Members of Parliament for Blackburn - Blackburn Citizen

Member of Parliament for Blackburn

Party

Committees

British Museum Group, British-american Parliamentary Group

Surgery Information

The dates and times of surgeries can be obtained by calling the Constituency Office on 01254 52317 but please note, Jack can only see Blackburn residents as there is a strict Parliamentary protocol that MPs are only permitted to take up the cases of those

It is possible for residents of the Blackburn constituency to see Jack personally at one of his regular advice surgeries, which take place at the following venues:

Audley Community Centre
Bangor Street Community Centre
Bank Top Community Centre
Ivy Stree

Surgery Telephone 01254 52317

Surgery Email blackburnlabour@hotmail.com

Biography

MP Since - 1979 Majority - 8,009 Born - 03/08/1946. Divorced, 1 daughter (deceased), Married, 1 son & 1 daughter.

Education - Brentwood School, Leeds University, Inns of Court School of Law.

Previous Occupation - President National Union of Students (1969-71); Called to the Bar (1972); Practicing Barrister (1972-74); Special Advisor to Barbara Castle (1974-76), Peter Shore (1976-77), Member, staff of Granada TV for 'World In Action' (1977-79); Master of Bench of the Inner Temple (1977).

Personal Overview - Although seen as a task-master in ridding the Labour Party of its traditional weakness on law and order, his successor David Blunkett was alleged to have aimed to make him look like a kind-hearted liberal. With extensive Opposition and Governmental experience he was promoted to Foreign Secretary on the assumption of Labour's second term. A political animal who practised at the Bar for a mere two years he served his political apprenticeship to Barbara Castle, whose constituency he inherited at the start of the Thatcher era in 1979. Politically in Government he has been seen as a success story, with a conservative tone to his delivery. On appointment as Foreign Secretary his main political challenge was to steer for calm water over the Euro and any forthcoming referendum. Subsequent international turmoil following the terrorist attacks of September 11th proved testing, initially exposing a poor grasp of global affairs, which subsequently improved with experience and the second war in the Gulf. With a tendency to appear hesitant and unsure during media appearances, he was often been sidelined by the Prime Minister on the international stage. During the last Parliament he was a key figure in an English-ministerial lobby seeking limitations to Scottish devolution, and aiming to kick the Jenkins Commission PR recommendations into the long grass. Tabloid reporting of his son's small-time dealing in cannabis generated more political support for the embattled parent, than it did to a discredit the then Home Secretary. Was surprisingly demoted in the Cabinet reshuffle in May 2006 following Labour's poor local election showing. Courted some controversy in October 2006 when he suggested that Muslim women wearing full face veils could harm community relations. With his reappointment in June 2007 to the Justice portfolio, he became one of the longest serving Cabinet Ministers in the Labour Government. He also became the first MP to take up the post of Lord Chancellor.

Political History - Councillor, Islington London Borough Council (1971-78), Member Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) (1971-74, Deputy Leader 1973), MP Blackburn (1979-). Opposition Spokesman on Treasury & Economic Affairs (1980-83), Environment (1983-87), Shadow Education Secretary (1987-92), Shadow Environment Secretary (1992-94), Shadow Home Secretary of State (1994-97), Home Secretary (1997-2001). Foreign Secretary (2001-06). Leader of the House of Commons (2006-07). Member of the House of Commons Commission (2006-07); Chairman of the Modernisation Select Committee (2006-07). Lord Chancellor & Secretary of State for Justice (2007-).

Characteristics - Known to have been involved in Tony Blair's leadership campaign. Visiting Fellow Nuffield College, Oxford (1990-98). Honorary Vice President Blackburn Rovers FC (1998) & Honorary Law Degree (Leeds University 1999). Fellow, Royal Statistical Society (1995-).

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