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)
Famous quotes containing the words member of, member and/or parliament:
“The very existence of society depends on the fact that every member of it tacitly admits he is not the exclusive possessor of himself, and that he admits the claim of the polity of which he forms a part, to act, to some extent, as his master.”
—Thomas Henry Huxley (1825–95)
“When Hitler attacked the Jews ... I was not a Jew, therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists, I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned. Then, Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church—and there was nobody left to be concerned.”
—Martin Niemller (1892–1984)
“Undershaft: Alcohol is a very necessary article. It heals the sick—Barbara: It does nothing of the sort. Undershaft: Well, it assists the doctor: that is perhaps a less questionable way of putting it. It makes life bearable to millions of people who could not endure their existence if they were quite sober. It enables Parliament to do things at eleven at night that no sane person would do at eleven in the morning.”
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)