| Paul Holmes MP | |
 |
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Member of Parliament
for Chesterfield |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 7 June 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Tony Benn |
|---|---|
| Majority | 3,045 (6.9%) |
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| Born | 16 January 1957 Sheffield, South Yorkshire |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Liberal Democrat |
| Spouse(s) | Raelene |
| Children | 2 Daughters, 1 Son |
| Alma mater | University of York, University of Sheffield |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Teacher |
| Religion | Humanist[1] |
| Website | www.paulholmes.org.uk |
Paul Robert Holmes (born 16 January 1957, Sheffield) is a politician in the United Kingdom. He is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Chesterfield, previously held by Tony Benn, and was first elected in 2001. Before becoming an MP, Holmes was a history teacher for 22 years.
His election as chairman of the parliamentary party in 2005 was a surprise to many, since it came at the expense of incumbent chairman Matthew Taylor (a close friend of then Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy). Commentators attributed the result to dissatisfaction with some elements of Kennedy's leadership and a belief amongst MPs that the role of party chairman should be more that of a backbenchers' 'shop steward' and less under the influence of the leadership.
Holmes, not yet an MP, supported Simon Hughes in the leadership election following Paddy Ashdown's retirement in 1999. At the 2005 party conference, he voted against plans by the leadership to support capping the European Union budget at 1% of GDP and to privatise the post office (and was on the winning side in both votes). However, he publicly declared himself to be in full support of Kennedy's leadership following rumours that Hughes was planning a leadership challenge.[2] In the leadership election caused by the resignation of Charles Kennedy, Paul Holmes took on the role of chair to Simon Hughes' leadership campaign
Holmes was a member of the House of Commons Education & Skills Select Committee from 2001-2007, but stood down from the Committee in July 2007 to concentrate on his appointment as Shadow Minister for Housing. Previously Holmes had been a Spokesman on Disability (2001-2005), Work and Pensions (2002-2005) and Arts and Heritage (2006-2007). In December 2007 he returned to the back benches, being one of only two MPs in the party to lose their shadow cabinet responsibilities in the reshuffle after Nick Clegg's election as Liberal Democrat leader.[3]
Paul Holmes is a founding member of the centre-left Beveridge Group within the Liberal Democrats.[4] He is also an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society.
Paul Holmes hit the headlines in March 2008 when he was the only Liberal Democrat MP to sign an Early Day Motion praising Fidel Castro at the time of his resignation. He was quoted on the BBC as saying "It is true Cuba has political prisoners and no free elections, but it has very good dentistry."[5]
Holmes is currently the Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Justice[6] and sits on the Children, Families and Schools Select Committee.[7]
See also
References
- ^ http://www.humanism.org.uk/about/apphg
- ^ The Guardian
- ^ BBC NEWS | Politics | What to make of Clegg reshuffle?
- ^ About us - The Beveridge Group 2007-10-28
- ^ BBC News Magazine Monitor
- ^ http://www.paulholmes.org.uk/news/000290/labour_and_the_tories_have_failed_on_youth_justice.html
- ^ http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/csf/members.cfm
External links
- Paul Holmes MP official site
- Paul Holmes MP profile at the site of Liberal Democrats
- ePolitix.com - Paul Holmes
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Paul Holmes MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Paul Holmes MP
- The Public Whip - Paul Holmes MP voting record
- BBC News - Paul Holmes profile 10 February 2005
- BBC News - New Lib Dem chairman Interview of Paul Holmes 14 July 2005
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tony Benn |
Member of Parliament for Chesterfield 2001–present |
Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Matthew Taylor |
Chair of the Liberal Democrats 2005–present |
Incumbent |
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