Mike Wood
Encyclopedia
Michael Roy Wood is a British
Labour politician
, who has been the Member of Parliament
for Batley and Spen since 1997
. He is a member of the left-wing Socialist Campaign Group
, and is considered one of the more independently minded Labour MPs.
He was educated at Nantwich and Acton Grammar School (now called Malbank School and Sixth Form College
) on Welsh Row in Nantwich
. He went to Salisbury and Wells Theological College (now called Sarum College
) in Salisbury
, Wiltshire
where he gained a Certificate in Theology in 1974. From the University of Leeds
he gained a CQSW (Certificate of Qualification in Social Work) in 1981. From Leeds Polytechnic
he gained a BA
in History and Politics in 1989. He was a probation officer
and social worker from 1965 to 1997 before becoming an MP.
as a councillor - during that time he was chairman of the housing committee and the social services committee and was deputy leader of Kirklees Council
. In the 1987 election, he contested the Hexham
seat.
He joined the Labour Party in 1966, aged twenty.
His political interests are described as: "law and order, animal welfare, transport, employment, health and the environment. He is a member of the Parliamentary groups on homelessness, transport, Indo-British affairs, AIDS, animal welfare, MS, ME, disablement, human rights, Kashmir and alcohol misuse."
On 31 October 2006, Wood was one of 12 Labour MPs to back Plaid Cymru
and the Scottish National Party
's call for an inquiry into the Iraq War.
In May 2007 he became parliamentary manager for John McDonnell
's campaign to challenge Gordon Brown
for the leadership of the Labour Party following Tony Blair's resignation. Source; http://www.john4leader.org.uk/
He lists his interests as reading, music, sport, ornithology
and walking. He was also the founder member of two workers' co-operatives.
Mr Wood is an executive member of the All Party Penal Affairs Group, a patron of the National Association of British Market Authorities, a member of the Campaign for State Education and the Working Class Movement Library
and a friend of Birzeit University
in Palestine.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Labour politician
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
, who has been the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Batley and Spen since 1997
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
. He is a member of the left-wing Socialist Campaign Group
Socialist Campaign Group
The Socialist Campaign Group is a left-wing democratic socialist grouping of Labour Party Members of Parliament in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. It was formed in December 1982 as an alternative Parliamentary left-wing group to the Tribune Group...
, and is considered one of the more independently minded Labour MPs.
Early life
He is the son of Rowland Wood, a foundry worker, and his wife Laura, a retired cleaner.He was educated at Nantwich and Acton Grammar School (now called Malbank School and Sixth Form College
Malbank School and Sixth Form College
Malbank School is a comprehensive secondary school and sixth form in Nantwich, Cheshire with pupils of both sexes aged from 11 to 18.-Admissions:It is in the west of Nantwich, close to the boundary with Henhull, on the A534 and the Shropshire Union Canal....
) on Welsh Row in Nantwich
Nantwich
Nantwich is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The town gives its name to the parliamentary constituency of Crewe and Nantwich...
. He went to Salisbury and Wells Theological College (now called Sarum College
Sarum College
Sarum College is an ecumenical Christian institution in Salisbury, England. The College was established in 1995, and occupies the buildings formerly home to the Salisbury and Wells Theological College...
) in Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
where he gained a Certificate in Theology in 1974. From the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
he gained a CQSW (Certificate of Qualification in Social Work) in 1981. From Leeds Polytechnic
Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University is a British University with three campuses. Two are situated in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England while the third is situated in Bhopal, India...
he gained a BA
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...
in History and Politics in 1989. He was a probation officer
Probation officer
Parole officers and probation officers play a role in criminal justice systems by supervising offenders released from incarceration or sentenced to non-custodial sanctions such as community service...
and social worker from 1965 to 1997 before becoming an MP.
Political life
From 1980 to 1988, he represented his then hometown CleckheatonCleckheaton
Cleckheaton is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated south of Bradford, east of Brighouse, west of Batley and south-west of Leeds...
as a councillor - during that time he was chairman of the housing committee and the social services committee and was deputy leader of Kirklees Council
Kirklees
The Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees is a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. It has a population of 401,000 and includes the settlements of Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Denby Dale, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Kirkburton, Marsden, Meltham, Mirfield and Slaithwaite...
. In the 1987 election, he contested the Hexham
Hexham (UK Parliament constituency)
- Elections in the 2000s :- Elections in the 1990s :- Elections in the 1980s :- Elections in the 1970s :-Notes and references:...
seat.
He joined the Labour Party in 1966, aged twenty.
His political interests are described as: "law and order, animal welfare, transport, employment, health and the environment. He is a member of the Parliamentary groups on homelessness, transport, Indo-British affairs, AIDS, animal welfare, MS, ME, disablement, human rights, Kashmir and alcohol misuse."
On 31 October 2006, Wood was one of 12 Labour MPs to back Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
and the Scottish National Party
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
's call for an inquiry into the Iraq War.
In May 2007 he became parliamentary manager for John McDonnell
John McDonnell (politician)
John Martin McDonnell is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Hayes and Harlington since 1997; he serves as Chair of the Socialist Campaign Group, the Labour Representation Committee, and the "Public Services Not Private Profit Group"...
's campaign to challenge Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
for the leadership of the Labour Party following Tony Blair's resignation. Source; http://www.john4leader.org.uk/
Personal life
He married Christine O'Leary in 1999. He has two stepdaughters, and a son and daughter from a previous marriage.He lists his interests as reading, music, sport, ornithology
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
and walking. He was also the founder member of two workers' co-operatives.
Mr Wood is an executive member of the All Party Penal Affairs Group, a patron of the National Association of British Market Authorities, a member of the Campaign for State Education and the Working Class Movement Library
Working Class Movement Library
The Working Class Movement Library is a collection of English language books, periodicals, pamphlets, archives and artefacts relating to the development of the political and cultural institutions of the working class which were created by the Industrial Revolution...
and a friend of Birzeit University
Birzeit University
Birzeit University is a university located in Birzeit near Ramallah, Palestinian territories. BZU is among the foremost tertiary educational institutes in the Palestinian territories and has played a significant role in the Palestinian political dialogue.- History :The institution was originally...
in Palestine.
External links
- Mike Wood official site
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Mike Wood MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Mike Wood MP
- The Public Whip - Mike Wood MP voting record
- BBC News - Mike Wood BBC profile