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; separated 1989) |
| Domestic partner | Lois Blasenheim |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Ruskin College |
| Profession | Miner, politician |
Personal life
Skinner 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
Skinner 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] He was one of the longest serving members of the House of Commons and the longest continuously-serving Labour MP.[6] He was a supporter of Brexit.[7]
In 2020, Skinner was named Honorary President of the Socialist Campaign Group.[8]
Suspensions
Skinner was suspended from parliament at least ten times for calling MPs inappropriate names. He was nicknamed the "Beast of Bolsover" because of his inappropriate comments over the years.[9][10][11] 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.[12]
- Twice in 1984, once for calling David Owen a "pompous sod",[13] and the second time for saying that Margaret Thatcher would "bribe judges".[14]
- In 1992, after calling Minister John Gummer as "a little squirt of a Minister" and "a slimy wart on Margaret Thatcher's nose".[13]
- In 1995, he accused the Major government of a "crooked deal" to sell off Britain's coal mines.[13]
- 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".[15]
- In 2016, because he called Prime Minister David Cameron as "dodgy Dave" because of his taxes.[16]
Dennis Skinner Media
Labour politicians Dennis Skinner & Tony Benn, taken on Ilford HP5+ back in May 1992, in Chesterfield.
Dennis Skinner MP pictured on the terrace at the House of Commons in London
Dennis Skinner, 2016 Labour Party Conference
References
- ↑ "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). http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/dennis-skinner-the-beast-of-bolsover-five-of-his-best-quotes-1-6968531. 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. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5412667/Dennis-Skinner-claimed-for-accountants-fees-on-MPs-expenses.html. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ↑ "Mr Dennis Skinner MP". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 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).
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ↑ "'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.
- ↑ "Engagements (Hansard, 7 July 1981)". Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Silvera, Ian (12 April 2016). "Dennis Skinner's record of rebellion: Veteran Labour MP kicked out of parliament yet again". International Business Times UK. http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/dennis-skinner-five-times-rebellious-labour-mp-kicked-out-parliament-again-1554384. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ↑ White, Michael (9 June 2010). "When is it a heckle too far for the House of Commons?". The Guardian. . https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/jun/09/heckle-house-commons. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
- ↑ Tempest, Matthew (8 December 2005). Skinner barred over cocaine slur. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/dec/08/houseofcommons.conservatives. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
- ↑ "Dennis Skinner kicked out of Commons for Cameron jibe". BBC News. 11 April 2016. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36017171. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
Other websites
- 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