| The Right Honourable Jim Knight MP |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 5 June 2009 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
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| Preceded by | Tony McNulty |
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| In office 28 June 2007 – 5 June 2009 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Jacqui Smith |
| Succeeded by | Vernon Coaker |
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Member of Parliament
for South Dorset |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 7 June 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Ian Bruce |
| Majority | 1,812 (3.7%) |
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| Born | 6 March 1965 Bexley, United Kingdom |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) | Anna Wheatley |
| Alma mater | Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge |
James "Jim" Knight (born 6 March 1965) is a British Labour politician, who has been a Member of Parliament since 2001. As of June 2009, Knight holds the post of Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform, as well as being Minister for the South West.
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Early life
He went to the independent Eltham College in Mottingham, London. He studied Geography, Social & Political Sciences at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge from 1984–1987, gaining a BA Hons. He was Manager of Central Studio in Basingstoke from 1988–1990. From 1990–1991, he was Director of West Wiltshire Arts Centre Ltd, then Director of Dentons Directories Ltd in Westbury from 1991-2001.
Election history
He first stood for Parliament in the 1997 general election as the Labour candidate for Dorset South, but lost by 77 votes. He was however elected on the same day to Mendip District Council, on which he served until 2001, including as Labour Group leader.
At the 2001 general election, he was elected the Member of Parliament for Dorset South by 153 votes in the only Labour gain from the Conservatives in that year. In the 2005 general election he increased his majority to 1,812.
Parliamentary career
He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Rural Affairs, Landscape and Biodiversity in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs from 2005-6. He then moved to become Minister of State for Schools in the Department for Education and Skills. On 28 June 2007, when Gordon Brown disbanded the department, Knight moved to the newly created Department for Children, Schools and Families, as the Minister for Schools and Learners. In October 2008 following the reshuffle, Knight was sworn of the Privy Council which is necessary considering his post as Minister of State.
In his first Parliament, Jim Knight generally voted in line with party policy, including all major votes such as those on the Iraq war and top-up fees.
As Schools Minister, he was criticised for lecturing parents about children being obsessed with computer networks such as Facebook while having close to 900 friends on his own profile.[1]
Jim Knight has held the following positions:
- 2003-2004 - Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rosie Winterton as Minister of State at the Department of Health
- 2004-2005 - Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Ministerial Team at the Department of Health
- 2005-2006 - Parliamentary under Secretary of State for Rural Affairs, the Landscape & Biodiversity
- 2006-2009 - Minister of State for Schools
- 2009-present - Minister of State for Employment
- 2009-present - Minister for the South West
External links
- Jim Knight MP official site
- Jim Knight - Department for Children, Schools and Families
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Jim Knight MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Jim Knight MP
- BBC Article on Ed Matts 13 April, 2005
- Opening speech at the Handheld Learning 2007 Conference 11 October 2007, Central Hall Westminster
- BBC Politics page
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ian Bruce |
Member of Parliament for South Dorset 2001 – present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Jacqui Smith |
Minister of State for Schools and Learners 2006 – 2009 |
Succeeded by Vernon Coaker |
| Preceded by Tony McNulty |
Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform 2009 – present |
Incumbent |
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