- Dennis Skinner
-
Dennis Skinner MP 
Chairman of the Labour Party In office
13 June 1988 – 27 October 1989Leader Neil Kinnock Preceded by Neil Kinnock Succeeded by Jo Richardson Member of Parliament
for BolsoverIncumbent Assumed office
18 June 1970Preceded by Harold Neal Majority 11,182 (25.4%) Personal details Born 11 February 1932
Clay Cross, Derbyshire, EnglandNationality British Political party Labour Spouse(s) Mary Parker Alma mater Ruskin College Religion (atheist) Dennis Edward Skinner (born 11 February 1932) is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolsover since 1970, the Chairman of the Labour Party from 1988 to 1989, and has sat on the National Executive Committee numerous times since 1978.
Born in Clay Cross, Derbyshire, Skinner is the third of nine children of the miner Edward Skinner, who was sacked after the 1926 general strike.[1] He worked as a miner for over 20 years, in the course of which he became a NUM leader and Clay Cross Labour Party councillor. He is known for his left-wing views, acid tongue and for never missing a Commons session.
He is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs.
Contents
Early life
Born in Clay Cross, Derbyshire, Skinner was educated at Tupton Grammar School (now Tupton Hall School) after passing the Eleven-plus a year early.[2] The Bolsover area was formerly dominated by coal mining, and Skinner was a miner from 1949 to 1970, first at Parkhouse Colliery in Clay Cross until 1962, when it closed, and then at Glapwell Colliery near Chesterfield. He joined the Labour Party in 1956.
Union and political career
He was a councillor on Derbyshire County Council from 1964 to 1970, and a Clay Cross councillor from 1960 to 1970. He was leader of the Derbyshire area of the National Union of Mineworkers between 1966 and 1970. He attended Ruskin College in 1967 after doing a preparatory course run by the NUM at the University of Sheffield.
Skinner was elected MP for the Labour safe-seat of Bolsover in the 1970 general election. He has held the seat ever since. On taking his seat, he undertook publicly to stand down from Parliament at the age of 65 (therefore in 1997), just as he would have retired had he remained as a miner; this was so that he would not be 'taking another man's job'. He has, however, since stood and been re-elected in 4 General Elections. He was a strong supporter of the National Union of Mineworkers and its then leader Arthur Scargill in the 1984-85 miners' strike. Skinner remains loyal to the policies on which he originally was elected into office, reflected by his membership of the Socialist Campaign Group.
Skinner takes a liberal stance regarding social issues: he voted in favour of equalisation of the age of consent, civil partnerships, adoption rights for same-sex couples, and to outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.[3] Furthermore, throughout his career he has maintained a strongly pro-choice stance on abortion. On several occasions he has enabled the defeat of moves to reduce the number of weeks at which the operation can be legally performed in Britain by talking out the measure (filibustering) as on 20 January 1989, when he held up proceedings by trying to move a writ for a by-election in the constituency of Richmond, which was incidentally won by later Conservative leader William Hague.[4]
In 2003, he was one of a large number of Labour MPs who voted against the Iraq War; he later rebelled against the party line when he voted against government policy to allow terror suspects to be detained without trial for 90 days. In March 2007, Skinner with 88 other Labour MPs also voted against government policy to renew the Trident Nuclear Missile System.
He is known for his republican sentiments.
He supported David Miliband in the 2010 Labour leadership election, which was later won by David's brother, Ed Miliband.[5]
Suspensions
Skinner has been suspended from Parliament on at least ten occasions, usually for "unparliamentary language" when attacking opponents. Infractions have included:
- In 1992, referring to the Minister of Agriculture John Gummer as "slimy" and a "wart".
- In 1995, accusing the government of a "crooked deal" to sell off Britain's coal mines.
- On 8 December 2005, when referring to the economic record of the Conservatives in the 1980s, making the remark, "The only thing that was growing then were the lines of coke in front of boy George and the rest of the Tories", a reference to allegations originally published in the Sunday Mirror of cocaine use by the Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne (though, in the Commons, Skinner referred to the News of the World).[6]
- On 20 April 2006, accusing Deputy Speaker Sir Alan Haselhurst of leniency towards remarks made by opposition frontbencher Theresa May "because she's a Tory".[7][8]
Queen's Speech jokes
Skinner has traditionally cracked jokes, usually about the Royal Family, during the annual Queen's Speech ceremony. He does this upon the arrival of Black Rod (the symbol of royal authority in the House of Lords) to summon MPs to hear the Queen's speech in the Lords' chamber. The best known, according to the New Statesman and other sources, are as follows:[9]
- In 1987, he said "Tell her to sell up!", a reference to the tightening of belts in the United Kingdom.
- In 1990, he quipped "It tolls for thee Maggie", a reference to Margaret Thatcher's impending departure.
- In 1991, on arrival of Black Rod quipping "I bet he drinks Carling Black Label"; a reference to an advertising campaign at the time.[10]
- In 1992, he said to Black Rod "Tell her to pay her taxes"; at the time, this was an important political issue.
- In 1997, he shouted "New Labour, New Black Rod".[11] A reference to Labour's election campaign slogan "New Labour, New Britain".
- In 2000, he shouted out "Tell her to read the Guardian!" - the Guardian newspaper was campaigning at the time to repeal various laws relating to the monarchy.
- In 2001, he said to new Black Rod Michael Willcocks "You're nowt but a midget!!" to much laughter in the chamber.
- In 2003, he suggested that the Speaker "bar the doors" after Black Rod had arrived, a practice that is used to block late-arriving MPs from casting their votes after the division bells have been sounded. After the command he also said "Did she lock the door behind her!" to laughter from other MPs. The tongue-in-cheek suggestion by Skinner was scoffed at by Speaker Michael Martin.
- In 2006, Skinner responded to Black Rod's invitation with "Have you got Helen Mirren on standby?", in reference to the portrayal by Helen Mirren of Elizabeth II in the 2006 film, The Queen. The BBC political commentator Huw Edwards called the quip "cheap but funny".
- In 2007, he asked "Who shot the harriers?" referring to a recent event in Sandringham, where two protected hen harriers had been shot near a royal property. Prince Harry and a friend had been questioned by police over the incident.
- In 2008, he asked, "any Tory moles at the Palace?", referring to the recent arrest of Conservative MP Damian Green in connection with an investigation about him receiving confidential information from a civil servant at the Home Office who was formerly a Conservative Party candidate. 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]
- In 2009, he stated to new Black Rod Freddie Viggers "Royal Expenses are on the way", a reference to the parliamentary expenses scandal.[13]
- 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. Interestingly this time, whether through error or purpose, he made his one-liner in the middle of the Yeoman Usher's (who was filling in for an ill Black Rod) speech. To which the Yeoman Usher replied at the end, "Thank you, Dennis".
Commons attendance
He often tells of turning up for work at his colliery after he had been elected as an MP, refusing to see this as his new occupation. 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". He also refuses to adopt the pairing system in which he can agree a mutual abstention with a Conservative MP, saying he won't cover for them whilst they "go swanning off to Ascot or to their boardrooms". In the 2004–2005 sitting of the House he claimed the least expenses for an MP who served the full year.[14] He has never been a member of an All-Party Parliamentary Group; does not eat alongside parliamentary colleagues in the Commons dining room; does not take trips or holidays 'paid for' by others; never drinks in the Commons Bar; and stays in the House of Commons during the Queen's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament, as he advocates outright abolition of the House of Lords.
Usually sitting 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 distinctive tweed jacket (whilst most other MPs wear suits) and signature red tie. He gained the sobriquet "the Beast of Bolsover" for falling foul of the procedures of Parliament, many of which are in his view archaic and contemptible. He was once described by the "Bagehot" opinion column in The Economist as a "hard-left oddball".[15]
References
- ^ Roth, Andrew (26 March 2001). "Profile:Dennis Skinner". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2001/mar/20/profiles.parliament9. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
- ^ "Profile: The beast that roars from the pits: Dennis Skinner MP, incorruptible class act - Opinion". London: The Independent. 12 December 1992. http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/profile-the-beast-that-roars-from-the-pits-dennis-skinner-mp-incorruptible-class-act-1563086.html. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ^ "Dennis Skinner MP, Bolsover voted strongly for the policy Homosexuality - Equal rights". publicwhip.org.uk. http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpid=1430&dmp=826. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
- ^ "House of Commons Friday 20 January 1989 The House met at half-past Nine o'clock". www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk. http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm198889/cmhansrd/1989-01-20/Debate-1.html. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
- ^ "David Miliband's Labour leadership bid wins backing of Dennis Skinner". The Guardian (via The Press Association). 10 September 2010. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/sep/10/david-miliband-backing-dennis-skinner. Retrieved 17 October 2011.
- ^ Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster (8 December 2005). "House of Commons Hansard Debate - 8 December 2005". Publications.parliament.uk. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm051208/debtext/51208-04.htm#51208-04_spnew12. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ^ "Skinner thrown out of the Commons - again", The Guardian, 20 April 2006.
- ^ Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster (20 April 2006). "House of Commons Hansard Debate - 20 April 2006". Publications.parliament.uk. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060420/debtext/60420-05.htm#60420-05_spnew3. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
- ^ http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/05/black-rod-skinner-queen-beast
- ^ "Improv in the House". BBC News. 10 August 1999. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/416382.stm. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
- ^ "General Sir Edward Jones". London: Daily Telegraph. 18 May 2007. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1551880/General-Sir-Edward-Jones.html. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
- ^ "Appointment to the post of Black Rod". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 17 December 2008. http://news.parliament.uk/2008/12/appointment-of-black-rod/. Retrieved 27 March 2009.
- ^ State Opening of Parliament 2009 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth including Black Rod. 18 November 2009. Event occurs at 5:15. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDLL45b0uEo.
- ^ Assinder, Nick (31 October 2005). "Commons Confidential: October 2005". BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4331120.stm. Retrieved 4 October 2008.
- ^ "Not as nice as they look". The Economist. 28 April 2005. http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displaystory.cfm?story_id=E1_PJTDNRR. Retrieved 27 July 2008.
External links
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
- Current session contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Electoral history and profile at The Guardian
- Voting record at PublicWhip.org
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou.com
- Profile at Westminster Parliamentary Record
- Profile at BBC News Democracy Live
- Biography at Stuart Thomson
- Contact details at This Is Derbyshire
- Video: My first job - Dennis Skinner MP, hosted by YouTube on the IOSH's official channel
- This much I know, Skinner runs down some matters of importance to him, hosted by The Guardian
- Articles
- Giving George Osborne a line of wit in December 2005
- Junction 29A in December 2004
- Heart bypass in March 2003
Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded by
Harold NealMember of Parliament for Bolsover
1970–presentIncumbent Political offices Preceded by
Neil KinnockChair of the Labour Party
1988–1989Succeeded by
Jo RichardsonCategories:- English atheists
- Members of the United Kingdom Parliament for English constituencies
- Labour Party (UK) MPs
- People from Clay Cross
- UK MPs 1970–1974
- UK MPs 1974
- UK MPs 1974–1979
- UK MPs 1979–1983
- UK MPs 1983–1987
- UK MPs 1987–1992
- UK MPs 1992–1997
- UK MPs 1997–2001
- UK MPs 2001–2005
- UK MPs 2005–2010
- Alumni of Ruskin College
- British republicans
- Democratic socialists
- 1932 births
- Living people
- Derbyshire MPs
- UK MPs 2010–
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