Jonathan Fryer
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Fryer is a British writer, broadcaster, lecturer and Liberal Democrat
politician.
He was the LibDem candidate for the constituency of Poplar and Limehouse
in the 2010 general election, coming in fourth.
, which he hated. He spent the summer of 1967 in Tours, at the Institut Tourain, perfecting his French. He left school before the end of his final year (having acquired ‘A’ levels in English Literature, French and Geography) and travelled overland to Vietnam
, where he reported on the war
for the Manchester Evening News
and the Geographical Magazine
. His overland journey back to England in September 1969 gave him his first introduction to the Middle East, which has remained an abiding interest.
Fryer had won an Open Exhibition award to St Edmund Hall, Oxford
, where he started to read Geography, before switching to Oriental Studies (Chinese with Japanese). He returned to the Far East for a year in 1971-1972, studying part-time at the University of Hong Kong and in Tokyo.
As a mature student, he has been working on an MSc in Development and Environmental Education.
news agency as a graduate trainee after university, serving for just over a year in London and Brussels
. On receiving his first book contract (for The Great Wall of China) he went freelance, but kept Brussels as his base for seven years, travelling widely in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He returned to England in 1981, settling in London, largely to develop his political interests. As a freelance writer on international affairs, he has worked mainly for the BBC
(Radio 4
and World Service
), but has also contributed to the Guardian, Independent, Economist, Spectator, Oldie, Tablet, Society Today and Liberal, amongst others.
For a decade, he regularly appeared on the Today Programme
’s ‘Thought for the Day
’, as a Quaker (having joined the Religious Society of Friends
after his experiences in Vietnam), but in recent years has become better known for his despatches in From Our Own Correspondent
. He has travelled to 160 countries, reporting, researching or making radio documentaries.
Since 1993, Fryer has taught part-time at London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies
(SOAS), currently Humanities, and more recently began teaching at City University
(Writing Non-Fiction). He lectures frequently on cruise ships, notably around the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, as well as to groups and associations in the UK. Through the British Council and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, he has given seminars on democracy-building and the media in locations such as Egypt, Ethiopia and Uruguay. He is a Consultant with Public Affairs International (London).
) 1986-1990, and fought three general elections: Chelsea
1983, Orpington
1987 and Leyton
1992. His main political focus has always been the European Parliament
, for which he stood in 1979, 1984 and 1994 (London South East), 1999 and 2004 (London), coming within 0.6 per cent of winning a seat on the last occasion. He was the No. 2 candidate on the LibDem London list
for the European parliamentary elections (June 2009)
.
He has held a wide variety of positions within the Liberal Democrats and predecessor parties, including chairing policy panels on international development (currently Chairman of the Liberal International
British Group), a member of the LibDems’ international relations committee, an elected member of the governing Council of the European Liberal Democrats
(ELDR) and is on the party’s Interim Peers’ List. As Chairman of the Liberal International British Group, he is automatically a Vice-President of Liberal International
worldwide.
He is the LibDem Prospective parliamentary candidate
for his home constituency of Poplar and Limehouse
.
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
politician.
He was the LibDem candidate for the constituency of Poplar and Limehouse
Poplar and Limehouse (UK Parliament constituency)
Poplar and Limehouse is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament using the first past the post system of election....
in the 2010 general election, coming in fourth.
Early life
Fryer was born in Manchester on 5 June, 1950, under the name Graham Leslie Morton. Following the divorce of his natural mother, he was adopted as an infant by a local businessman and his wife, who later spent much of their time in South Africa. He has one natural sister and one adopted one.Education
After private primary education in Eccles, Fryer obtained a place at Manchester Grammar SchoolManchester Grammar School
The Manchester Grammar School is the largest independent day school for boys in the UK . It is based in Manchester, England...
, which he hated. He spent the summer of 1967 in Tours, at the Institut Tourain, perfecting his French. He left school before the end of his final year (having acquired ‘A’ levels in English Literature, French and Geography) and travelled overland to Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, where he reported on the war
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
for the Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
The Manchester Evening News is a regional daily newspaper covering Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. It is published every day except Sunday and is owned by Trinity Mirror plc following its sale by Guardian Media Group in early 2010. It has an average daily circulation of 90,973 copies...
and the Geographical Magazine
Geographical Magazine
Geographical is the magazine of the Royal Geographical Society , and was founded by Michael Huxley in 1935....
. His overland journey back to England in September 1969 gave him his first introduction to the Middle East, which has remained an abiding interest.
Fryer had won an Open Exhibition award to St Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall, Oxford
St Edmund Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Better known within the University by its nickname, "Teddy Hall", the college has a claim to being "the oldest academical society for the education of undergraduates in any university"...
, where he started to read Geography, before switching to Oriental Studies (Chinese with Japanese). He returned to the Far East for a year in 1971-1972, studying part-time at the University of Hong Kong and in Tokyo.
As a mature student, he has been working on an MSc in Development and Environmental Education.
Career
Fryer joined ReutersReuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
news agency as a graduate trainee after university, serving for just over a year in London and Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. On receiving his first book contract (for The Great Wall of China) he went freelance, but kept Brussels as his base for seven years, travelling widely in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. He returned to England in 1981, settling in London, largely to develop his political interests. As a freelance writer on international affairs, he has worked mainly for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
(Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
and World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
), but has also contributed to the Guardian, Independent, Economist, Spectator, Oldie, Tablet, Society Today and Liberal, amongst others.
For a decade, he regularly appeared on the Today Programme
Today programme
Today is BBC Radio 4's long-running early morning news and current affairs programme, now broadcast from 6.00 am to 9.00 am Monday to Friday, and 7.00 am to 9.00 am on Saturdays. It is also the most popular programme on Radio 4 and one of the BBC's most popular programmes across its radio networks...
’s ‘Thought for the Day
Thought for the Day
Thought for the Day is a daily scripted slot on the Today programme on BBC Radio 4 offering "reflections from a faith perspective on issues and people in the news", broadcast at around 7.45 each Monday to Saturday morning...
’, as a Quaker (having joined the Religious Society of Friends
Religious Society of Friends
The Religious Society of Friends, or Friends Church, is a Christian movement which stresses the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. Members are known as Friends, or popularly as Quakers. It is made of independent organisations, which have split from one another due to doctrinal differences...
after his experiences in Vietnam), but in recent years has become better known for his despatches in From Our Own Correspondent
From our own Correspondent
From Our Own Correspondent is a BBC radio programme in which BBC correspondents broadcast monologues on topical current events from countries outside the UK...
. He has travelled to 160 countries, reporting, researching or making radio documentaries.
Since 1993, Fryer has taught part-time at London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
(SOAS), currently Humanities, and more recently began teaching at City University
City University, London
City University London , is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and became a university in 1966, when it adopted its present name....
(Writing Non-Fiction). He lectures frequently on cruise ships, notably around the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, as well as to groups and associations in the UK. Through the British Council and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, he has given seminars on democracy-building and the media in locations such as Egypt, Ethiopia and Uruguay. He is a Consultant with Public Affairs International (London).
Politics
Fryer joined the Young Liberals after Jo Grimond came to his school during the 1964 general election. He was successively Vice-Chairman of the North West Young Liberal Federation and Secretary of the Oxford University Liberal Club. He was elected a London borough councillor (in BromleyLondon Borough of Bromley
The London Borough of Bromley is a London borough of south east London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in the borough is Bromley.-Geography:...
) 1986-1990, and fought three general elections: Chelsea
Chelsea (UK Parliament constituency)
Chelsea was a borough constituency, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The constituency was created by the Reform Act 1867 for the 1868 general election, when it returned two Members of Parliament , elected by the bloc vote system of election.Under the...
1983, Orpington
Orpington (UK Parliament constituency)
Orpington 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:...
1987 and Leyton
Leyton (UK Parliament constituency)
Leyton was a parliamentary constituency, centred on the town of Leyton in North-East London. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.-History:...
1992. His main political focus has always been the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, for which he stood in 1979, 1984 and 1994 (London South East), 1999 and 2004 (London), coming within 0.6 per cent of winning a seat on the last occasion. He was the No. 2 candidate on the LibDem London list
London (European Parliament constituency)
London is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 8 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :The constituency corresponds to Greater London, in the south east of the United Kingdom....
for the European parliamentary elections (June 2009)
European Parliament election, 2009
Elections to the European Parliament were held in the 27 member states of the European Union between 4 and 7 June 2009. A total of 736 Members of the European Parliament were elected to represent some 500 million Europeans, making these the biggest trans-national elections in history...
.
He has held a wide variety of positions within the Liberal Democrats and predecessor parties, including chairing policy panels on international development (currently Chairman of the Liberal International
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
British Group), a member of the LibDems’ international relations committee, an elected member of the governing Council of the European Liberal Democrats
European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party
The European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party is a European political party mainly active in the European Union, composed of 56 national-level liberal and liberal-democratic parties from across Europe...
(ELDR) and is on the party’s Interim Peers’ List. As Chairman of the Liberal International British Group, he is automatically a Vice-President of Liberal International
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
worldwide.
He is the LibDem Prospective parliamentary candidate
Prospective parliamentary candidate
Prospective parliamentary candidate is a term used in British politics to refer to candidates selected by political parties to fight individual constituencies in advance of a general election. This terminology was motivated by the strict limits on the amount of expenses incurred by an actual...
for his home constituency of Poplar and Limehouse
Poplar and Limehouse (UK Parliament constituency)
Poplar and Limehouse is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament using the first past the post system of election....
.
Books
- The Great Wall of China (1975)
- Isherwood (1977)
- Brussels As Seen by Naif Artists (1979, with Rona Dobson)
- Food for Thought (1981)
- George Fox and the Children of the Light (1991)
- Eye of the Camera (1993)
- Dylan (1993)
- The Sitwells (1994, with Sarah Bradford and John Pearson)
- André & Oscar (1997)
- Soho in the Fifties and Sixties (1998)
- Robbie Ross (2000)
- Wilde (2005)
- Fuelling Kuwait’s Development (2007)
External links
- "Wilde deserves better" - The Spectator
- "Pagan meets Puritan" - Telegraph
- "Buried in Oscar's Tomb" - New York Times
- "Jonathan Fryer chosen for Poplar and Limehouse" - Tower Hamlets
- "The House that Wren never really lived in" - Camden New Journal
- "Turkey must sort out its Kurd issues" - Public Service
- "Francophonia comes into vogue" - BBC
- "Launch Event for the Mercy Mission to Vanni" - Tamil National
- "European spokesperson Jonathan Fryer outlines the Liberal Democrat approach to the environment" - Tower Hamlets
- "Jonathan Fryer's Speak up Europe speech" - LDEG
- "Leading Lib Dems sign international pledge for gay rights" - DELGA
- "Youngsters grill Enfield politicians on local issues" - Enfield Independent