Michael Mates
Encyclopedia
Michael John Mates is a Conservative Party
politician who was the Member of Parliament
(MP) for the constituency of East Hampshire from 1974
to 2010.
He has been a member of the Privy Council
since February 2004.
, Blundell's School
and King's College, Cambridge
, where he was a choral scholar.
leaving in 1974 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
with the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
.
for Petersfield
in Hampshire
, following the retirement of Joan Quennell
.
Between 1983
and 2010 he represented East Hampshire.
From 1992 to 1993, Mates was Minister of State
at the Northern Ireland Office
. He resigned after a scandal involving his links to fugitive businessman Asil Nadir
.
He also served as the Chairman of the Defence
(1987–1992) and Northern Ireland (2001–2005) select committees and chaired the All-Party Anglo-Irish Parliamentary Group.
's Lt Cdr Glen Robinson-Moltke who was killed in the Falklands) in October 1998 in Chichester, having two step children (Michael and Helene). He has 10 grandchildren (Ben, Joe, Maddie, Leo, Jet, Flora, Phoebe, Charlie, Kobi, and James) and a great-grandson (Aidan).
.
His son, James Mates
, is a senior reporter and presenter for ITN
.
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 who was 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 the constituency of East Hampshire from 1974
United Kingdom general election, October 1974
The United Kingdom general election of October 1974 took place on 10 October 1974 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. It was the second general election of that year and resulted in the Labour Party led by Harold Wilson, winning by a tiny majority of 3 seats.The election of...
to 2010.
He has been a member of the Privy Council
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...
since February 2004.
Education
Michael Mates was educated at Salisbury Cathedral SchoolSalisbury Cathedral School
Salisbury Cathedral School is a school located in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. It was founded in 1091 by Saint Osmund at Old Sarum . It was moved 150 years later to the newly built Salisbury Cathedral. In 1947 it was relocated to the former Bishop's Palace in the grounds of the cathedral. The...
, Blundell's School
Blundell's School
Blundell's School is a co-educational day and boarding independent school located in the town of Tiverton in the county of Devon, England. The school was founded in 1604 by the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time, and relocated to its present location on the...
and King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
, where he was a choral scholar.
Army service
Prior to his election to the House of Commons, he served for twenty years in the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
leaving in 1974 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant-Colonel (UK)
Lieutenant colonel is a rank in the British Army and Royal Marines which is also used in many Commonwealth countries. The rank is superior to major, and subordinate to colonel...
with the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. Nicknamed The Welsh Cavalry, the regiment recruits from Wales, Herefordshire, and Shropshire, and is the senior cavalry regiment, and therefore senior regiment, of the line of the British Army...
.
Parliamentary career
Michael Mates was first elected to Parliament in October 1974 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, October 1974
The United Kingdom general election of October 1974 took place on 10 October 1974 to elect 635 members to the British House of Commons. It was the second general election of that year and resulted in the Labour Party led by Harold Wilson, winning by a tiny majority of 3 seats.The election of...
for Petersfield
Petersfield (UK Parliament constituency)
Petersfield was an English Parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Petersfield in Hampshire. It existed for several hundred years until its abolition for the 1983 general election....
in Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, following the retirement of Joan Quennell
Joan Quennell
Joan Mary Quennell was Conservative Member of Parliament for Petersfield.Quennell was educated at Bedales School, Petersfield and served with the Women's Land Army during World War II. She was the manager of a mixed dairy and arable farm and served as a West Sussex County Councillor 1951-61...
.
Between 1983
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...
and 2010 he represented East Hampshire.
From 1992 to 1993, Mates was Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
at the Northern Ireland Office
Northern Ireland Office
The Northern Ireland Office is a United Kingdom government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. The NIO is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and is based in Northern Ireland at Stormont House.-Role:...
. He resigned after a scandal involving his links to fugitive businessman Asil Nadir
Asil Nadir
Asil Nadir is a Turkish Cypriot businessman, who was Chief executive of Polly Peck, which he took over as a small textile company, growing it during the 1980s to become one of the United Kingdom's top 100 FTSE-listed companies, with interests in consumer electronics, fruit distribution and packaging...
.
He also served as the Chairman of the Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
(1987–1992) and Northern Ireland (2001–2005) select committees and chaired the All-Party Anglo-Irish Parliamentary Group.
Personal life
He married Mary Rosamund Paton in 1959, whom he divorced in 1980. They had two sons (James and Rory) and two daughters (Caroline and Emily). In 1982, he married Rosellen Bett in Lambeth, whom he divorced in 1995. They had one daughter (Arabella, born July 1986). He then married Christine Robinson-Moltke (widow of PetersfieldPetersfield
Petersfield can refer to any of the following places:*Petersfield, Hampshire, a market town in England*Petersfield, Jamaica, a small town in the parish of Westmoreland*Petersfield, Manitoba, in Canada*Petersfield, an area of Cambridge, England...
's Lt Cdr Glen Robinson-Moltke who was killed in the Falklands) in October 1998 in Chichester, having two step children (Michael and Helene). He has 10 grandchildren (Ben, Joe, Maddie, Leo, Jet, Flora, Phoebe, Charlie, Kobi, and James) and a great-grandson (Aidan).
Retirement
Mates announced on 24 November 2006 that he would stand down effective at the 2010 general election. His replacement as Conservative Party candidate was Damian HindsDamian Hinds
Damian Patrick George Hinds is a British Conservative Party politician and the Member of Parliament for the East Hampshire constituency.-Education:Hinds was educated at St...
.
His son, James Mates
James Mates
James Mates is a British newsreader and journalist.Mates is currently employed by ITN where he presents on ITV News whilst also being senior correspondent.-Personal life:James Mates is the son of Conservative party politician Michael Mates...
, is a senior reporter and presenter for ITN
Independent Television News
ITN is a news and content provider with headquarters in the United Kingdom. It is made up of four key businesses: ITN News, ITN Source, ITN Productions and ITN Consulting. The ITN logotype can be displayed in any of 4 different colours, each of which represents a business unit. This is the...
.
External links
- Official Website
- Rt Hon Michael Mates Epolitix site
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Michael Mates MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Michael Mates MP
- Veteran MP announces retirement BBCBBCThe 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...
article - BBC Politics Profile