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Engel referred to [[socialism]] as "the simple idea that if someone helps their neighbour, their neighbour will help them".
Engel referred to [[socialism]] as "the simple idea that if someone helps their neighbour, their neighbour will help them".


Engel has not broken the Labour whip in her time in Parliament.<ref name="whip">The [http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Natascha_Engel&mpc=North+East+Derbyshire Publicwhip] website shows that the only occasion on which she has differed from a majority of Labour MPs was on a Private members' bill, and on free votes on reform of the House of Lords.</ref> However, asked in an interview, in 2005, "If you were an MP at the time, how did you vote on military action in Iraq?", Engel answered, "Against".<ref name="Iraq">"[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,,1578651,00.html Labour MPs on Iraq] - part two", guardian.co.uk, Monday, 26 September 2005</ref> After entering Parliament, Engel has voted, consistently, ([[31 October]] [[2006]], [[11 June]] [[2007]], [[25 March]] [[2008]]), with the government, against motions calling for an independent inquiry on the [[Iraq war]].<ref name="Iraq Select committee inquiry">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm061031/debtext/61031-0012.htm#06103184001491 Division Nos. 330/331].</ref><ref name="Iraq Inquiry">[http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpid=1534&dmp=975 Division No. 135]</ref><ref name="Iraq again">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080325/debtext/80325-0001.htm Division No. 666]</ref> With the announcement that there will now be an inquiry, Engel voted with the government to block moves to full public disclosure.<ref name="VOTEREC"></ref>
Engel has not broken the Labour whip in her time in Parliament.<ref name="whip">The [http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Natascha_Engel&mpc=North+East+Derbyshire Publicwhip] website shows that the only occasion on which she has differed from a majority of Labour MPs was on a Private members' bill, and on free votes on reform of the House of Lords.</ref> However, asked in an interview, in 2005, "If you were an MP at the time, how did you vote on military action in Iraq?", Engel answered, "Against".<ref name="Iraq">"[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,,1578651,00.html Labour MPs on Iraq] - part two", guardian.co.uk, Monday, 26 September 2005</ref> After entering Parliament, Engel has voted, consistently, ([[31 October]] [[2006]], [[11 June]] [[2007]], [[25 March]] [[2008]]), with the government, against motions calling for an independent inquiry on the [[Iraq war]].<ref name="Iraq Select committee inquiry">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm061031/debtext/61031-0012.htm#06103184001491 Division Nos. 330/331].</ref><ref name="Iraq Inquiry">[http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpid=1534&dmp=975 Division No. 135]</ref><ref name="Iraq again">[http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080325/debtext/80325-0001.htm Division No. 666]</ref> With the announcement that there will now be an inquiry, Engel voted with the government ([[24 June]] [[2009]]) to block moves to full public disclosure.<ref name="VOTEREC"></ref>


She has complained, publicly, over the lack of a free vote offered to Labour MPs, by the government, over policy on parental rights with child discipline (smacking).<ref name = "DESB">Labour Backbenchers Push For Outright [http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/65147/Labour-backbenchers-push-for-outright-smacking-ban- Smacking Ban] ''Daily Express'', 8 October 2008</ref>
She has complained, publicly, over the lack of a free vote offered to Labour MPs, by the government, over policy on parental rights with child discipline (smacking).<ref name = "DESB">Labour Backbenchers Push For Outright [http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/65147/Labour-backbenchers-push-for-outright-smacking-ban- Smacking Ban] ''Daily Express'', 8 October 2008</ref>

Revision as of 11:41, 25 June 2009

Natascha Engel
MP
Member of Parliament
for North East Derbyshire
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 May 2005
Preceded byHarry Barnes
Majority10,065 (23.2%)
Personal details
Born (1967-04-09) 9 April 1967 (age 57)
Berlin, Germany
NationalityUnited Kingdom (British Subject)
Political partyLabour
SpouseDavid (Newton) Salisbury-Jones
Childrenthree
ResidenceUnited Kingdom
Alma materKing's College London,
University of Westminster
ProfessionPolitician
Websitehttp://www.nataschaengelmp.org.uk/
Favorite album Dave Berry (musician) & Natascha Engel

Natascha Engel (born 9 April 1967) is a British politician. She was elected as the Labour Member of Parliament for North East Derbyshire in the 2005 general election. She has extensive involvement in the trade union movement and has close connections to Gordon Brown.

Personal life and education

Early life

Natascha Engel was born in Berlin, Germany to a German father and an English mother. She was educated at the independent Kent College in Canterbury, and at The King's School, Canterbury, she trained as a linguist at King's College London (KCL) (German and Portuguese) and at the University of Westminster (UW) (MA in Technical and Specialised Translation). In addition to her political career, Engel has done postgraduate work in translation: she speaks German, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Family life

She married David (Newton) Salisbury-Jones,[1] in Lambeth in 2001, a veterinary surgeon with a practice in Streatham,[2] London, who served (1994-8)[3] as a Labour councillor for Lambeth (Princes Ward[4]) and fought[5] Uxbridge in the 2001 General Election for the Labour Party. They have three children. They own houses in Barrow Hill,[6] (constituency home base) near Eckington and Lambeth (Parliamentary home base).

Politics

While living in Madrid, Spain, Engel worked as a volunteer for two years in the local office of Amnesty International while earning a living as a teacher of English. After returning to Britain to work as a Teletext subtitler, Engel joined the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU). She was among the first join the Organising Academy of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), serving with the Graphical, Paper and Media Union (GPMU); she worked on political fund ballots in persuading trade union members to retain their financial backing for the Labour Party.

Engel joined the Labour Party staff as a Trade Union Liaison Officer organising marginal seats campaigning at the 2001 general election. She later became policy co-ordinator for the Trade Union Liaison Office, before leaving to work as programme director of the Smith Institute. Her work there included researching on skills and the needs of working women. In October 2002 through the Smith Institute she co-authored the book Age of Regions: Meeting the Productivity Challenge.

She was an assistant to John Healey in February 2003, and the two have co-written a pamphlet,[7] published by the TUC, and an article,[8] published by the New Statesman, arguing that unions should offer learning opportunities in order to recruit more members.

Despite the lack of local connections, she was selected[9] as the Labour candidate for North East Derbyshire following the decision of the sitting Labour MP Harry Barnes not to stand in the 2005 general election. Her husband, Salisbury-Jones, was serving as the membership secretary to the North-East Derbyshire Labour Party[10] at the time and her connections with allies of Gordon Brown were remarked upon. Engel took the seat, easily, with a majority of 10,065.

She (together with her husband) bought a house in her constituency[11] in Barrow Hill in July 2006.

Parliament

When the Select Committees were established in this Parliament, Engel was appointed to the Work and Pensions Committee. She made her maiden speech[12] on 20 October 2005, the last of the incoming Labour MPs to do so, paying tribute to her predecessor Harry Barnes for his work. Engel concentrated on constituency affairs. She supported the devolution of power and resources to local communities, highlighting examples in Staveley and Grassmoor.

Engel referred to socialism as "the simple idea that if someone helps their neighbour, their neighbour will help them".

Engel has not broken the Labour whip in her time in Parliament.[13] However, asked in an interview, in 2005, "If you were an MP at the time, how did you vote on military action in Iraq?", Engel answered, "Against".[14] After entering Parliament, Engel has voted, consistently, (31 October 2006, 11 June 2007, 25 March 2008), with the government, against motions calling for an independent inquiry on the Iraq war.[15][16][17] With the announcement that there will now be an inquiry, Engel voted with the government (24 June 2009) to block moves to full public disclosure.[18]

She has complained, publicly, over the lack of a free vote offered to Labour MPs, by the government, over policy on parental rights with child discipline (smacking).[19]

In 2006, Engel's name was included on a list of 15 up and coming Labour MPs compiled for News Corporation.[20] She backed[21][22] Peter Hain[23] for deputy leader of the Labour Party in the 2007 leadership contest and served as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Hain from 16 July 2007 (Hain resigned his Cabinet posts on 24 January 2008[24][25]). She stood down down from the Work and Pensions Committee on 7 November 2007.[26]

Engel was instrumental in trying to arrange, ultimately unsuccessfully, the construction of what would have been the world's largest sundial in her constituency.[27][28]

Through to the summer recess 2008 she was on maternity leave with her third child[29][30] but was occasionally attending the Commons, voting with the government.[18]

In October 2008 Engel was appointed PPS to Liam Byrne who was the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster now made Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the June 2009 ministerial reshuffle.[31][32]

She was a signatory to Richard Burden's letter[33] condemning the escalated conflict in Gaza and calling for an immediate ceasefire on all sides. Engel did not openly back Burden's subsequent early day motion (EDM)[34] criticizing the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Sky TV for refusing to broadcast the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Gaza Crisis Appeal.[35]

Engel nominated John Bercow for Speaker in the wake of Michael Martin's resignation.[36]

Work with Youth

Engel represents the Labour Party on the Board of Trustees of the UK Youth Parliament[37] and she has worked to encourage local and national democratic thought in youngsters and advocates the lowering of the voting age to sixteen.[38][39][40][41] She has shown special interest in the sexual health of youth, including the free supply, on the National Health Service, (NHS) of condoms,[42] advocating, through the Fabians, that youth sexual health should find special attention in the next Labour Party manifesto.[43]

Engel has been recognized for her work with the UK Youth Parliament[44][45] and she is an Honorary President of the British Youth Council.[46]

She supports an outright ban on the smacking of children by parents.[19]

Controversy

Alleges bus company fraud

In her first question to the Prime Minister (Brown) (PMQ) in 2009,[47] Engel alleged that 'some unscrupulous bus companies' (in her constituency),[48] and thus, by implication, the bus drivers, are complicit in wide-scale fraud by issuing tickets for concessionary travellers - primarily the over-60s - for 'far longer journeys' than those being made at the time. Such overcharging, said to happen by Engel, is then passed on to the local authorities empowered to provide concessionary travel, at the cost to the taxpayer, to those eligible for such benefits.

Stagecoach, by far the largest service provider of concessionary travel in the North East Derbyshire area,[49] rejected[50] Engel's allegations as ignorant of the facts of the contractual arrangements between them, the co-operatives, such as TM,[51] and local authorities for the provision of these services, such contracts being 'fixed-price'.

Brown, after underlining continuing government commitment, which Engel queried in the face of her allegations of corruption, told her to talk to Geoff Hoon (at Transport [52]) about her concerns.[53]

Involvement in (UK) Parliamentary expense scandal

Use of expense categories

Additional costs allowance (ACA)

In the context of the UK Parliamentary expense scandal,[54] Engel has begun to provide an accounting[55][56] for her use of her expenses, particularly the most controversial: the additional costs allowance (ACA),[57] made available from the public purse to support 'secondary housing' so that Parliamentary duties may be satisfied.

She was named in the Daily Telegraph of 21 May 2009 as having claimed for many household items including a £2,900 sofa (she was reimbursed £2000), champagne flutes (£30) and 'cookie cutters' (£4).[58][59][60]

While asserting to be 'within the letter' of the law (Parliamentary rules [PR][61]), she has admitted to not being 'in the spirit' of the law (PR) with respect to her ACA claims.[62]

However, she has already declared that she will not be paying any ACA money back [62] and denies any involvement in the practise of flipping.[63]

Incidental expenses provision (IEP)

Engel has used money from the incidental expenses provision (IEP) to claim taxpayer money for, among other things, ten copies of the DVD (£117.50) from the Parliamentary Recording Unit showing her maiden speech in Parliament (as above: she was the last to address Parliament after her election). She also claimed for office posters (£28.95), May Day greetings cards, another set of cards on the theme of the 'Solidarity of Labour' by Walter Crane (cost unknown) and a book, The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann (£12).

Contacted by the Sunday Telegraph 31 May 2009, Engel admitted that these charges to the public purse were 'inappropriate' and that she would be paying this IEP money back.[64]

Communications allowance (CA)

Introduced between the Parliamentary period 2007/8, Engel has been one of the highest users (59th [65]) of the most recent category created in the expenses allowances breakdown.

Much of this money was used to pay for production and distribution of largely photo opportunities of Engel opening 'galas and fairs' (exemplified by her 'last' constituency report [see External Links]).

Within her latest maternity break, this format was abandoned and there remains just a 'minimalist' official web site, (said site also dropping all assertions as to where the Engel/Salisbury-Jones family actually 'live' [there had been no independent analysis of the pattern of 'primary' and 'secondary' housing until The Daily Telegraph disclosed that ACA usage through 2008 showed that Engel and Salisbury-Jones considered Chesterfield (Barrow Hill) to be 'secondary' (and thus London to be 'primary') despite their claims to constituents to 'live' in Barrow Hill]).[66][67][68][69][70]

During this time capital equipment (D-TEK HF-220) to fold stationary (publications) was acquired at the cost to the taxpayer of £2579.13.

Among MPs offering least value for money

The Sunday Telegraph, in an analysis of 'work done' for expenses claimed, says that Engel is among those MPs who offer 'least value for money.'[64] The Guardian journalist Madeleine Bunting though, has pointed out that Engel was on maternity leave twice during the parliament elected in 2005.[71]

Meeting with constituents

In the light of the continuing revelations of her claims, Engel held meetings with constituents in Clay Cross (12 June 2009) and Dronfield (13 June 2009) to help her determine whether she should stand down as the MP for NE Derbyshire.[63]

Subsequently to these meetings Engel has been accused of 'careful stage management' and using the tactic of divide and conquer to 'thwart' any real public judgement on her use of expense allowances by law lecturer and resident locally to Eckington (where Engel has her constituency office) Mark van Hoorebeek, member of Bradford University Law School.[72][73] Suggested that she should indeed stand down, Engel rejected the views expressed as representative of all her constituents.[74][75]

Ludicrous claims

Engel was named in the 'Complete Expense Files' in The Daily Telegraph supplement (20 June 2009) in the category of making 'Ludicrous Claims.'[68]

See also

  • Action Against Matlock Moor Windfarm Proposal (AMP [update].) March 30 2009
  • Westminster Hall Debate. (Renewable Energy.) 31 March 2009
  • Natascha Engel MP: Planning to go green. ePolitix.com. 31 March 2009
  • Skinner is the third cheapest MP. Derbyshire Times. 2 April 2009
  • Natascha Engel: It's no fun being an MP and a mother ... The Independent (Commentators). 29 May 2009
  • Her Voice to Youth 2009
  • Ivers, J. "Engel 'really glad' she went public". Derbyshire Times. 4 June 2009
  • Natascha Engel expenses. Released by Parliament (heavily censored). 18 June 2009

Affiliations

Publications

  • Balls, E., Costley, N., Engel, N., (ed.), Gemmell, S., Healey, J., MP, Johnson, A., MP, Raynsford, N., MP, Riordan, T., Samuda, R., White, P.(Dr.), Age of Regions: Meeting the UK Productivity Challenge, 2002, ISBN 1-902-48850-4
  • Engel, N., Right To Vote At 16?, School matters (Derbyshire's only Local Paper for Pupils, Parents and Staff ...), May 2008
  • Engel, N., Smacking should be illegal, School matters (Derbyshire's only Local Paper for Pupils, Parents and Staff ...), July 2008
  • Engel, N., A demand for high level skills, School matters (Derbyshire's only Local Paper for Pupils, Parents and Staff ...), October 2008
  • Engel, N., Healey, J., (MP), Learning to organise, TUC, 2003, ISBN 1-850-06659-0
  • Engel, N., Healey, J., (MP), Everybody out . . . for training!, The Skill Factor (Special Supplement), New Statesman, Vol. 132, March 10, 2003. p. xiv
  • Engel, N., Sodha, S., Johnson, M., Moving on up : progression in the labour market, Politics for a New Generation: The Progressive Moment, (Pearce, N., Margo, J. eds.), Palgrave Macmillan, 2007, pp 191-214, ISBN 0-230-52493-1

References

  1. ^ David Salisbury-Jones, Vet.
  2. ^ Vale Veterinary Clinic
  3. ^ Lambeth service dates David (Newton) Salisbury-Jones 'mini-cv' from the Vale Vets
  4. ^ Princes Ward
  5. ^ Uxbridge 2001
  6. ^ Barrow Hill
  7. ^ Learning to Organize (pdf)
  8. ^ Everybody out . . . for training! (pdf)
  9. ^ Francis Elliott, "Blair allies lose ground to the Brown babes", The Independent on Sunday, 8 February 2004, p4
  10. ^ North East Derbyshire Labour Party New Members
  11. ^ Engel (together with Salisbury-Jones) retain business and residential property interests in Lambeth, London
  12. ^ Hansard, House of Commons, 6th series, vol. 437, cols. 1012-1013
  13. ^ The Publicwhip website shows that the only occasion on which she has differed from a majority of Labour MPs was on a Private members' bill, and on free votes on reform of the House of Lords.
  14. ^ "Labour MPs on Iraq - part two", guardian.co.uk, Monday, 26 September 2005
  15. ^ Division Nos. 330/331.
  16. ^ Division No. 135
  17. ^ Division No. 666
  18. ^ a b Voting record
  19. ^ a b Labour Backbenchers Push For Outright Smacking Ban Daily Express, 8 October 2008
  20. ^ Paul Murphy, "How Murdoch plans to win friends and influence people", Media Guardian, 2 February 2006
  21. ^ "Peter Hain's backers", Guardian Unlimited, Thursday, 17 May 2007
  22. ^ Engel deputizes - for Hain
  23. ^ Peter Hain, Guardian Unlimited, Profile (GUP)
  24. ^ Hain quits jobs 'to clear name' , BBC News, Tuesday, 24 January 2008
  25. ^ Peter Hain guilty of failures in registering donations
  26. ^ "House of Commons Order of Business" Thursday, 8 November 2007
  27. ^ Solar Pyramid
  28. ^ Solar Pyramid Declined
  29. ^ Jennifer Ivers, "MP Natascha looks to the future", Derbyshire Times, 25 October 2007
  30. ^ Richard Marsden, "MP has her third baby", The Star, 15 January 2008
  31. ^ PPS Appointment
  32. ^ Pethokoukis, J. "UK's Byrne to become Chief Secretary to Treasury". Reuters. 5 June 2009
  33. ^ Stop the slaughter in Gaza
  34. ^ Early Day Motion 585
  35. ^ Gaza Crisis Appeal
  36. ^ Speaker nomination. Bercow's official website
  37. ^ Sam Ellis, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, has served on Engel's Constituency Staff as 'Youth Officer'
  38. ^ What is 'Question Time'? North-East Derbyshire District Council
  39. ^ YOURspace The interactive magazine for North East Derbyshire
  40. ^ What can MPs do to engage with young people?15 Oct, 2007
  41. ^ Voting Age (Reduction) Hansard, 5 Dec 2007 : Column 855
  42. ^ Access to Contraceptive Services Bill(Failed Bill 2006/07 session)
  43. ^ Sex and relationships. Dear Ed: Manifesto suggestions. Fabian Review, Autumn 2007
  44. ^ Children & Youth Champion 28 November 2007
  45. ^ Derbyshire Times, 13 December 2007
  46. ^ BYC Honorary President
  47. ^ Engel alleges fraud by bus companies
  48. ^ Rugby Advertiser Bus firms accused of overcharging elderly
  49. ^ Stagecoach provision in the North East Derbyshire area
  50. ^ Stagecoach rejects Engel's allegations
  51. ^ TM Travel
  52. ^ Department for Transport
  53. ^ Brown answers Engel on concessionary travel
  54. ^ Schofield, K. Expenses scandal: Gordon Brown reveals sweeping clean-up of House of Commons. DailyRecord.co.uk. 20 May 2009
  55. ^ 'This has damaged the integrity of Parliament'. this is derbyshire.co.uk. 20 May 2009
  56. ^ Engel: All claims for costs 'directly incurred by me'. this is derbyshire.co.uk. 22 May 2009
  57. ^ Additional Costs Allowance
  58. ^ "MPs' expenses: Bill Wiggin claimed £11,000 in phantom mortgage payments". Daily Telegraph. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  59. ^ Prince, R. MPs' expenses: judge me now, Natascha Engel tells her constituents. Daily Telegraph. 21 May 2009
  60. ^ Engel, N. MPs' expenses: Natascha Engel 'knew people would find her claims unacceptable'. Daily Telegraph. 21 May 2009
  61. ^ That is; not on the UK Statute Books, but 'self-regulation' which makes the contemplation of successful prosecution by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) fraught with pitfalls.
  62. ^ a b Ivers, J. MP'S Claim Revelations. Derbyshire Times. 21 May 2009. Front Page
  63. ^ a b Ibid. p. 4
  64. ^ a b Sawyer, P. MPs' expenses: Natascha Engel claimed for DVDs of own speech in Parliament. Sunday Telegraph. 31 May 2009
  65. ^ Natascha Engel expenses by category
  66. ^ Natascha Engel minimalist official web site
  67. ^ Natascha Engel assertions on family residence
  68. ^ a b The Complete Expense Files. The Daily Telegraph. 20 June 2009, p.7
  69. ^ The records for 2008/09 have not been made available (censored or otherwise). It was during this reporting period that Engel/Salisbury-Jones sold their 'primary' housing in London in the aquisition of another 'primary' London house close to Salisbury-Jones's vet practice
  70. ^ Engel/Salisbury-Jones residential history (this is publicly available information)
  71. ^ Madeleine Bunting "When women can't win", The Guardian, 5 June 2009.
  72. ^ (Dr.) Mark van Hoorebeek
  73. ^ Bradford University Law School
  74. ^ I've not made a profit out of taxpayers: MP. Lanacashire Evening Post. 17 June 2009
  75. ^ Ivers, J. MP under fire over 'judge me' meetings. Derbyshire Times. 18 June 2009. p.5
  76. ^ The Center Forum
  77. ^ Labour Representation Committee
  78. ^ Sheffield's Sport For All With Caborn , Football Foundation, 28 April 2006
Parliament of the United Kingdom

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