Graham Bright
Encyclopedia
Sir Graham Frank James Bright (born 2 April 1942, in Horndon-on-the-Hill
) is a British
politician and businessman. A member of the Conservative Party
, he served as a Member of Parliament
(MP) from 1979-97.
Bright became an MP by winning the constituency of Luton East
from the Labour Party
at the 1979 general election
. After constituency boundary changes, he transferred to Luton South
at the 1983 general election
, holding the seat until his defeat at the 1997 general election
by Labour's Margaret Moran
.
During his time in Parliament, Bright served as a Parliamentary Private Secretary
(PPS) to various members of the Cabinet
for 18 years, most notably to John Major
for his first four years as Prime Minister
(1990–94). Bright then went on to serve as a Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1994-97. He received a knighthood
in 1994.
Bright introduced a Private Member's Bill
to the House of Commons in 1983. This was passed as the Video Recordings Act 1984
that required all commercial video recordings offered for sale or for hire within the UK to carry a classification.
Until he was 15, Bright was educated at Hassenbrook Secondary Modern School
in Stanford-le-Hope
, which became a comprehensive school from September 1972. He later took courses at Thurrock Technical College. Outside politics, he worked as a marketing executive, factory manager and company director. An active Young Conservative, he cut his political teeth as a member of Thurrock Borough Council
from 1965–79, and of Essex County Council
from 1967-70. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament in 1970 and 1974 in Thurrock
, and in Dartford
at the second general election of 1974, before being elected in Luton South in 1979.
Bright was also featured in the infamous comedy programme, Brass Eye
, although after successfully complaining to the Independent Television Commission
clips featuring him were removed from all subsequent broadcasts.
Horndon-on-the-Hill
Horndon-on-the-Hill is a village and Church of England parish in the unitary authority of Thurrock. It is about a mile northwest of Stanford le Hope and about two miles northeast of Orsett - from 1894, it was part of the Orsett Rural District....
) is 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 and businessman. A member of the 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...
, he served as a 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) from 1979-97.
Bright became an MP by winning the constituency of Luton East
Luton East (UK Parliament constituency)
Luton East is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was created upon the abolition of the Luton constituency in 1974 and, with Luton West, divided into Luton North and Luton South in 1983.-Members of Parliament:...
from 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...
at the 1979 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1979
The United Kingdom general election of 1979 was held on 3 May 1979 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher ousted the incumbent Labour government of James Callaghan with a parliamentary majority of 43 seats...
. After constituency boundary changes, he transferred to Luton South
Luton South (UK Parliament constituency)
Luton South 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...
at the 1983 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
, holding the seat until his defeat 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...
by Labour's Margaret Moran
Margaret Moran
Margaret Moran is a former Labour Party politician in the United Kingdom. She was the Member of Parliament for Luton South from 1997 to 2010....
.
During his time in Parliament, Bright served as a Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
(PPS) to various members of the Cabinet
Cabinet of the United Kingdom
The Cabinet of the United Kingdom is the collective decision-making body of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom, composed of the Prime Minister and some 22 Cabinet Ministers, the most senior of the government ministers....
for 18 years, most notably to John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
for his first four years as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
(1990–94). Bright then went on to serve as a Vice-Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1994-97. He received a knighthood
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1994.
Bright introduced a Private Member's Bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
to the House of Commons in 1983. This was passed as the Video Recordings Act 1984
Video Recordings Act 1984
The Video Recordings Act 1984 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that was passed in 1984. It states that commercial video recordings offered for sale or for hire within the UK must carry a classification that has been agreed upon by an authority designated by the Home Office...
that required all commercial video recordings offered for sale or for hire within the UK to carry a classification.
Until he was 15, Bright was educated at Hassenbrook Secondary Modern School
Hassenbrook School Specialist Technology College
Hassenbrook School Specialist Technology College is a comprehensive school in Stanford-le-Hope, Essex....
in Stanford-le-Hope
Stanford-le-Hope
Stanford-le-Hope is a town and Church of England parish situated in the county of Essex, England. The town is within the unitary authority of Thurrock and located 23.8 miles east of Charing Cross in London...
, which became a comprehensive school from September 1972. He later took courses at Thurrock Technical College. Outside politics, he worked as a marketing executive, factory manager and company director. An active Young Conservative, he cut his political teeth as a member of Thurrock Borough Council
Thurrock
Thurrock is a unitary authority with borough status in the English ceremonial county of Essex. It is part of the London commuter belt and an area of regeneration within the Thames Gateway redevelopment zone. The local authority is Thurrock Council....
from 1965–79, and of Essex County Council
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
from 1967-70. He stood unsuccessfully for Parliament in 1970 and 1974 in Thurrock
Thurrock (UK Parliament constituency)
Thurrock 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.- Boundaries :...
, and in Dartford
Dartford (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-Notes and references:...
at the second general election of 1974, before being elected in Luton South in 1979.
Bright was also featured in the infamous comedy programme, Brass Eye
Brass Eye
Brass Eye is a UK television series of satirical spoof documentaries. A series of six aired on Channel 4 in 1997, and a further episode in 2001....
, although after successfully complaining to the Independent Television Commission
Independent Television Commission
The Independent Television Commission licensed and regulated commercial television services in the United Kingdom between 1 January 1991 and 28 December 2003....
clips featuring him were removed from all subsequent broadcasts.