Dennis skinner mp biography

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He was leader of the Derbyshire area of the National Union of Mineworkers between 1966 and 1970. However, he declined the title of "Father of the House" due to its seniority being determined by the order in which members take the oath, which placed him behind Conservative MP Kenneth Clarke.

Personal Life

Marriage and Family:

Skinner married Mary Parker in 1960.

"House of Commons Hansard Debate - 20 April 2006". http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/sep/10/david-miliband-backing-dennis-skinner. He was first elected as MP for the safe Labour seat of Bolsover at the 1970 general election and has retained it ever since then.

dennis skinner mp biography

10 September 2010. Skinner's four surviving brothers and several of his Bolsover constituents are interviewed in the documentary, which is due for release in September 2017.

In 1960, Skinner married Mary Parker, with whom he has three children who all attended his old school, and graduated from the University of Manchester. Skinner sang to his late mother when she was diagnosed with the disease and was inspired by her ability to recall old songs.

He became known for his outspoken left-wing views and witty remarks.

Support for the Miners' Strike:

During the 1984-1985 miners' strike, Skinner was a vocal supporter of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and its leader Arthur Scargill. The Guardian (via The Press Association). "House of Commons Hansard Debate - 8 December 2005".

He was once described by the "Bagehot" opinion column in The Economist as a "hard-left oddball".[15]

References

  1. ^Roth, Andrew (26 March 2001). Retrieved 16 May 2009. 
  2. ^"General Sir Edward Jones". The personality cult of the ego does not work down a coal mine and it does not work in the Labour Party".

    He was elected to Derbyshire County Council and Clay Cross Urban District Council. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm051208/debtext/51208-04.htm#51208-04_spnew12. To which Black Rod quipped, "I shall miss you, Dennis", receiving laughter from other MPs. The 2008 State Opening of Parliament was Michael Willcocks' last as Black Rod.[12]

  3. In 2009, he stated to new Black Rod Freddie Viggers "Royal Expenses are on the way", a reference to the parliamentary expenses scandal.[13]
  4. In 2010, he stated "No royal commissions this week" in reference to the recent newspaper story in the News of the World which revealed that the former Duchess of York had taken cash payments for introducing businessmen to the Duke of York.

    This is due to the way seniority is calculated; when two or more MPs were elected on the same day, the one who was sworn in first is considered to be the more senior. The documentary traces Skinner's rise to political icon status and covers his working-class upbringing, his family influences and his hobbies away from "The Palace of Varieties". This is the reason Skinner gives for refusing to miss any sitting in the House of Commons, saying that "if you missed a shift at the pit, you would get the sack".

    The best known, according to the New Statesman and other sources, are listed as follows:

    He usually sits on the first seat of the front bench below the gangway in the Commons (known as the "Awkward Squad Bench" because it is where rebel Labour Party MPs have traditionally sat) in a tweed jacket (whilst most other MPs wear suits) and signature red tie.

    London: Daily Telegraph.