Stephen Pound

Infobox MP
honorific-prefix =
name = Stephen Pound
honorific-suffix =

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constituency_MP = Ealing North
parliament =
majority = 6,159 (13.5%)
predecessor = Harry Greenway
successor = Incumbent
term_start = 1 May 1997
term_end =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1948|07|3|df=yes
birth_place =
death_date =
death_place =
nationality = British
spouse =
party = Labour
relations =
children =
residence =
alma_mater = London School of Economics
occupation =
profession = Politician
religion = Roman Catholic


website = http://www.stevepound.org.uk/
footnotes =

Stephen Pelham Pound (born 3 July 1948), commonly known as Steve Pound, is a British Labour party politician who has served as the MP for Ealing North, in London, since 1997. [http://www.stevepound.org.uk/about.html Stephen Pound's official site] ] He also appears on various television and radio programmes.

Background

He went to Hertford Grammar School (now called Richard Hale School) on "Hale Road" in Hertford. He was educated, as a mature student from 1979-84, at the London School of Economics where he gained a Diploma in Industrial Relations and a BSc in Economics. He was the student union president from 1981-2. He used to be a boxer in the Merchant Navy, leading "Private Eye" magazine to refer to him as "Ealing North's tattooed bruiser", when at sea from 1964-66. He also served as a 'bus conductor for London Regional Transport. [ [http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_objectid=16246836&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=tory-mp-wallops-labour-mp-name_page.html Exclusive: Tory Mp Wallops Labour Mp - Mirror.Co.Uk ] ] from 1966-68. He was a hospital porter from 1969-79. Prior to becoming an MP he worked for Paddington Churches Housing Association as a housing manager from 1984 until he became an MP. He was based at their office in Willesden.

Political career

He is the Labour member of Parliament for the Ealing North constituency, which he has represented since 1997. He served as the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Hazel Blears until he resigned in protest at the decision to replace Trident on March 14, 2007. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6448173.stm Nuclear weapons 'essential to UK'] , BBC News, March 14 2007] He supported Hazel Blears in the Labour deputy leadership contest.

Currently he serves as the PPS to the Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform Stephen Timms.

Voting record

How Stephen Pound voted on key issues since 2001 ( [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/stephen_pound/ealing_north They Work For You] ):

* Voted against a transparent Parliament.
* Voted against introducing a smoking ban.
* Voted for introducing ID cards.
* Voted for introducing foundation hospitals.
* Voted for introducing student top-up fees.
* Voted for Labour's anti-terrorism laws.
* Voted for the Iraq war.
* Voted against investigating the Iraq war.
* Voted against replacing Trident.
* Voted for the hunting ban.
* Voted for equal gay rights.

Media Involvement

In 2003 BBC’s Today Programme asked its listeners to suggest a law that they would like to see put onto the statute books. The BBC received 10,000 nominations and five were short-listed, from which listeners then voted to select their preferred choice. Stephen Pound agreed to sponsor in parliament whichever idea eventually won the final vote.

On 1 January 2004 it was announced on air that first place with 37% of the vote had gone to the proposal to authorise homeowners to use any means to defend their home from intruders. (The controversial farmer Tony Martin was still very much in the news.) Stephen Pound’s on-air reaction to the result was that, "The people have spoken - the bastards".

In May 2005, Pound appeared on British TV quiz show "Have I Got News For You" and in December of that year in a special edition of "University Challenge".

Personal life

He married Maggie in 1976. They have a son and daughter. In January 2005 it was revealed that he fathered an illegitimate daughter when he was eighteen years old. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4202513.stm MP's shock at long lost daughter] ]

References

External links

General

* [http://www.stevepound.org.uk Official website]
* [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/stephen_pound/ealing_north TheyWorkForYou.com profile]
* [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,,2033579,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1 Guardian article from March 2007 on Trident renewal]
* [http://www.ealingtimes.co.uk/news/yourmps/ Monthly local newspaper column written by Stephen Pound]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/216.stm BBC Politics]

In the news

BBC News:
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4758956.stm MP gives up smoking - a fight against fags]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4098055.stm Head-to-Head: Scrooge or Santa?] - On a commercial Christmas.
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4202513.stm MP's shock at long lost daughter] "The Guardian":
* [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/homeaffairs/story/0,,2033579,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1 MPs vote to renew Trident] , with information of his resignation.On his dressing up as a Cheeky girl for charity:
* From the [http://www.defamer.com.au/2008/02/memo_to_krudd_some_possible_ideas_for_upcoming_publicity_stunts.html Defamer Australia]
* From [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7234753.stm BBC News]
* From the [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=512920&in_page_id=1773&in_page_id=1773&expand=true#StartComments Daily Mail]