Clegg had made in the local press. Clegg had accused Jenkins of failing to reply to letters questioning his stance regarding the treatment of Gurkhas, and of habitually failing to respond to correspondence that Mr Clegg had sent him.In response, Jenkins wrote to Clegg stating that he had no record of receiving a letter regarding Gurkhas from Mr Clegg. He also said that he had replied to previous letters Mr Clegg had sent regarding Gaza. The letter asked for a public apology to be given and "false claims" to be retracted, and that if this was not forthcoming legal action might be pursued.
Clegg's mother responded to the legal threats by contacting the Daily Mail, writing to the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
and handing copies of the letter to Conservative blogger Iain Dale
Iain Dale
Iain Campbell Dale is best known for his conservative-minded British political blog Iain Dale's Diary and for his frequent appearances on UK news channels as a political commentator. He is also a publisher, broadcaster and former Conservative Party politician...
. At no stage was the important contextual information about the role of Warren Clegg as a local Conservative Party activist and member of Conservative Future made apparent by either the Mail on Sunday or Iain Dale.
Bloggers later discovered a photograph of Warren Clegg in his role in Conservative Future pictured with Conservative Party leader David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
on the Conservative Party website which, in some eyes, damaged the credibility of the claims being made.
Mr Jenkins later shared extensive previous correspondence he had had with Mr Clegg with local Tamworth paper, The Herald. However, Mr Clegg continues to deny writing any letters to Brian Jenkins and has stated that he plans to use the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Freedom of Information Act 2000
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that creates a public "right of access" to information held by public authorities. It is the implementation of freedom of information legislation in the United Kingdom on a national level...
to force the MP to come up with the referred documents.