Nigel Griffiths
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Nigel Griffiths MP
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Member of Parliament
for Edinburgh South |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 11 June 1987 |
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| Preceded by | Michael Ancram |
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| Majority | 405 (0.9%) |
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| Born | 20 May 1955 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Sally McLaughlin |
| Alma mater | University of Edinburgh |
Nigel Griffiths MP (born 20 May 1955, Glasgow, Scotland) is a British politician. He is the Labour Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South.
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[edit] Early life
Nigel Griffiths was educated at the Hawick High School on Buccleuch Road in Hawick in the Scottish Borders before attending the University of Edinburgh where he was awarded an MA in 1977, he finished his education at Moray House College of Education (now the Moray House School of Education on Holyrood Road at the University of Edinburgh) in Edinburgh in 1978, before working as a Welfare Rights officer. He was president of the University of Edinburgh Labour Group in 1976.
It was during his time as an undergraduate at the University of Edinburgh that he first came into contact with Gordon Brown (then the student elected Rector of the University) and worked vigorously in support of Brown.
In 1978, he worked as a secretary to the Lothian Development Council, before becoming a welfare rights worker with a pressure group working on behalf of people with learning disabilities in 1979, he remained in this position until his election to Parliament.
[edit] Political career
He joined the Labour Party in 1970 and was elected as a councillor on the City of Edinburgh Council in 1980, a position in which he remained until he became a member of the House of Commons. He also served as a member of the Edinburgh Health Council (1982-87). He was a member of the Edinburgh International Festival committee for three years from 1984 and was the chairman of the city council in 1986. He was elected to parliament at the 1987 General Election for Edinburgh South, when he ousted the sitting Conservative MP Michael Ancram by 1,859 votes and he has remained the MP there since.
He was made an Opposition Whip by Neil Kinnock in 1987, becoming a spokesman for eight years on trade and industry in 1989. He became a member of the first government of Tony Blair following the 1997 General Election as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Trade and Industry, but was sacked by Blair in his first reshuffle of 1998, he spent the rest of the parliament as a member of both the procedure and the public accounts select committees. He returned to government following the 2001 with the same rank at the Department of Trade and Industry. He then served as the Deputy to the Leader of the House of Commons Jack Straw from 2005 until he resigned over the renewal of the British Trident system in March 2007.[1]
He worked with Anita Roddick to found The Big Issue in Scotland. He reached the headlines in 2002 when a complaint against him for not declaring all his expenses was upheld.[2].
[edit] Hijab controversy
Nigel Griffiths has commented on the debate over veils stating "The justification I have heard is that some Muslim women feel 'comfortable' wearing the full veil, but it doesn't make others comfortable."[3]
[edit] Personal life
He has been married to Sally McLaughlin since 1979.
Allegations that he had conducted an affair in his House of Commons office were raised in the News of the World on 22 March 2009.[4] Griffiths responded: "I am, of course, ashamed that my conduct did fall below acceptable standards. I have little recollection of the evening but that does not make it right."[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Minister quits over Trident plans, BBC News, March 12, 2007
- ^ Complaints against MP upheld, BBC News, February 13, 2002
- ^ Griffiths backs Straw in row over veils, Edinburgh Evening News, October 9, 2006
- ^ [1] News of the World, March 22 2009
- ^ [2] Daily Mail, March 23 2009
[edit] Publications
- Guide to Council Housing in Edinburgh by Nigel Griffiths, 1981
- Welfare Rights Survey by Nigel Griffiths, 1981
- Welfare Rights Guide by Nigel Griffiths, 1982
- Council Housing on the Point of Collapse by Nigel Griffiths, 1982
- Welfare Rights Guide by Nigel Griffiths, 1983
- Welfare Rights Guide by Nigel Griffiths, 1984
- Welfare Rights Guide by Nigel Griffiths, 1985
- Welfare Rights Guide by Nigel Griffiths, 1986
- Rights Guide for Mentally Handicapped People by Nigel Griffiths, 1988
[edit] External links
- Nigel Griffiths official site
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Nigel Griffiths MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Nigel Griffiths MP
- Profile in 2007
- BBC Politics
[edit] News items
- Ex-Squaddie Set To Take On Shamed Edinburgh MP In Election in April 2009
- Sleaze fighter to oppose Griffiths in April 2009
- Anti-sleaze candidate bids to romp home against Griffiths in April 2009
- MP Nigel Griffiths survives second attempt to force an inquiry in April 2009
- Police rule out criminal inquiry into MP's sex encounter in Commons in April 2009
- Police rule out Griffiths romp investigation in April 2009
- Police urged to launch probe into Nigel Griffiths sex romp claims in April 2009
- Nigel Griffiths tries to gag News of the World in March 2009
- Nigel Griffiths escapes probe over Commons sex romp claims in March 2009
- Nigel Griffiths escapes probe over Commons sex romp claims in March 2009
- No action over Griffiths ’sex romp’ in March 2009
- Sporrans in June 2007
- Small business questions in September 2003
- Complaints against him in February 2002
- Parliamentary expenses in 2001
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Michael Ancram |
Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South 1987 – present |
Incumbent |
