Richard Bacon (politician)

Infobox MP
honorific-prefix =
name = Richard Bacon
honorific-suffix = MP
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caption =
constituency_MP = Norfolk South
parliament =
term_start = 7 June 2001
term_end =
majority = 8,782 (14.9%)
predecessor = John MacGregor
successor =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1962|12|3|df=yes
birth_place = Solihull
death_date =
death_place =
nationality = British
spouse = Victoria Panton
party = Conservative
relations =
children =
residence =
alma_mater = London School of Economics
occupation =
profession =
religion =


website =
footnotes =

Richard Michael Bacon (December 3, 1962, Solihull) is a British Conservative politician. He is the Member of Parliament for South Norfolk.

Early life

Bacon was educated at The King's School, Worcester and at the London School of Economics, gaining a First in politics and economics. He was also executive editor of the student newspaper, The Beaver.

He worked variously in investment banking, financial journalism and public relations consultancy, before setting up his own business advising blue chip international companies on communications.

Bacon joined the Conservative Party in 1978. He contested the safe Labour seat of Vauxhall at the 1997 general election, finishing third.

Parliamentary career

Bacon was selected for the very safe Conservative seat of Norfolk South on the retirement of its veteran MP and former Cabinet Minister, John MacGregor. He won the seat at the 2001 general election, and was returned again at the 2005 general election with an increased majority.

Bacon does not follow all of the Conservative party’s core beliefs. Though he rarely rebels against the party line, [ [http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Richard_Bacon&mpc=South_Norfolk The Public Whip - Richard Bacon MP - voting record] ] he was one of only 15 Conservative MPs to vote against the 2003 invasion of Iraq in March of that year. He has also voted against the anti terror laws, top-up fees, foundation hospitals, and the ban on fox hunting, and was one of the few Conservatives to support the Impeach Blair campaign. He is also sceptical about aspects of the climate change debate, having opposed plans to build new wind turbines in South Norfolk, [ [http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED31%20Jul%202007%2019%3A26%3A44%3A503 EDP24 - Campaigners oppose wind farm plans] ] claiming the scheme was not viable for the area.

Bacon is a member of the Public Accounts Committee, and has taken a particular interest in the nature and causes of overspending, delays and failures with Government IT projects.

In February 2007 Bacon was alleged to be the politician with the highest expenditure on taxi and car hire during the previous year, [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6359591.stm BBC News - MPs reveal travel expense claims] ] a claim which he disputed and referred to the National Audit Office. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6362939.stm BBC News - Doubts over MPs' expense claims] ]

Deporting foreign prisoners

In April 2006 Bacon's questioning of Home Office officials concerning the fate of failed asylum seekers released from prison [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4944786.stm BBC News - MP dubs Home Office 'incompetent'] ] led to a major embarrassment for the Labour administration in the run-up to the local elections the following month, and the dismissal of Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4975938.stm BBC News - Clarke is fired in Cabinet purge] ] However, Bacon was not actually himself in favour of the sacking of Clarke, a fellow Norfolk MP, declaring that he had always liked him, and that his questioning had been "business, not pleasure". [ [http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED16%20Nov%202006%2020%3A12%3A36%3A700 EDP24 - Norfolk MP scoops political awards] ]

In July 2006, Bacon was named "Backbencher of the Year" by his fellow MPs for the result of his efforts, and in November 2006, he won three more awards: "Parliamentarian of the Year" from the Spectator magazine, "Politician of the Year" from the Political Studies Association and "Outstanding Parliamentarian of the Year” from the ConservativeHome website.

Personal life

Bacon has one sister, Fiona Bacon. He was married to Victoria Panton on 28 January 2006, at St Margaret's Church, Westminster. Their first child, Rollo William Bacon, was born on 23 April 2007. He lives in Bracon Ash.

References

External links

* [http://www.richardbacon.org.uk/ Richard Bacon MP] official site
* [http://www.conservatives.com/tile.do?def=people.person.page&personID=4746 Conservative Party - Richard Bacon] biography
* [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-6107,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Richard Bacon MP]
* [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/richard_bacon/south_norfolk TheyWorkForYou.com - Richard Bacon MP]
* [http://www.openrightsgroup.org/orgwiki/index.php/Richard_Bacon_MP Richard Bacon MP] Open Rights Group
* [http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Richard_Bacon&mpc=South+Norfolk The Public Whip - Richard Bacon MP] voting record
* [http://www.richardbacon.org.uk/parl/foreign_prisoners_chronology.htm Chronology of Bacon's work on issue of deporting foreign prisoners]