Colin Pickthall

Colin Pickthall (born 13 September 1944) is a politician in the United Kingdom. He was Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for West Lancashire. He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1992, and retired at the general election of 2005.

Colin Pickthall
Member of Parliament
for West Lancashire
In office
10 April 1992 – 11 April 2005
Preceded byKen Hind
Succeeded byRosie Cooper
Personal details
Born (1944-09-13) 13 September 1944
Dalton-in-Furness
NationalityBritish
Political partyLabour
Spouse(s)Judith Ann (m. 1973)
Children2
Alma materLancaster University
OccupationTeacher

Pickthall's father was a shipyard fitter. He attended Ulverston Grammar School, and then the University of Wales, obtaining a B.A. Hons. English Literature and History. He then went on to the University of Lancaster, where he obtained an M.A. with the thesis "The Influence of Socialism on 20th Century British Poetry". He became a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and the Labour Party, in 1963.

He married a Canadian, Judith Ann, in 1973; they have two daughters, Alisoun and Jenny. He initially worked as a lecturer of English, in the Ruffwood Comprehensive School and Edge Hill College of H.E. (where he became the Head of European Studies).

At the general election of June 1987, Pickthall ran for Parliament in West Lancashire, but lost to the Conservatives by 1,353 votes. Later, in 1989, he won the seat of Ormskirk on Lancashire County Council by a very small margin. However, this was sufficient for the Labour Party to take control of the County Council by one seat.

At the general election of April 1992, he took the parliamentary seat of West Lancashire, and in the following elections, in May 1997 and June 2001, he retained the seat, with a substantial majority. He became a member of the Select committee on Agriculture in 1992, the post that he maintained until 1997. He was appointed parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Alun Michael MP, in 1997, later serving Jack Straw MP.

He resigned as PPS in December 2000, in response to the police investigation, into his election expenses.[1] He was later reinstated shortly afterwards, in 2001, when the police investigation concluded there had been “no wrongdoing”.[2] He was transferred to the Foreign Office in 2001, where he continued as Straw's PPS.

He pledged his "continuing support" for Tony Blair in July 2004, remarking that his performance has been "psychologically remarkable".[3]

Pickthall is considered a leftist, frequently campaigning on animal welfare and environmental issues. He is opposed to hare coursing, as the Waterloo Cup took place at Great Altcar, in his constituency, and hunting. His support for the hunting ban led to pro-hunt supporters leaving a dead fox on his doorstep in February 2005.[4] He retired from the House of Commons, at the general election of May 2005.[5]

Pickthall is a supporter of Humanists UK.

References
  1. "Straw aide stands down". www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk. 18 December 2000. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  2. Mp, Labour (22 October 2002). "BBC Politics - Colin Pickthall". BBC News. Retrieved 26 March 2008.
  3. "Outgoing MP still backing Blair". news.bbc.co.uk. 17 July 2004. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  4. "Bad Blood". Skelmersdale Advertiser. 24 February 2005. Retrieved 26 March 2008.
  5. "Labour MPs call time on Commons". news.bbc.co.uk. 5 April 2005. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Ken Hind		 Member of Parliament for West Lancashire
1992–2005		 Succeeded by
Rosie Cooper
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