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Evan Harris

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Evan Harris
Member of Parliament
for Oxford West and Abingdon
In office
1 May 1997 – 6 May 2010
Preceded byJohn Patten
Succeeded byNicola Blackwood
Personal details
Born (1965-10-21) 21 October 1965 (age 59)
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
NationalityBritish
Political partyLiberal Democrat
Alma materWadham College, Oxford
Websiteevanharris.org.uk

Evan Leslie Harris BM BCh (born 21 October 1965) is an English Liberal Democrat politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon from 1997 to 2010, losing his seat in the 2010 general election by 176 votes to Conservative Nicola Blackwood.[2]

Early life and career

Evan Harris was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, the son of South African Jewish parents (his father was a medical professor). He was brought up in Liverpool, where he had a state education at Liverpool Blue Coat School.[1] He won a scholarship to Harvard High School in California in 1984, and later won a scholarship to Wadham College, Oxford, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in physiology and a diploma in medical sociology. He completed his education at the Oxford Medical School where he received a Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery and qualified as a doctor in 1991.[3]

Harris began his career at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in 1991 as a Foundation House Officer (junior doctor). A year later, he moved to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, specialising in acute medicine and surgery.[3] In 1994 Harris moved to Oxfordshire Health Authority, becoming an honorary specialist registrar in public health and working on issues to do with NHS staffing and training.[3] Harris held the position of local British Medical Association representative and negotiator from 1992–1994, following which he was elected to the BMA's National Council.[3]

Harris is a humanist, and is a Vice President of both the British Humanist Association[4] and Lesbian and Gay Humanist Association.[5] In addition, he is an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society, and the Patron of the Oxford Secular Society.[1][6]

Harris was married, but was divorced in 1997. He was then in a relationship with Liz O'Hara, who died in 2003 from a glioblastoma multiforme (brain tumour).[7] Harris lists his interest as football, bridge and chess.[8]

Political career

He joined the Social Democratic Party in 1985, joining the newly formed Liberal Democrats in 1988.[citation needed]

Election to Parliament

He was elected to the House of Commons at the 1997 General Election for Oxford West and Abingdon. The seat had previously been held by Conservative John Patten, a former Cabinet minister. Harris gained the seat for the Liberal Democrats with a majority of 6,285, making his maiden speech on 21 May 1997,[9] and remained the MP there until 2010.

Promotion to the frontbench

In parliament, he was made a frontbench spokesman on Health in 1997 by Paddy Ashdown. Following the election of Charles Kennedy as party leader in 1999, Harris became spokesman on Higher Education and Women's issues. He was promoted to the Liberal Democrat shadow cabinet following the 2001 general election as Shadow Secretary of State for Health, but stood down in 2003 to care for his girlfriend Liz O'Hara who had been diagnosed with terminal glioblastoma multiforme.[10] Following the 2005 general election, Harris returned to the frontbench team as spokesman on Science, a position he held until his defeat in the 2010 general election.

Harris was a member of the education and employment select committee between 1999 and 2001.[11] He was then a member of the select committees for science and technology between 2003 and 2010, and for human rights between 2005 and 2010.[6]

Evan Harris is a member of the centre-left Beveridge Group within the Liberal Democrats,[12] and has been Honorary President of the 'Liberal Democrats for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Action' organisation (DELGA) since 2000.[8]

In parliament, he served on many all party groups, including the kidney group (as chairman); mental health; science; refugees; equality; and AIDS group.[6]

Expenses

Harris was initially alleged to have profited from the sale of his second-home by the Telegraph during the expenses scandal.[13] However, following Harris's response, the Telegraph withdrew their allegations.[citation needed] Sir Thomas Legg, the auditor brought in by the House of Commons, wrote to Harris to say that there were no problems with his expenses.[14]

Campaigns

Harris is pro-choice on abortion, and supports the right of mentally competent, terminally-ill people to take their own lives under certain circumstances. This has led to criticism from pro-life and Church leaders, such as George Pitcher.[15]

Harris has also spoken in support of medical research involving animals, including that carried out at Oxford University. Notably, he joined Pro-Test's Oxford march in February 2008. This led animal rights activist Keith Mann to stand against Harris in the 2010 general election, during which he referred to Harris as "Dr Death".[16]

Harris is a vocal backer of reform of defamation laws in the United Kingdom. He notably supported Simon Singh in his libel case against the British Chiropractic Association, saying "For every Simon Singh who wins there are hundreds of writers who never dare publish or who give up their legal battle because they cannot risk the cost of losing. That is why all the political parties must be held to their promises take action [to reform defamation law]".[17] In 2009, Evan Harris was awarded (with Lord Avebury) the National Secular Society's Secularist of the Year Award in recognition of his role in the abolition of the common law offence of blasphemous libel.

Defeat in 2010 general election

Boundary changes

Prior to the 2010 general election, Harris's seat of Oxford West and Abingdon had its boundaries changed, moving the central Oxford wards of Carfax and Holywell, comprised primarily of students of the University of Oxford, to the Oxford East constituency. In return the constituency gained a ward each from Wantage and Witney. These changes reduced Harris' notional majority from 7683 to 5525 votes, or 11.3%.[18]

Criticism and support

A Daily Mail article published on October 31, 2007 highlighted Harris' positions on social issues, castigating him as 'Dr. Death' for his "views on abortion, voluntary euthanasia, immigration and gay rights". The 'Dr. Death' term was subsequently used on numerous occasions, generally by Christian conservatives, in criticising Harris, including articles by Damian Thompson[19], Cristina Odone [20] and Nadine Dorries.

During the campaign, leaflets were distributed by Keith Mann, a candidate for the Animal Protection Party, attacking Harris as 'Dr. Death', and criticising him for his support for animal testing, abortion, secularisation, and other issues.[21] Further leaflets were distributed by the unaffiliated Reverend Lynda Rose, also referring to Harris as 'Dr. Death', and criticising him for his secularism, support for abortion, embryo research and assisted suicide.

In contrast to these criticisms, Harris received support from rationalist, humanist and atheist figures, including Ben Goldacre [22], Simon Singh and Dave Gorman. Stephen Fry added his support, saying of Harris: "[Harris is] by far and away the most persuasive and impressive parliamentarian in the cause of good and open science and enquiry that we have had in the past decade. He has been central to mould-breaking and inspirational multiparty cooperation in issues of scientific concern since 1997."[23] .

At the election, Harris was defeated; he received 23,730 votes to Conservative Nicola Blackwood's 23,906 - a margin of only 176 votes.[16] Harris' defeat was lamented by some commentators as a 'loss for science'.[24][25][26] Richard Dawkins, posting on his site[27], wondered whether the religious criticisms of Harris had "caused Evan Harris to lose votes" or "gain them", noting that the answer to this would reflect the true extent of secular thought in the UK.

Harris' defeat was celebrated by some on the Christian right, including Christian Concern For Our Nation[28], and George Pitcher who described it as 'the best result of the election' [29]

Political positions

According to TheyWorkForYou.com, Harris's voting record from 2001 to 2010 was:[30]

  • Voted moderately against the hunting ban.
  • Voted very strongly against introducing ID cards.
  • Voted very strongly for laws to stop climate change.
  • Voted very strongly against introducing foundation hospitals.
  • Voted very strongly against the Iraq war.
  • Voted very strongly for an investigation into the Iraq war.
  • Voted very strongly against a stricter asylum system.
  • Voted strongly against introducing student top-up fees.
  • Voted very strongly against allowing ministers to intervene in inquests.
  • Voted very strongly against replacing Trident.
  • Voted strongly against greater autonomy for schools.
  • Voted strongly for equal gay rights.
  • Voted strongly for removing hereditary peers from the House of Lords.
  • Voted strongly for a wholly elected House of Lords.
  • Voted moderately for more EU integration.
  • Voted moderately for introducing a smoking ban.
  • Voted very strongly against Labour's anti-terrorism laws.
  • Voted moderately for a transparent Parliament.

References

  1. ^ a b c "Dr Evan Harris MP". Humanism.org.uk. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  2. ^ "Election 2010 | Constituency | Oxford West & Abingdon". BBC News. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  3. ^ a b c d "About Evan (Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats)". Evanharris.org.uk. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  4. ^ "Vice Presidents of the British Humanist Association". BHA. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  5. ^ "Meet Dr Death, the Lib Dem MP Evan Harris who backs embryo experiments, euthanasia and freer abortions | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  6. ^ a b c "Dr Evan Harris, MP Authorised Biography – Debrett's People of Today, Dr Evan Harris, MP Profile". Debretts.com. 1965-10-21. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  7. ^ "Meet Dr Death, the Lib Dem MP Evan Harris who backs embryo experiments, euthanasia and freer abortions | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  8. ^ a b "Evan Harris – Shadow Science Minister | The Liberal Democrats - Our MPs in Detail". Libdems.org.uk. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  9. ^ Debate Text for 21 May 1997 - Hansard
  10. ^ MP quits to care for partner - BBC News Online 13 October 2003
  11. ^ "House of Commons - UK Parliament". Parliament.uk. 2000-11-28. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  12. ^ About us - The Beveridge Group 28 October 2007
  13. ^ Prince, Rosa (1 June 2009). "MPs' expenses: You help pay for flat, then parents buy it Dr Evan Harris, a senior Liberal Democrat MP, spent thousands doing up and adding value to his taxpayer-funded second home before selling it to his parents". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  14. ^ "Legg letter to Evan Harris MP: "Dr Harris has no issues." (Oxford West and Abingdon Liberal Democrats)". Evanharris.libdems.org.uk. Retrieved 2010-05-24.
  15. ^ Pitcher, George. "The best result of the election: Let's rejoice that Lib Dem Evan Harris has lost his seat – Telegraph Blogs". Blogs.telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  16. ^ a b "Lib Dem MP Evan Harris loses Oxford West and Abingdon". BBC News. 2010-04-16. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  17. ^ Sarah Boseley, health editor. "Simon Singh libel case dropped | Science". The Guardian. Retrieved 2010-05-10. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  18. ^ "Oxford West and Abingdon". ukpollingreport.co.uk. 2010-05-05. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  19. ^ http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/damianthompson/8163131/Evan_Harris_let_me_tell_you_where_you_can_shove_your_attempt_to_reform_the_Act_of_Settlement/
  20. ^ http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/cristinaodone/100035241/the-lib-dems-are-a-jekyll-and-hyde-party-forget-nice-mr-clegg-what-about-dr-death/
  21. ^ http://www.thestraightchoice.org/leaflets/4612/
  22. ^ http://www.badscience.net/2010/05/keep-evan-harris-in-parliament-oxford-west-and-abingdon/
  23. ^ Stephen Fry: (2010-05-04). "How I will vote... « The New Adventures of Stephen Fry". Stephenfry.com. Retrieved 2010-05-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  24. ^ http://www.dcscience.net/?p=3061
  25. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/time-for-a-rethink-for-science-lobby-1968210.html
  26. ^ http://timesonline.typepad.com/science/2010/05/election-2010-a-terrible-night-for-science.html
  27. ^ http://richarddawkins.net/discussions/469591-evan-harris-is-this-why-he-lost-his-seat
  28. ^ http://www.ccfon.org/view.php?id=1070
  29. ^ http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/georgepitcher/100038685/the-best-result-of-the-election-lets-rejoice-that-lib-dem-evan-harris-has-lost-his-seat/
  30. ^ "Evan Harris, former MP, Oxford West and Abingdon". TheyWorkForYou.com. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon
1997 – 2010 		Succeeded by
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