Bob Ainsworth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 5 June 2009 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
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| Preceded by | John Hutton |
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| In office 13 June 2003 – 28 June 2007 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Keith Hill |
| Succeeded by | Nick Brown |
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Member of Parliament
for Coventry North East |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 9 April 1992 |
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| Preceded by | John Hughes |
| Majority | 14,222 (38.24%) |
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| Born | 19 June 1952 Coventry, United Kingdom |
| Political party | Labour |
Robert William Ainsworth (born 19 June 1952) is the British Member of Parliament for Coventry North East. He is a member of the Labour Party. He replaced John Hutton as Secretary of State for Defence on 5 June 2009.
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[edit] Early life
Ainsworth was born in Coventry and attended the local Foxford Comprehensive School.[1] He first became active in politics as a trade unionist at the Jaguar Cars plant in Coventry, where he worked from 1971, and served in many capacities within the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union there, including four years as the Branch President. During 1982 and 1983, he was a candidate member of the International Marxist Group, but he was never a full member of that organisation. In 1984, he was elected to the Coventry City Council, and was its deputy leader from 1989–1992.
[edit] Parliamentary career
Ainsworth became Labour candidate for Coventry North East in 1992 after the sitting MP, John Hughes, was de-selected by the Constituency Labour Party. Ainsworth was successfully elected with a 11,676 majority, and stepped down from the city council the following year. At the 1997 general election his majority soared to 22,569; falling back to 15,751 at the 2001 election, and 14,222 at the 2005 election.
Ainsworth has been an ever present member of the Labour governments under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. From 1997–2001 he served as a whip, and in the reshuffle following Peter Mandelson's second resignation in January 2001 he was promoted to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the former Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions.
After the 2001 general election Ainsworth was moved sideways to the Home Office (as Parliamentary Under-Secretary where he remained until 2003 when he became the Deputy Chief Whip (also known as the Treasurer of the Household). On 29 June 2007, he moved to become the Minister of State for the Armed Forces, replacing Adam Ingram.[2]
Ainsworth was appointed to the Privy Council in February 2005.[3]
Ainsworth is one of the 98 MPs who voted to keep their expense details secret.[4] In 2007-8, he claimed the maximum permissible amount of £23,083 for second-home allowances, making him the joint highest claimant.[5]
He has been criticized for alleged excessive claims for repairs to his second home.[5]
On 5 June 2009 he was appointed to the cabinet by Gordon Brown as Secretary of State for Defence, replacing John Hutton. [6] He is the first labour cabinet minister for over 40 years to have a moustache.
[edit] References
- ^ Criddle, Byron; Robert Waller (2002). Almanac of British Politics. Routledge. pp. 266. ISBN 0415268338.
- ^ Ministry of Defence - Minister of State for the Armed Forces: Bob Ainsworth
- ^ Number 10 - Privy Council Appointment (Robert Ainsworth)
- ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article1816072.ece
- ^ a b Gammell, Caroline (2009-06-02). "MPs' expenses: Bob Ainsworth's repairs cost the taxpayer £5,925". Online edition. The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5431621/MPs-expenses-Bob-Ainsworths-repairs-cost-the-taxpayer-5925.html. Retrieved on 2009-06-07.
- ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8085783.stm
[edit] External links
- Coventry North East Constituency Labour Party Local Labour Party site
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Bob Ainsworth
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Bob Ainsworth MP
- Public Whip - Voting Record: Bob Ainsworth
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Hughes |
Member of Parliament for Coventry North East 1992–present |
Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Keith Hill |
Treasurer of the Household 2003–2007 |
Succeeded by Nick Brown |
| Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Commons 2003–2007 |
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| Preceded by John Hutton |
Secretary of State for Defence 2009–present |
Incumbent |
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