Derek Fatchett
Encyclopedia
Derek John Fatchett PC, QC
, FRS (22 August 1945 – 9 May 1999) was a British
politician. He became member of Parliament
for Leeds Central
in 1983 and was a member of the Labour Party
.
, Fatchett was the son of a painter and decorator
and his grandfather was a trade union official. He attended the all-male grammar school
, Lincoln School (became the comprehensive Lincoln Christ's Hospital School
in 1974) on Wragby Road in Lincolnshire
. At school, his left-wing views were not popular. He was educated at the University of Birmingham
where he studied Law, graduating in 1966. At the LSE
he took an MSc
in 1968 where he joined in student demonstrations
popular at that time. He joined the Labour Party in 1964. He was more left-wing, like many people have been, in his youth and became more centre-left when an MP and left the Campaign Group
in 1985 and shaved off his beard. He was a councillor on Wakefield Metropolitan Council
from 1980-4. He became a lecturer in Industrial Relations (now known as Work and Employment Relations) at the University of Leeds
in 1971 staying there until he became an MP which he was nominated for at the expense of Stanley Cohen
who wanted to join the SDP.
seat in Leicestershire in 1979.
After Labour's 1997 election victory, he was soon made a junior minister at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
. He died suddenly on 9 May 1999 (aged 53), from a heart attack
after collapsing whilst relaxing with his wife and close friend Colin Crane in a Wakefield pub. The by-election
for his seat was won by Hilary Benn
.
He was also a left-of-centre politician who was part of the 'What's-Left' group within parliament which was led by Robin Cook
. His death prevented him for reaching higher office which was predicted with rumours in political circles citing him as a future Defence or Northern Ireland Secretary.
. His interest outside of politics included cricket and football (he was a WBA
supporter). He died suddenly in Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, FRS (22 August 1945 – 9 May 1999) was a British
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...
politician. He became 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 Leeds Central
Leeds Central (UK Parliament constituency)
Leeds Central is a borough 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.- Boundaries :...
in 1983 and was a member 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
Born in Lincoln, LincolnshireLincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
, Fatchett was the son of a painter and decorator
Painter and decorator
A house painter and decorator is a tradesman responsible for the painting and decorating of buildings, and is also known as a decorator or house painter...
and his grandfather was a trade union official. He attended the all-male grammar school
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
, Lincoln School (became the comprehensive Lincoln Christ's Hospital School
Lincoln Christ's Hospital School
Lincoln Christ's Hospital School is a state comprehensive school for 11-18 year olds located on Wragby Road in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England.-Admissions:Its student population is just under 1400, including over 300 in the sixth form...
in 1974) on Wragby Road in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. At school, his left-wing views were not popular. He was educated at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
where he studied Law, graduating in 1966. At the LSE
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...
he took an MSc
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in 1968 where he joined in student demonstrations
Student activism
Student activism is work done by students to effect political, environmental, economic, or social change. It has often focused on making changes in schools, such as increasing student influence over curriculum or improving educational funding...
popular at that time. He joined the Labour Party in 1964. He was more left-wing, like many people have been, in his youth and became more centre-left when an MP and left the 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...
in 1985 and shaved off his beard. He was a councillor on Wakefield Metropolitan Council
City of Wakefield
The City of Wakefield is a local government district of West Yorkshire, England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough. Wakefield is the district's administrative centre. The district includes the "Five Towns" of Normanton, Pontefract, Featherstone, Castleford and Knottingley. Other...
from 1980-4. He became a lecturer in Industrial Relations (now known as Work and Employment Relations) 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...
in 1971 staying there until he became an MP which he was nominated for at the expense of Stanley Cohen
Stanley Cohen (politician)
Stanley Cohen was a British Labour Party politician. He was on the trade unionist right-wing of the party during the early 1980s struggle for control of the party, and as such suffered deselection at the hands of his constituency party.Cohen was educated at St. Patrick and St. Charles Roman...
who wanted to join the SDP.
Parliamentary career
He contested the BosworthBosworth (UK Parliament constituency)
Bosworth is a county 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.-Boundaries:...
seat in Leicestershire in 1979.
After Labour's 1997 election victory, he was soon made a junior minister at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
. He died suddenly on 9 May 1999 (aged 53), from a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
after collapsing whilst relaxing with his wife and close friend Colin Crane in a Wakefield pub. The by-election
Leeds Central by-election, 1999
The Member of Parliament for Leeds Central, the Rt. Hon. Derek Fatchett, died suddenly on 9 May 1999. The Labour Party rushed to organise for the by-election and moved the writ so that the election could be held on 10 June, the same day as elections to the European Parliament.The shortlist for the...
for his seat was won by Hilary Benn
Hilary Benn
Hilary James Wedgwood Benn is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Leeds Central since 1999. He served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for International Development from 2003 to 2007 and as the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs...
.
He was also a left-of-centre politician who was part of the 'What's-Left' group within parliament which was led by Robin Cook
Robin Cook
Robert Finlayson Cook was a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Livingston from 1983 until his death, and notably served in the Cabinet as Foreign Secretary from 1997 to 2001....
. His death prevented him for reaching higher office which was predicted with rumours in political circles citing him as a future Defence or Northern Ireland Secretary.
Personal life
He married Anita Bridgens (née Oakes) in 1969 and had two sons, Brendan and Gareth, and lived in WakefieldWakefield
Wakefield is the main settlement and administrative centre of the City of Wakefield, a metropolitan district of West Yorkshire, England. Located by the River Calder on the eastern edge of the Pennines, the urban area is and had a population of 76,886 in 2001....
. His interest outside of politics included cricket and football (he was a WBA
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
supporter). He died suddenly in Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.