Candy Atherton
Encyclopedia
Candice Kathleen Atherton (born 21 September 1955), known as Candy Atherton, is a British
journalist and was a politician. After serving as a councillor
in Islington
, where she was Mayor
, she was Member of Parliament
for Falmouth and Camborne from 1997 to 2005. She now lives in Cornwall
and is still active in the Labour Party
and in public life.
Roman Catholic all-girls Convent of the Sacred Heart (now called Woldingham School
) in Woldingham
, Surrey
, then Midhurst Grammar School
in West Sussex
. From the Polytechnic of North London (now London Metropolitan University
), she graduated BA
in Applied Social Studies in 1985.
She also worked with ex-offenders, co-wrote a book on housing for single homeless people in north London, and co-founded a refuge for battered women
in West Sussex
. She chaired the Women's and Disability Committees of both Islington and the Association of London Labour Authorities.
In 1982, she led protests within the Labour Party
and the CND movement against the Task Force
sent to the Falkland Islands
. In 1984, she co-founded Everywoman magazine - a "post-feminist" women's magazine.
From 1986 to 1992, she served as a Labour councillor
in the London Borough of Islington
and was Mayor
for the year 1989-1990. She went on to stand for Labour at Chesham and Amersham in the 1992 general election
, increasing the Labour share by 18%.
In the mid 1990s, she left London and lived in Westbury, Wiltshire
, where in 1993 she stood unsuccessfully as a Labour candidate in elections to Wiltshire County Council
.
She worked for the Labour Party and UNISON before being selected to fight the three-way marginal seat of Falmouth and Camborne, after the local Labour Party had imposed the first all-women shortlist in the country. Such shortlists were subsequently ruled to be in breach of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975
, and thus unlawful. Despite that judgement, she remained in place as the candidate for the 1997 general election
. Taking Labour from third place to first, she was elected Member of Parliament
for Falmouth and Camborne, holding the seat until the election of 2005
.
She doubled her majority in the 2001 election
, having successfully campaigned for Objective One status for Cornwall, for the National Minimum Wage Act 1998
, and for a university in Cornwall. She spearheaded the campaign to open a Minor Injuries Unit in Camborne Redruth Community Hospital
- now used by more than 12,000 people a year - and the campaign to expose the nerve gas station at Nancekuke (RRH Portreath
) in her constituency, an issue, surprisingly, that had been well known to the people of the area for several decades.
At the 2005 General Election, Atherton lost her seat to Liberal Democrat Julia Goldsworthy
by a majority of 1,886. Goldsworthy was later accused of a dirty tricks
campaign, as in her election literature she had published a photograph of Atherton looking rain-swept and dishevelled next to a photograph of herself looking smart, with the caption "Who do you want as your next MP?". A constituent accused Goldsworthy of turning the campaign into a beauty contest
.
Paul Phillips, a gay aide Atherton employed for a year until March 2004, resigned and claimed discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, accusing her of homophobia
and of asking him to find information on her Conservative
opponent in Falmouth because he was also gay. The accusation of 'digging the dirt' was coined by the Tribunal Chair at the initial hearing and although Phillips denied that he had ever alleged this, the phrase stuck. Atherton denied having treated Phillips in any discriminatory way. The case was thrown out. Atherton's record of voting in the House of Commons was generally supportive of gay rights.
and she now chairs the Rural Housing Advisory Panel, which advises the British government on rural housing issues. Since October 2008 she has been a Board member of the Homes and Communities Agency
.
In 2006, she founded Atherton Associates, a public affairs company, and has worked for British Waterways
and the Inland Waterways Association
and with Weber Shandwick Public Affairs.
Atherton married a Cornishman
, Broderick Ross, in 2002, and now lives in Cornwall. She is the Vice Chair of the Truro and Falmouth Constituency Labour Party and a member of the Labour Party's South West Regional Board.
In 2009 Atherton, her husband Brod Ross, her mother Pam Atherton and her mother-in law Betty Ross, all stood for election to the newly formed Cornwall Council. Atherton contested the Carn Brea North
ward, finishing third in a field of four, with 23% of the vote, while her husband finished last out of four in Camborne
Central with 11%. Both seats were won by the Conservatives
. Pam Atherton finished last out of six in St Day
and Lanner
with 3%, and Betty Ross finished last out of seven in Wendron
, both of those contests being won by Independents
.
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...
journalist and was a politician. After serving as a councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
in Islington
London Borough of Islington
The London Borough of Islington is a London borough in Inner London. It was formed in 1965 by merging the former metropolitan boroughs of Islington and Finsbury. The borough contains two Westminster parliamentary constituencies, Islington North and Islington South & Finsbury...
, where she was Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, she was 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,...
for Falmouth and Camborne from 1997 to 2005. She now lives in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
and is still active in 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...
and in public life.
Early life
She attended the independentIndependent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
Roman Catholic all-girls Convent of the Sacred Heart (now called Woldingham School
Woldingham School
Woldingham School is an all-girls, independent, Roman Catholic, boarding and day school in Woldingham, Surrey, England.-History:The school was founded as the Convent of the Sacred Heart in 1842 in Berrymead, London by the Society of the Sacred Heart...
) in Woldingham
Woldingham
Woldingham is a village and civil parish in Surrey located above sea level just within the M25, southeast of London. Situated high on the North Downs between Oxted and Warlingham, it is a village of 2,326 inhabitants...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, then Midhurst Grammar School
Midhurst Grammar School
Midhurst Grammar School was a comprehensive upper school in Midhurst, West Sussex. It served pupils aged 13 to 18 who usually joined the school from one of the local intermediate schools. It was replaced in 2009 by the new Midhurst Rother Academy.-History:...
in West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
. From the Polytechnic of North London (now London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University
London Metropolitan University , located in London, England, was formed on 1 August 2002 by the amalgamation of the University of North London and the London Guildhall University . The University has campuses in the City of London and in the London Borough of Islington.The University operates its...
), she graduated 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 Applied Social Studies in 1985.
Career
Atherton worked as a journalist from 1980.She also worked with ex-offenders, co-wrote a book on housing for single homeless people in north London, and co-founded a refuge for battered women
Women's shelter
A women's shelter is a place of temporary refuge and support for women escaping violent or abusive situations, such as rape, and domestic violence....
in West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
. She chaired the Women's and Disability Committees of both Islington and the Association of London Labour Authorities.
In 1982, she led protests within 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...
and the CND movement against the Task Force
British naval forces in the Falklands War
This is a list of the naval forces from the United Kingdom that took part in the Falklands War. For a list of naval forces from Argentina, see Argentine naval forces in the Falklands War.-Royal Navy:CommandIn Northwood, London:...
sent to the Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean, located about from the coast of mainland South America. The archipelago consists of East Falkland, West Falkland and 776 lesser islands. The capital, Stanley, is on East Falkland...
. In 1984, she co-founded Everywoman magazine - a "post-feminist" women's magazine.
From 1986 to 1992, she served as a Labour councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
in the London Borough of Islington
London Borough of Islington
The London Borough of Islington is a London borough in Inner London. It was formed in 1965 by merging the former metropolitan boroughs of Islington and Finsbury. The borough contains two Westminster parliamentary constituencies, Islington North and Islington South & Finsbury...
and was Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
for the year 1989-1990. She went on to stand for Labour at Chesham and Amersham in the 1992 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
, increasing the Labour share by 18%.
In the mid 1990s, she left London and lived in Westbury, Wiltshire
Westbury, Wiltshire
Westbury is a town and civil parish in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Westbury White Horse.-Name:The most likely origin of the West- in Westbury is simply that the town is near the western edge of the county of Wiltshire, the bounds of which have been much the same...
, where in 1993 she stood unsuccessfully as a Labour candidate in elections to Wiltshire County Council
Wiltshire County Council
Wiltshire County Council was the county council of Wiltshire in the South West of England, an elected local Government body responsible for most local government services in the county....
.
She worked for the Labour Party and UNISON before being selected to fight the three-way marginal seat of Falmouth and Camborne, after the local Labour Party had imposed the first all-women shortlist in the country. Such shortlists were subsequently ruled to be in breach of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975
Sex Discrimination Act 1975
The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which protected men and women from discrimination on the grounds of sex or marriage. The Act concerned employment, training, education, harassment, the provision of goods and services, and the disposal of premises...
, and thus unlawful. Despite that judgement, she remained in place as the candidate for 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...
. Taking Labour from third place to first, she was elected 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,...
for Falmouth and Camborne, holding the seat until the election of 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....
.
She doubled her majority in the 2001 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...
, having successfully campaigned for Objective One status for Cornwall, for the National Minimum Wage Act 1998
National Minimum Wage Act 1998
The National Minimum Wage Act 1998 creates a minimum wage across the United Kingdom, currently £6.08 per hour for workers aged 21 years and older, £4.98 per hour for workers aged 18–20...
, and for a university in Cornwall. She spearheaded the campaign to open a Minor Injuries Unit in Camborne Redruth Community Hospital
Camborne Redruth Community Hospital
The Camborne Redruth Community Hospital is a National Health Service hospital in Cornwall, UK.-Departments:Day hospital, outpatients, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, minor injury unit....
- now used by more than 12,000 people a year - and the campaign to expose the nerve gas station at Nancekuke (RRH Portreath
RRH Portreath
RRH Portreath is a Remote Radar Head operated by the Royal Air Force. It is situated at Nancekuke Common on the clifftops to the north of Portreath beach and southwest of Porthtowan in Cornwall...
) in her constituency, an issue, surprisingly, that had been well known to the people of the area for several decades.
At the 2005 General Election, Atherton lost her seat to Liberal Democrat Julia Goldsworthy
Julia Goldsworthy
Julia Anne Goldsworthy is a Special Adviser in HM Treasury to Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander. She was the Member of Parliament for Falmouth and Camborne from 2005 until she lost her seat by 66 votes to George Eustice, the Conservative candidate in the 2010 general election in...
by a majority of 1,886. Goldsworthy was later accused of a dirty tricks
Dirty tricks
Dirty tricks are unethical, duplicitous, slanderous or illegal tactics employed to destroy or diminish the effectiveness of political or business opponents...
campaign, as in her election literature she had published a photograph of Atherton looking rain-swept and dishevelled next to a photograph of herself looking smart, with the caption "Who do you want as your next MP?". A constituent accused Goldsworthy of turning the campaign into a beauty contest
Beauty contest
A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...
.
Paul Phillips, a gay aide Atherton employed for a year until March 2004, resigned and claimed discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, accusing her of homophobia
Homophobia
Homophobia is a term used to refer to a range of negative attitudes and feelings towards lesbian, gay and in some cases bisexual, transgender people and behavior, although these are usually covered under other terms such as biphobia and transphobia. Definitions refer to irrational fear, with the...
and of asking him to find information on her Conservative
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...
opponent in Falmouth because he was also gay. The accusation of 'digging the dirt' was coined by the Tribunal Chair at the initial hearing and although Phillips denied that he had ever alleged this, the phrase stuck. Atherton denied having treated Phillips in any discriminatory way. The case was thrown out. Atherton's record of voting in the House of Commons was generally supportive of gay rights.
After parliament
From 2005 to 2008, Atherton was a Board member of the Housing CorporationHousing Corporation
The Housing Corporation was the non-departmental public body that funded new affordable housing and regulated housing associations in England. It was established by the Housing Act 1964...
and she now chairs the Rural Housing Advisory Panel, which advises the British government on rural housing issues. Since October 2008 she has been a Board member of the Homes and Communities Agency
Homes and Communities Agency
The Homes and Communities Agency is the non-departmental public body that funds new affordable housing in England. It was established by the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 as one of the successor bodies to the Housing Corporation, and became operational on 1 December 2008.-Background:On 17...
.
In 2006, she founded Atherton Associates, a public affairs company, and has worked for British Waterways
British Waterways
British Waterways is a statutory corporation wholly owned by the government of the United Kingdom, serving as the navigation authority in England, Scotland and Wales for the vast majority of the canals as well as a number of rivers and docks...
and the Inland Waterways Association
Inland Waterways Association
The Inland Waterways Association was formed in 1946 as a registered charity in the United Kingdom to campaign for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and sensitive development of British Canals and river navigations....
and with Weber Shandwick Public Affairs.
Atherton married a Cornishman
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
, Broderick Ross, in 2002, and now lives in Cornwall. She is the Vice Chair of the Truro and Falmouth Constituency Labour Party and a member of the Labour Party's South West Regional Board.
In 2009 Atherton, her husband Brod Ross, her mother Pam Atherton and her mother-in law Betty Ross, all stood for election to the newly formed Cornwall Council. Atherton contested the Carn Brea North
Carn Brea
Carn Brea is a civil parish and hilltop site in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The hilltop site is situated approximately one mile southwest of Redruth.-Neolithic settlement:...
ward, finishing third in a field of four, with 23% of the vote, while her husband finished last out of four in Camborne
Camborne
Camborne is a town and civil parish in west Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is at the western edge of a conurbation comprising Camborne, Pool and Redruth....
Central with 11%. Both seats were won by the Conservatives
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...
. Pam Atherton finished last out of six in St Day
St Day
St Day is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated between the village of Chacewater and the town of Redruth.St Day is located in a former mining area and St Day accrued considerable wealth from mining...
and Lanner
Lanner
-People:*August Lanner , Austrian composer, son of Joseph Lanner*Baruch Lanner , American Orthodox rabbi, who was convicted of child sexual abuse.*Joseph Lanner , Austrian composer...
with 3%, and Betty Ross finished last out of seven in Wendron
Wendron
Wendron is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated three miles north of Helston.The Revd G. H. Doble served for almost twenty years as the Vicar of Wendron . Langdon recorded the existence of eight stone crosses in the parish, including two at Merther Uny...
, both of those contests being won by Independents
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
.