Dan Jarvis
Encyclopedia
Daniel Owen Woolgar Jarvis MBE
(born 30 November 1972) is a British Labour Party
politician and former British Army officer. After a career in the Parachute Regiment including most of the regiment's major deployments, he went into politics and has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Barnsley Central since a by-election
held on 3 March 2011.
Jarvis met his wife Caroline in 2000 when she was working as a personal chef for the family of General Sir Mike Jackson. Their first child was born in 2003, three days before Jarvis was deployed to Iraq; a second child was born in 2005. Caroline Jarvis was diagnosed with bowel cancer
in 2006, and died in July 2010.
He and his brother Rob Jarvis are fans of Nottingham Forest F.C.
, with both as children failing to gain tickets in the ballot for the F.A. Cup semi-final between Forest and Liverpool
, and hence not having to witness the Hillsborough disaster
.
as an officer cadet. In August 1997 he was granted a short service commission as a subaltern in the Parachute Regiment, joining the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment. In 2000 was promoted to Lieutenant and acting Captain. He became a full Captain in October 2001, and received an intermediate regular commission with a promotion to Major in July 2003. He moved to a full regular commission, again with the rank of Major, in February 2004. In the later part of his army career he was stationed at HQ Land Forces in Wilton
, and lived in Salisbury
. In the 2011 Birthday Honours
List, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire
(Military division).
During his time in the Parachute Regiment, Jarvis was a platoon commander with 3 Para
in Kosovo in 1999, and was with General Sir Mike Jackson
at Pristina Airport when Jackson refused the suggestion of his American NATO superior to confront Russian forces. Jarvis later described Jackson's comment to Wesley Clark
that he was "not going to start World War Three for you" as a "very surreal moment in my life". Jarvis then served as Jackson's personal staff officer. In 2000 he was deployed to Sierra Leone
in the aftermath of Operation Barras
, to help the Army learn the lessons of the kidnap of a group of troops by an armed rebel group.
Jarvis served on the front line in Iraq
, again helping 3 Para, and Afghanistan
. Jarvis was deployed to Afghanistan twice, first as a member of the team making the first reconnaissance trips to Helmand Province in 2005–06 in preparation for a decision on whether to commit British troops there. The second deployment was a six month tour as a company commander with the Special Forces Support Group, leading a company of 100 troops. He was also deployed to Northern Ireland
.
. He picked up support from one local would-be candidate who had not made the shortlist, but was not selected.
Jarvis was selected as the Labour candidate for Barnsley Central on 27 January 2011 following the resignation of Eric Illsley
, who stood down after being convicted of fraud for his part in the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal
. An eliminating ballot was held and at the penultimate stage Jarvis was tied with local councillor Linda Burgess, each several votes behind Richard Burgon. Jarvis and Burgess drew lots to resolve the tie, and Jarvis won; in the final stage he picked up most of Burgess' votes to win selection. He became the first Labour candidate for the Barnsley Central seat since 1938 who was not born in Yorkshire.
, although he had been 12 at the time. He was elected with over 60% of the vote in the by-election held on 3 March 2011.
During his maiden speech
on the 2011 budget, Jarvis called for a change in economic policy including "a plan to get jobs and to help families feeling the squeeze". He also referred to Parachute Regiment colleagues who had been killed in action and argued that the UK and US should put forward reconciliation in Afghanistan. He joined the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee on 21 March. Jarvis spoke in a debate about NHS
reforms in May 2011, paying emotional tribute to the doctors and nurses who cared for his wife, and fearing an ideological free-market agenda which would undermine “all that is great about the NHS”.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 30 November 1972) is a British 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 and former British Army officer. After a career in the Parachute Regiment including most of the regiment's major deployments, he went into politics and 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,...
(MP) for Barnsley Central since a by-election
Barnsley Central by-election, 2011
The Barnsley Central by-election was a by-election for the Parliament of the United Kingdom's House of Commons constituency of Barnsley Central which took place on 3 March 2011...
held on 3 March 2011.
Personal life
Jarvis was born in Nottingham, the son of a lecturer and a probation officer. He attended Lady Bay Primary School, and graduated in international politics from Aberystwyth University.Jarvis met his wife Caroline in 2000 when she was working as a personal chef for the family of General Sir Mike Jackson. Their first child was born in 2003, three days before Jarvis was deployed to Iraq; a second child was born in 2005. Caroline Jarvis was diagnosed with bowel cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
in 2006, and died in July 2010.
He and his brother Rob Jarvis are fans of Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, with both as children failing to gain tickets in the ballot for the F.A. Cup semi-final between Forest and Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, and hence not having to witness the Hillsborough disaster
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster was a human crush that occurred on 15 April 1989 at Hillsborough, a football stadium, the home of Sheffield Wednesday F.C. in Sheffield, England, resulting in the deaths of 96 people, and 766 being injured, all fans of Liverpool F.C....
.
Army service
Jarvis attended the Royal Military Academy SandhurstRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
as an officer cadet. In August 1997 he was granted a short service commission as a subaltern in the Parachute Regiment, joining the 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment. In 2000 was promoted to Lieutenant and acting Captain. He became a full Captain in October 2001, and received an intermediate regular commission with a promotion to Major in July 2003. He moved to a full regular commission, again with the rank of Major, in February 2004. In the later part of his army career he was stationed at HQ Land Forces in Wilton
Wilton, Wiltshire
Wilton is a town in Wiltshire, , England, with a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. Today it is dwarfed by its larger and more famous neighbour, Salisbury, but still has a range of notable shops and attractions, including Wilton House.The confluence of the rivers Wylye and Nadder is at...
, and lived 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...
. In the 2011 Birthday Honours
2011 Birthday Honours
The Birthday Honours 2011 for the Commonwealth Realms were announced on 7 June 2011 in New Zealand and 11 June 2011 in United Kingdom to celebrate the Queen's Birthday of 2011.-Privy Councillors:...
List, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(Military division).
During his time in the Parachute Regiment, Jarvis was a platoon commander with 3 Para
3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
The 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment is a battalion sized formation of the British Army's Parachute Regiment and subordinate unit within 16 Air Assault Brigade....
in Kosovo in 1999, and was with General Sir Mike Jackson
Mike Jackson
General Sir Michael David "Mike" Jackson, is a retired British Army officer and one of its most high-profile generals since the Second World War. Originally commissioned into the Intelligence Corps in 1963, he transferred to the Parachute Regiment, with whom he served two of his three tours of...
at Pristina Airport when Jackson refused the suggestion of his American NATO superior to confront Russian forces. Jarvis later described Jackson's comment to Wesley Clark
Wesley Clark
Wesley Kanne Clark, Sr., is a retired general of the United States Army. Graduating as valedictorian of the class of 1966 at West Point, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford where he obtained a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and later graduated from the...
that he was "not going to start World War Three for you" as a "very surreal moment in my life". Jarvis then served as Jackson's personal staff officer. In 2000 he was deployed to Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
in the aftermath of Operation Barras
Operation Barras
Operation Barras was the name given to a hostage rescue operation by the British Special Air Service, Special Boat Service, and Parachute Regiment in Sierra Leone on 10 September 2000...
, to help the Army learn the lessons of the kidnap of a group of troops by an armed rebel group.
Jarvis served on the front line in Iraq
Operation Telic
Operation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011...
, again helping 3 Para, and Afghanistan
Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom...
. Jarvis was deployed to Afghanistan twice, first as a member of the team making the first reconnaissance trips to Helmand Province in 2005–06 in preparation for a decision on whether to commit British troops there. The second deployment was a six month tour as a company commander with the Special Forces Support Group, leading a company of 100 troops. He was also deployed to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
Politics
Although his military service had precluded political activity, Jarvis had joined the Labour Party at the age of 18 while at University. Shortly before the 2010 general election, Jarvis was shortlisted for the Labour Party selection in the south Wales seat of IslwynIslwyn (UK Parliament constituency)
Islwyn is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.This area, historically known for coal-mining, is a safe Labour Party seat latterly held by the former Leader of the Opposition Neil Kinnock...
. He picked up support from one local would-be candidate who had not made the shortlist, but was not selected.
Jarvis was selected as the Labour candidate for Barnsley Central on 27 January 2011 following the resignation of Eric Illsley
Eric Illsley
Eric Evlyn Illsley is a former British politician who was the Member of Parliament for Barnsley Central from 1987 until 2011. He was a Labour Party representative until suspended from the party after being charged with false accounting as part of the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal,...
, who stood down after being convicted of fraud for his part in the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal
United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal
The United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal was a major political scandal triggered by the leak and subsequent publication by the Telegraph Group in 2009 of expense claims made by members of the United Kingdom Parliament over several years...
. An eliminating ballot was held and at the penultimate stage Jarvis was tied with local councillor Linda Burgess, each several votes behind Richard Burgon. Jarvis and Burgess drew lots to resolve the tie, and Jarvis won; in the final stage he picked up most of Burgess' votes to win selection. He became the first Labour candidate for the Barnsley Central seat since 1938 who was not born in Yorkshire.
MP for Barnsley Central
On his selection he resigned his commission to stand in the by-election, and gave his campaign the codename 'Operation Honey Badger', referring to a famously fierce animal and signifying his determination to fight for the people of Barnsley. Jarvis found that his Nottingham origins put off some Barnsley voters who remembered the fact that Nottinghamshire miners did not join the 1984-85 strikeUK miners' strike (1984–1985)
The UK miners' strike was a major industrial action affecting the British coal industry. It was a defining moment in British industrial relations, and its defeat significantly weakened the British trades union movement...
, although he had been 12 at the time. He was elected with over 60% of the vote in the by-election held on 3 March 2011.
During 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 the 2011 budget, Jarvis called for a change in economic policy including "a plan to get jobs and to help families feeling the squeeze". He also referred to Parachute Regiment colleagues who had been killed in action and argued that the UK and US should put forward reconciliation in Afghanistan. He joined the Business, Innovation and Skills Select Committee on 21 March. Jarvis spoke in a debate about NHS
National Health Service (England)
The National Health Service or NHS is the publicly funded healthcare system in England. It is both the largest and oldest single-payer healthcare system in the world. It is able to function in the way that it does because it is primarily funded through the general taxation system, similar to how...
reforms in May 2011, paying emotional tribute to the doctors and nurses who cared for his wife, and fearing an ideological free-market agenda which would undermine “all that is great about the NHS”.
External links
- 2011 by-election at OurCampaigns.com