Gareth Bacon
Encyclopedia
Gareth Andrew Bacon is a Conservative Party
'additional member
' of the London Assembly
, elected in the May 2008 election
.
Bacon was born in Hong Kong
, and studied at the University of Kent at Canterbury
where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts
honours degree in Politics and Government in 1996, followed by a Master of Arts
degree in European Studies in 1997. He worked as head of the public sector division of Martin Ward Anderson from 2004.
Prior to running for the Assembly, Bacon was elected to Bexley Council
in 1998, 2002 and 2006 for Sidcup West
ward (later renamed Longlands
ward), serving as the Council's Vice Chairman of the Town Planning Committee (1998–2002) and as its Deputy Mayor (2001–2002). He was also Shadow Cabinet Spokesman for Environment Transport and Regeneration from 2003 to 2006 and played a full part in holding the Labour Council of 2002–06 to account, scoring a notable victory by defeating the Labour administration’s plans to sell off half of Bexley’s allotment land for development.
Bacon was a key player in the team that secured a landslide victory for the Conservatives in the local elections of 2006, after which he was appointed Cabinet Member for the Environment. He was instrumental in steering through an enhanced recycling service in Bexley, which produced a 20% increase in the level of recycling in the borough in the first year, and ensured that Bexley retained its position as the leading borough for recycling in London, breaking through the 50% barrier for the first time and avoiding an increase of £2 million in costs for waste disposal.
In the local elections of May 2010 the Conservatives again won a landslide victory in Bexley, and Bacon was re-elected in Longlands ward with a majority of more than 2,000 votes. He was subsequently re-appointed Cabinet Member for the Environment.
Bacon is a former Deputy Chairman of Old Bexley & Sidcup Conservative Association (2000–2003) and was the Conservative candidate for the London Assembly constituency of Greenwich & Lewisham in 2004, where he lost to the incumbent Labour member, the former Leader of Greenwich Council, Len Duvall, although reducing the Labour majority by 22%.
In the London Mayoral/Assembly elections of 2008 he secured one of three ‘party list’ seats won by the Conservative Party. In June 2010 he was appointed by Mayor of London
Boris Johnson
to serve on the London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority and at City Hall he serves on the London Assembly's Budget, Environment and Planning & Housing Committees. He was the Conservative Group spokesman on Environment between May 2008 and October 2010, before being appointed Conservative Budget spokesman.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
'additional member
Additional Member System
The Additional Member System is the term used in the United Kingdom for the mixed member proportional representation voting system used in Scotland, Wales and the London Assembly....
' of the London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
, elected in the May 2008 election
London Assembly election, 2008
An election to the Assembly of London took place on 1 May 2008, along with the London mayoral election, 2008. The Conservatives gained 2 seats, Labour gained one seat, the Liberal Democrats lost two seats, and United Kingdom Independence Party or One London as they became were wiped out...
.
Bacon was born in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, and studied at the University of Kent at Canterbury
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
honours degree in Politics and Government in 1996, followed by a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree in European Studies in 1997. He worked as head of the public sector division of Martin Ward Anderson from 2004.
Prior to running for the Assembly, Bacon was elected to Bexley Council
London Borough of Bexley
The London Borough of Bexley lies in south east Greater London, and is a borough referred to as part of Outer London. It has common borders with the London Borough of Bromley to the south, the London Borough of Greenwich to the west, across the River Thames to the north it borders the London...
in 1998, 2002 and 2006 for Sidcup West
Sidcup
Sidcup is a district in South East London in the London Borough of Bexley and small parts of the district in the London Borough of Greenwich.Located south east of Charing Cross, Sidcup is bordered by the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bromley and Kent County Council, and whilst now part of...
ward (later renamed Longlands
Longlands
Longlands is a place and suburb in southeast London, England, that straddles the boundaries of three London Boroughs, Bromley, Greenwich, and Bexley. In the London Borough of Bexley, Longlands is the name of the electoral ward that covers the southwest corner of that borough. Longlands has three...
ward), serving as the Council's Vice Chairman of the Town Planning Committee (1998–2002) and as its Deputy Mayor (2001–2002). He was also Shadow Cabinet Spokesman for Environment Transport and Regeneration from 2003 to 2006 and played a full part in holding the Labour Council of 2002–06 to account, scoring a notable victory by defeating the Labour administration’s plans to sell off half of Bexley’s allotment land for development.
Bacon was a key player in the team that secured a landslide victory for the Conservatives in the local elections of 2006, after which he was appointed Cabinet Member for the Environment. He was instrumental in steering through an enhanced recycling service in Bexley, which produced a 20% increase in the level of recycling in the borough in the first year, and ensured that Bexley retained its position as the leading borough for recycling in London, breaking through the 50% barrier for the first time and avoiding an increase of £2 million in costs for waste disposal.
In the local elections of May 2010 the Conservatives again won a landslide victory in Bexley, and Bacon was re-elected in Longlands ward with a majority of more than 2,000 votes. He was subsequently re-appointed Cabinet Member for the Environment.
Bacon is a former Deputy Chairman of Old Bexley & Sidcup Conservative Association (2000–2003) and was the Conservative candidate for the London Assembly constituency of Greenwich & Lewisham in 2004, where he lost to the incumbent Labour member, the former Leader of Greenwich Council, Len Duvall, although reducing the Labour majority by 22%.
In the London Mayoral/Assembly elections of 2008 he secured one of three ‘party list’ seats won by the Conservative Party. In June 2010 he was appointed by Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
to serve on the London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority and at City Hall he serves on the London Assembly's Budget, Environment and Planning & Housing Committees. He was the Conservative Group spokesman on Environment between May 2008 and October 2010, before being appointed Conservative Budget spokesman.
External links
- Gareth Bacon at the London Assembly
- Gareth Bacon as a Councillor at Bexley