Bill Etherington
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Etherington (born 17 July 1941) is a British
Labour Party
politician who was the Member of Parliament
for Sunderland North
from 1992
to 2010
.
and latterly at Durham University
. He was an apprentice fitter at the Austin and Pickersgill Shipyard
in Sunderland for five years from 1957. He became a fitter for Beal & Co in Sunderland in 1962, before joining the National Coal Board
in 1963 and for the following twenty years worked as a fitter at the Dawdon
Colliery in County Durham
. He has been a member of the National Union of Mineworkers since 1963, and from 1983 until his election was a full time trade union
official with them, and was a full-time official during the UK miners' strike (1984-1985).
for Sunderland North, replacing fellow left-winger, Bob Clay
. Etherington held the seat comfortably with a majority of 17,004 votes, and was re-elected with strong majorities subsequently. He made his maiden speech
on 11 May 1992.
In the 1992 general election, he polled 60.7% of the vote, with his Conservative
opponent winning 26.9% of the vote. In the 1997 election
, he took 68.2% against Conservative Andrew Selous
, who ranked in second place with just 16.7% of the vote. He also confidently beat his Conservative opponents in the 2001
(62.7% against 17.9%) and 2005 general elections
(54.4% against 19.8%).
He is a left-winger, a member of the Socialist Campaign Group
and rebelled against Tony Blair
's government. While debating the reform of the House of Lords
in March 2007, Etherington also called for the abolition of the British Monarchy
.
accent.
In December 2006, Etherington announced he would be standing down at the end of the 2005 - 2010 Parliament as his constituency was to be abolished.
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 Party
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...
politician who was 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 Sunderland North
Sunderland North (UK Parliament constituency)
Sunderland North was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-History:...
from 1992
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
to 2010
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
.
Early life
Bill Etherington was born in Sunderland and was educated at the Redby Infant and Junior Schools on Fulwell Road, Monkwearmouth Grammar School (five years above Hilary ArmstrongHilary Armstrong
Hilary Jane Armstrong, Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for North West Durham from 1987 to 2010.-Early life:...
and latterly at Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
. He was an apprentice fitter at the Austin and Pickersgill Shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
in Sunderland for five years from 1957. He became a fitter for Beal & Co in Sunderland in 1962, before joining the National Coal Board
National Coal Board
The National Coal Board was the statutory corporation created to run the nationalised coal mining industry in the United Kingdom. Set up under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946, it took over the mines on "vesting day", 1 January 1947...
in 1963 and for the following twenty years worked as a fitter at the Dawdon
Dawdon
Dawdon is a former pit community to the south of Seaham, County Durham, in England. An area of the beach near Dawdon was used in the opening scenes of the film Alien 3.- History :...
Colliery in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
. He has been a member of the National Union of Mineworkers since 1963, and from 1983 until his election was a full time trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
official with them, and was a full-time official during the UK miners' strike (1984-1985).
Parliamentary career
He was first elected in the 1992 General ElectionUnited Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
for Sunderland North, replacing fellow left-winger, Bob Clay
Bob Clay
Robert Alan Clay , known as Bob Clay, is a left-wing politician, formerly Labour MP, in the United Kingdom.Robert Clay was educated at Bedford School and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. Unusually for a man of his background, Clay went on to become a bus driver, working for Tyne and Wear PTE...
. Etherington held the seat comfortably with a majority of 17,004 votes, and was re-elected with strong majorities subsequently. He made his maiden speech
Maiden speech
A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country...
on 11 May 1992.
In the 1992 general election, he polled 60.7% of the vote, with his Conservative
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...
opponent winning 26.9% of the vote. In the 1997 election
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 took 68.2% against Conservative Andrew Selous
Andrew Selous
Andrew Edmund Armstrong Selous is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom who has been the Member of Parliament for South West Bedfordshire since 2001.-Early life:...
, who ranked in second place with just 16.7% of the vote. He also confidently beat his Conservative opponents in the 2001
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
(62.7% against 17.9%) and 2005 general elections
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
(54.4% against 19.8%).
He is a left-winger, a member of the 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 rebelled against Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
's government. While debating the reform of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
in March 2007, Etherington also called for the abolition of the British Monarchy
Monarchy of the United Kingdom
The monarchy of the United Kingdom is the constitutional monarchy of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories. The present monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has reigned since 6 February 1952. She and her immediate family undertake various official, ceremonial and representational duties...
.
Personal life
He has been married to Irene Holton since 1963 and they have two daughters. He was characterised in parliament by his three-piece suits and strong MackemMackem
Mackem is a term that refers to the accent, dialect and people of the Wearside area, or more specifically Sunderland, a city in North East England. Spelling variations include "Mak'em", "Makem", and "Maccam".- Origin :...
accent.
In December 2006, Etherington announced he would be standing down at the end of the 2005 - 2010 Parliament as his constituency was to be abolished.
External links
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Bill Etherington MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Bill Etherington MP
- The Public Whip - Bill Etherington MP voting record
- BBC News - Bill Etherington profile 30 March, 2006