John Leech (politician)
John Leech | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament for Manchester Withington | |
| Assumed office 5 May 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Keith Bradley |
| Majority | 1,894 (4.21%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 11 April 1971 Hastings, Sussex, England |
| Political party | Liberal Democrat |
| Alma mater | Brunel University |
| Website | http://www.john-leech.co.uk/ |
John Sampson Macfarlane Leech[1] (born 11 April 1971,[2] Hastings, East Sussex) is a British Liberal Democrat politician. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manchester Withington since 2005. In the 2005–2010 Parliament he was a member of the Transport Select Committee and was appointed a Shadow Transport Spokesperson in 2006.
Background
Leech went to the independent Manchester Grammar School in Fallowfield, Loreto College in Hulme, and Brunel University in Uxbridge where he studied History and Politics and also joined the Liberal Democrat Party. He received an Upper-Second Class Honours degree upon graduating. After leaving university he worked as a trainee manager for McDonald's and part-time at the RAC in Stretford as a call centre insurance claims handler.
Political career
In 1998 Leech was elected to Manchester City Council, as a Councillor for Barlow Moor and later for Chorlton Park following boundary changes to the ward. He was Deputy Leader of the council's Opposition Group, acting as a spokesperson for Planning and the Environment.[3]
Leech was elected at the 2005 general election, unexpectedly defeating Keith Bradley, the incumbent Labour Party MP, by a swing of over 17%. Leech became the first Liberal or Liberal Democrat to win a Manchester seat since 1929. Leech continued to represent Chorlton Park as a councillor in addition to duties as Member of Parliament until he stood down at local elections in May 2008.[4]
2005 general election
During the 2005 General Election campaign he mounted a 'Save Christie Hospital' campaign, focusing on concern at the possible movement of cancer services away from one of Europe's largest cancer treatment centres. Labour Party supporters alleged that these concerns were unfounded and that there was never any risk to the hospital.
In April 2005, the Manchester Evening News reported that sixty doctors had signed a petition calling on the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority not to move services away from Christie as part of a review of services.[5] The doctors cited concerns that a dislocation of services from the Christie Hospital could jeopardise patient outcomes and their campaign was supported by both the University of Manchester and Cancer Research UK.[6]
The campaign was taken up by Leech as well as the Conservative Party Shadow Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley. However, health services executives reacted angrily to what they perceived as scaremongering on the part of both the Liberal Democrats and the consultants who signed the petition. The Chief Executives of the Greater Manchester Strategic Health Authority and the South Manchester Primary Care Trust both denied the rumours.
The debate between Labour and Liberal Democrat party members about the validity of Leech's claims has continued since the election. Leech took a petition of 1,500 residents to the Strategic Health Authority over the threat while Labour supporters organised a separate petition of local residents to request an explanation from Leech over his conduct.[7]
In 2006 Lib Dem Cllr Angela Gallagher defected to the Labour Party citing Leech's Christie Hospital campaign as a major factor in her decision. (Gallagher had donated over £22,000 to his General Election campaign fund.)[8] Gallagher subsequently lost her seat in the 2007 Manchester local elections by 42 votes to Liberal Democrat Councillor Paul Ankers.
Parliamentary issues
Leech has specialised in three areas during his time in Parliament:
- Cancer services - He was made North-West Lung Cancer Champion by the UK Lung Cancer Coalition.[9]
- Road safety - Leech was made Parliamentarian of the Month for December 2006 and Parliamentarian of the Year for 2008 by the road safety charity Brake.[10][11]
- Light rail - He is a founding member of the All Party Parliamentary Light Rail Group.[12]
2010 general election
At the general election held on 6 May 2010 John Leech was re-elected the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament, after a close contest with rival Lucy Powell (Labour), increasing his majority to 1,894 following a swing of 2.4% from Labour to the Liberal Democrats.[13]
Personal life
Leech is an amateur dramatics enthusiast (Manchester Road Players) and his late father was a Methodist minister. Leech is also a football supporter, and season-ticket holder, following Manchester City F.C. and an enthusiastic member of the Parliamentary Football team.[14]
References
- ^ www.parliament.uk/brefing-papers/RP10-33.pdf
- ^ "John Leech". BBC. Retrieved 2007-10-02. [dead link]
- ^ "Who's Who - John Leech MP". Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 2008-09-11.
- ^ Thislethwaite, Laura (2008-02-21). "Leech to give up his council seat". South Manchester Reporter. MEN Group. Retrieved 2008-05-01. [dead link]
- ^ Camber, Rebecca (2005-04-15). "Christie fury at shake-up talks". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2006-08-16.
- ^ Camber, Rebecca (2005-04-16). "Support for docs in Christie storm". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 2006-08-16.
- ^ "MP Ambushed by red card petition over cancer wards". South Manchester Reporter. Retrieved 2006-08-08.
- ^ "Lib Dem quit over MP's Christie closure claim". South Manchester Reporter. Retrieved 2006-08-08.
- ^ Parliamentary Activity - United Kingdom Lung Cancer Coalition
- ^ Parliamentarian Awards - Brake
- ^ Parliamentarian of the year 2008 - Brake
- ^ John Leech MP Founds Parliamentary Group on Light Rail - Manchester Liberal Democrats 2006-04-05
- ^ Manchester City Council - Election Results - 6th May 2010
- ^ Leech, John. "Frequently Asked Questions". Official website. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
External links
- John Leech MP official constituency website
- Profile at the Liberal Democrats
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou