John Randall (UK politician)
Encyclopedia
Alexander John Randall, known as John Randall, (born 5 August 1955) is a Conservative
politician in the United Kingdom
, and is the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
, was educated at Rutland House School, an independent school
in Hillingdon
in west London
, and later at Merchant Taylors' School
, another independent school, in Northwood, Hertfordshire
. In 1979, he graduated from the University of London
with an Upper Second degree BA
in Serbo-Croatian language and literature. His involvement in politics came about through his family's store, Randalls of Uxbridge, where he was managing director.
In 1994, he became Honorary Treasurer of Uxbridge Conservative Association, which later elected him Chairman.
in a by-election following the death of Sir Michael Shersby
in the wake of the Labour Party's 1997 landslide election victory. Randall had been an Agent for Shersby throughout the 1997 General Election campaign. He became the first Conservative candidate to win a parliamentary by-election since William Hague
's victory in Richmond
in 1989.
During his political career he has sat on the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee and its Environment Sub-Committee. He is strongly in favour of preventing the expansion of Heathrow Airport.
In 1999 he was appointed as an Opposition Whip
, but, due to his opposition to Britain's involvement in the Iraq War, he resigned as a matter of conscience in March 2003. He was later reappointed as a Whip in 2003. At the end of 2005 he was promoted to Conservative Assistant Chief Whip.
In 2010 he was appointed the joint Deputy Chief Whip and Treasurer of Her Majesty's Household in the Coalition Government.
He was appointed as a Privy Counsellor
on 9 June 2010.
He is a keen supporter of Uxbridge Football Club.
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...
politician in the United Kingdom
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...
, and is 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 Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
Early life
Randall, born in UxbridgeUxbridge
Uxbridge is a large town located in north west London, England and is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. It forms part of the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is located west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres...
, was educated at Rutland House School, an independent school
Independent 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...
in Hillingdon
Hillingdon
Hillingdon is a suburban area within the London Borough of Hillingdon, situated 14.2 miles west of Charing Cross.Much of Hillingdon is represented as the Hillingdon East ward within the local authority, Hillingdon Council...
in west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and later at Merchant Taylors' School
Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
, another independent school, in Northwood, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. In 1979, he graduated from the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
with an Upper Second degree 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 Serbo-Croatian language and literature. His involvement in politics came about through his family's store, Randalls of Uxbridge, where he was managing director.
In 1994, he became Honorary Treasurer of Uxbridge Conservative Association, which later elected him Chairman.
Parliamentary career
Randall was elected Member of Parliament for UxbridgeUxbridge (UK Parliament constituency)
Uxbridge was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament using the first-past-the-post voting system, from 1885 until it was abolished at the 2010 general election....
in a by-election following the death of Sir Michael Shersby
Michael Shersby
Sir Michael Shersby was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He was Member of Parliament for Uxbridge.-Early life:...
in the wake of the Labour Party's 1997 landslide election victory. Randall had been an Agent for Shersby throughout the 1997 General Election campaign. He became the first Conservative candidate to win a parliamentary by-election since William Hague
William Hague
William Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001...
's victory in Richmond
Richmond (Yorks) (UK Parliament constituency)
Richmond is a constituency located in North Yorkshire, which elects one Member of Parliament at least once every five years using the First-past-the-post system of voting....
in 1989.
During his political career he has sat on the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee and its Environment Sub-Committee. He is strongly in favour of preventing the expansion of Heathrow Airport.
In 1999 he was appointed as an Opposition Whip
Whip
A whip is a tool traditionally used by humans to exert control over animals or other people, through pain compliance or fear of pain, although in some activities whips can be used without use of pain, such as an additional pressure aid in dressage...
, but, due to his opposition to Britain's involvement in the Iraq War, he resigned as a matter of conscience in March 2003. He was later reappointed as a Whip in 2003. At the end of 2005 he was promoted to Conservative Assistant Chief Whip.
In 2010 he was appointed the joint Deputy Chief Whip and Treasurer of Her Majesty's Household in the Coalition Government.
He was appointed as a Privy Counsellor
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
on 9 June 2010.
Personal life
John Randall married (Kate) Katherine Frances Gray in 1986, and has two sons and a daughter.He is a keen supporter of Uxbridge Football Club.
External links
- John Randall MP official site
- John Randall General Election 2010 campaign site for Uxbridge and South Ruislip
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: John Randall MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - John Randall MP