David Taylor (British politician)
Encyclopedia
David Leslie Taylor was an English Labour
Co-operative politician
, who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Leicestershire
from 1997
until his death in 2009.
) and Leicester Polytechnic
.
, he gained a BA in Maths and Computing in 1974. During this time he wrote the first CASCAID computer program that evolved into the modern day Kudos
and Adult Directions programs. Before being elected as a Member of Parliament, Taylor was an accountant and the computer applications manager for Leicestershire County Council from 1977 to 1997.
He founded Safeguard the Quality of the Rural Environment (SQUARE), and had been a parish councillor, churchwarden
of St John the Baptist church in Heather
, President of Heather Sparkenhoe Cricket Club, magistrate and school governor.
. The couple had four daughters (and one son, deceased), one granddaughter and one grandson.
He enjoyed middling success in 1960s and 1970s as a medium pace bowler in village cricket (best figures 7 for 9 against Rolls Royce). In the 1980s competed as a long distance runner in many half-marathons and some marathons, completing the 1989 London marathon just over 3 hours. He was also a keen cyclist, covering such routes as the Pennine Way and Coast to Coast.
2009, whilst walking with his family at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire
, Taylor suffered a massive heart attack. He was taken by ambulance to Queens Hospital in Burton-on-Trent hospital, but paramedics were unable to save him.
Taylor's views were on the left of the Labour Party and he is widely regarded as one of the parliamentary rebels and has rebelled on 7.2% of votes since June 2001. In 2005, he was nominated for the 'Backbencher of the Year' award.
He regularly attended local events, often making it to more than one function in an evening in order not only to be seen there, but to show his support and to maintain his high profile as a local MP. As Chair of the All-Party Group on Smoking and Health, he was particularly active on the issue of tobacco control and a Member of the Chairmen's Panel Committee and a Member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.
David Taylor described it as "a real privilege" to win the title of Commons Backbencher of the Year 2007 in the Annual Awards organised by Sky TV and The House Magazine
and decided by a ballot of all 646 MPs. His citation described him as "an indefatigable campaigner, constant attender and independent–minded".
In April 2009, David Taylor was named by The Sunday Telegraph as being in the Top Ten of MPs for providing their constituents with best value for the money they spend in providing a service. The newspaper had produced a value for money league table to show both the best – those who work the hardest for the lowest unit cost – and the worst – those who have the lowest Commons work rates while having the largest expenditure – of Westminster MPs. David Taylor came equal 7th out of 592* in the table of ‘best value’ MPs. David Taylor spent £154,277 in 2007/8 (75% of which on staff and office) during which time he had an attendance rate in the House of 87%, spoke in 225 debates and tabled 197 written questions.
He was one of only a small number of Labour MPs to hold an anti-abortion position.
.
Following the new emergency interim rules announced on 19 May 2009 by the Speaker which say that furniture should be no longer be claimed for, David Taylor voluntarily elected to apply those new rules retrospectively in his own case for the life of this Parliament and has since made a refund based on the full funded purchase price of all such items.
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...
Co-operative politician
Co-operative Party
The Co-operative Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom committed to supporting and representing co-operative principles. The party does not put up separate candidates for any UK election itself. Instead, Co-operative candidates stand jointly with the Labour Party as "Labour...
, who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Leicestershire
North West Leicestershire (UK Parliament constituency)
North West Leicestershire is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election.- Boundaries :...
from 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...
until his death in 2009.
Biography
David Taylor was born in the town of Ashby de la Zouch. He went to Heather County Primary School near Coalville, Ashby Boy's Grammar School (now known as Ashby SchoolAshby School
Ashby School, formerly known as Ashby Grammar School, is a co-educational day and boys' boarding comprehensive school in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England.-Admissions:...
) and Leicester Polytechnic
De Montfort University
De Montfort University is a public research and teaching university situated in the medieval Old Town of Leicester, England, adjacent to the River Soar and the Leicester Castle Gardens...
.
Career
At Leicester Polytechnic, he became a Chartered Public Finance Accountant in 1970. At the Open UniversityOpen University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
, he gained a BA in Maths and Computing in 1974. During this time he wrote the first CASCAID computer program that evolved into the modern day Kudos
Kudos
Kudos is an English word meaning acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement.Kudos may also refer to:* KUDOS, a vocational-counseling computer program* Kudos , a chocolate-covered cereal bar...
and Adult Directions programs. Before being elected as a Member of Parliament, Taylor was an accountant and the computer applications manager for Leicestershire County Council from 1977 to 1997.
He founded Safeguard the Quality of the Rural Environment (SQUARE), and had been a parish councillor, churchwarden
Churchwarden
A churchwarden is a lay official in a parish church or congregation of the Anglican Communion, usually working as a part-time volunteer. Holders of these positions are ex officio members of the parish board, usually called a vestry, parish council, parochial church council, or in the case of a...
of St John the Baptist church in Heather
Heather, Leicestershire
The village of Heather is due west of the village of Ibstock in North West Leicestershire, England. In the Domesday Book of 1086, its name is recorded as Hadre, meaning "the heathland"...
, President of Heather Sparkenhoe Cricket Club, magistrate and school governor.
Religion
Taylor was a committed Christian and described himself as an ecumenical Anglican. He said "My Christian faith gives me a personal moral compass to help map out both private and public life. It's a faith I learned about at home. Christianity was a really important part of our household. As children we were encouraged by our parents to be part of the life of our church – Sunday school, choir, church council."Personal life
Taylor married Pamela Caunt on 13 September 1969 in LoughboroughLoughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
. The couple had four daughters (and one son, deceased), one granddaughter and one grandson.
He enjoyed middling success in 1960s and 1970s as a medium pace bowler in village cricket (best figures 7 for 9 against Rolls Royce). In the 1980s competed as a long distance runner in many half-marathons and some marathons, completing the 1989 London marathon just over 3 hours. He was also a keen cyclist, covering such routes as the Pennine Way and Coast to Coast.
Death
On Boxing DayBoxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
2009, whilst walking with his family at Calke Abbey, Derbyshire
Calke Abbey
Calke Abbey is a Grade I listed country house near Ticknall, Derbyshire, England, in the care of the charitable National Trust.The site was an Augustinian priory from the 12th century until its dissolution by Henry VIII...
, Taylor suffered a massive heart attack. He was taken by ambulance to Queens Hospital in Burton-on-Trent hospital, but paramedics were unable to save him.
Parliamentary career
He was first selected for his seat in 1989 and contested it in 1992.Taylor's views were on the left of the Labour Party and he is widely regarded as one of the parliamentary rebels and has rebelled on 7.2% of votes since June 2001. In 2005, he was nominated for the 'Backbencher of the Year' award.
He regularly attended local events, often making it to more than one function in an evening in order not only to be seen there, but to show his support and to maintain his high profile as a local MP. As Chair of the All-Party Group on Smoking and Health, he was particularly active on the issue of tobacco control and a Member of the Chairmen's Panel Committee and a Member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.
David Taylor described it as "a real privilege" to win the title of Commons Backbencher of the Year 2007 in the Annual Awards organised by Sky TV and The House Magazine
The House Magazine
The House Magazine is a weekly British political magazine relating to the British House of Commons. It is managed by a cross-party editorial team of MPs and overseen by a panel of senior parliamentarians....
and decided by a ballot of all 646 MPs. His citation described him as "an indefatigable campaigner, constant attender and independent–minded".
In April 2009, David Taylor was named by The Sunday Telegraph as being in the Top Ten of MPs for providing their constituents with best value for the money they spend in providing a service. The newspaper had produced a value for money league table to show both the best – those who work the hardest for the lowest unit cost – and the worst – those who have the lowest Commons work rates while having the largest expenditure – of Westminster MPs. David Taylor came equal 7th out of 592* in the table of ‘best value’ MPs. David Taylor spent £154,277 in 2007/8 (75% of which on staff and office) during which time he had an attendance rate in the House of 87%, spoke in 225 debates and tabled 197 written questions.
He was one of only a small number of Labour MPs to hold an anti-abortion position.
Expenses
Prior to this, he opened his complete 'unredacted' expenses file to local newspaper the Leicester MercuryLeicester Mercury
The Leicester Mercury is a British regional newspaper, owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust, for the city of Leicester and the counties of Leicestershire and Rutland...
.
Following the new emergency interim rules announced on 19 May 2009 by the Speaker which say that furniture should be no longer be claimed for, David Taylor voluntarily elected to apply those new rules retrospectively in his own case for the life of this Parliament and has since made a refund based on the full funded purchase price of all such items.
Standing down
At the May 2008 meeting of his Constituency Labour Party, Taylor announced he would not be standing for re-election at the next general election. Taylor died at the end of 2009, before the general election.External links
- Website of David Taylor, MP
- BBC Politics page
- Guardian Unlimited Politics – Ask Aristotle: David Taylor MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com – David Taylor MP
- Open Rights Group – David Taylor MP
- Blog