Dennis Skinner
Dennis Edward Skinner (born 11 February 1932) is a British Labour politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Bolsover between 1970 and 2019.[1]
Dennis Skinner | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Skinner in 2011 | |
| Chairman of the Labour Party | |
| In office 13 June 1988 – 27 October 1989 | |
| Leader | Neil Kinnock |
| Preceded by | Neil Kinnock |
| Succeeded by | Jo Richardson |
| Member of Parliament for Bolsover | |
| In office 18 June 1970 – 6 November 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Harold Neal |
| Succeeded by | Mark Fletcher |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dennis Edward Skinner 11 February 1932 Clay Cross, Derbyshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) |
Mary Parker
(m. 1960; sep. 1989) |
| Domestic partner | Lois Blasenheim |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Ruskin College |
| Profession | Miner, politician |
Personal life
changeSkinner was born in Clay Cross, Derbyshire. He studied at Ruskin College. He married Mary Parker in 1960, however the two separated in 1989. They had three children.
Political career
changeSkinner was known for his left-wing views. He was a part of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs.[2][3][4] He was a member of Labour's National Executive Committee for thirty years and was the chairman of the Committee in 1988–89.[5]
Because of his aggressive words used and behaviour, Skinner became known as the "Beast of Bolsover".[6][7][8] Skinner said that he earned the nickname for his behaviour in a tribute debate in the Commons following the death of former Conservative Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden in 1977:[9] "They were making speeches about the wonder of Anthony Eden, so I got up and talked about miners and people seriously injured and dead in the pits and the £200 given to the widow. There was booing and then all the Tories left, and the papers had a go, some serious ones".[10]
He was one of the longest serving members of the House of Commons and the longest continuously serving Labour MP.[11] He was a supporter of Brexit.[12]
In 2020, Skinner was named Honorary President of the Socialist Campaign Group.[13]
Suspensions
changeSkinner was suspended from parliament at least ten times for calling MPs inappropriate names.[14] Some of the times he was suspended was:
- In 1981, accusing speaker of the House of Commons George Thomas of attending an event to raise funds for the Conservative Party.[15]
- Twice in 1984, once for calling David Owen a "pompous sod",[16] and the second time for saying that Margaret Thatcher would "bribe judges".[17]
- In 1992, after calling Minister John Gummer as "a little squirt of a Minister" and "a slimy wart on Margaret Thatcher's nose".[16]
- In 1995, he accused the Major government of a "crooked deal" to sell off Britain's coal mines.[16]
- In 2005, he said of Conservatives in the 1980s "The only thing that was growing then were the lines of coke in front of 'Boy George' and the rest of the Tories".[18]
- In 2016, because he called Prime Minister David Cameron as "dodgy Dave" because of his taxes.[19]
References
change- ↑ "Mr Dennis Skinner MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ↑ Broomhead, Michael (24 November 2014). "Profile: Dennis Skinner, The Beast of Bolsover, 5 of his Best Quotes". The Star. London. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ↑ "Dennis Skinner quotes: the Beast of Bolsover in full flow" Archived 13 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine, The Week, 25 February 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
- ↑ Chris Hastings (ed.). "Dennis Skinner: claimed for accountants' fees on MPs' expenses". Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 April 2017. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ↑ "Mr Dennis Skinner MP". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ↑ "'Beast of Bolsover' Dennis Skinner loses seat after 49 years". FT. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ↑ "Dennis Skinner quotes: the Beast of Bolsover in full flow". The Week. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ↑ "Veteran UK Labour lawmaker Dennis Skinner loses to Conservatives". Reuters. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
- ↑ Parliamentary Debates, House of Commons, 17 January 1977
- ↑ Boffey, Daniel (11 February 2012). "Dennis Skinner at 80: still awkward after all these years". theguardian.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- ↑ "Dennis Skinner". Ruskin College. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ↑ Pidd, Helen (8 January 2019). "'The way the EU treated the UK opened my eyes': Bolsover's Brexit". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 February 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
- ↑ @socialistcam (6 May 2020). "Dennis Skinner elected Honorary President of Socialist Campaign Group" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ↑ "Veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner Has Lost His Seat To The Conservatives". Buzzfeed. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ↑ "Engagements (Hansard, 7 July 1981)". Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Silvera, Ian (12 April 2016). "Dennis Skinner's record of rebellion: Veteran Labour MP kicked out of parliament yet again". International Business Times UK. Archived from the original on 4 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ↑ White, Michael (9 June 2010). "When is it a heckle too far for the House of Commons?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 4 April 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ↑ Tempest, Matthew (8 December 2005). "Skinner barred over cocaine slur". Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ↑ "Dennis Skinner kicked out of Commons for Cameron jibe". BBC News. 11 April 2016. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
Other websites
change- This much I know, Skinner runs down some matters of importance to him, hosted by The Guardian
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Giving George Osborne a line of wit in December 2005
- Junction 29A in December 2004
- Heart bypass in March 2003
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