Member of Parliament
It proved third time lucky, as Denham finally took the seat at the 1992 general election, when he defeated Chope by just 551 votes and has remained an MP since (since 1997 Chope has been MP for the safe Tory seat of Christchurch, Dorset.) Mitchell did not fight the election. Denham made his maiden speech on 20 May 1992, reminding people that the Pilgrim Fathers left from Southampton, and not Plymouth as is widely thought, on their historic voyage to North America.
John Denham has held the following positions:
- 1995–1997: Opposition Spokesman for Social Security
- 1997–1998: Parliamentary under Secretary of State at the Department of Social Security
- 1998–1999: Minister of State at the Department of Social Security
- 1999–2001: Minister of State for Health Services
- 2001–2003: Minister of State for Policing
- 2003–2007: Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee
- 2007–2009: Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills
- 2009–2010: Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
- 2010–2011: Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills
- 2011–present: Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition
Read more about this topic: John Denham (politician)
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