Michael Jack
Encyclopedia
John Michael Jack is the interim Chairman of the Office of Tax Simplification
. Before he took upon this unpaid position that will be filled by a new appointment in 2011, he was a Conservative Party
politician in the United Kingdom
and was Member of Parliament
for Fylde
between 1987 and 2010, serving at various junior ministerial posts during the John Major
administration.
and then Bradford Institute of Technology (now the University of Bradford
). At the University of Leicester
, he received a BA
in Economics
, and a MPhil
in Transport Economics. He worked for Procter & Gamble
from 1971-5. From 1975-80 he worked at Marks & Spencer
, being PA to Managing Director Lord Derek Rayner
from 1975-6, then was Sales Director at LO Jeffs Ltd (a fresh produce supply company and part of Northern Foods
) from 1981-7. He has also been a member of the Eastern Area Electricity Consultative Council, and of the Mersey Regional Health Authority.
in February 1974. He was a Minister at the DSS
from 1990-2, at the Home Office
from 1992-3, then at MAFF
from 1993-5. From 1995-7, he was Financial Secretary to the Treasury
. William Hague
appointed him a member of his Shadow Cabinet
in 1997 as Shadow Agriculture Minister, but he returned to the back-benches in 1998. He was Chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
. He was a pro-European, and was member of the Tory Reform Group
.
He was appointed to the Privy Council
in the 1997 New Year Honours.
On 14 March 2008, Jack announced that he would stand down at the 2010 general election.
He is Chairman of the Hartington Group (based in Newport, Shropshire
). He is a non-executive Director of Topps Tiles
.
Office of Tax Simplification
The Office of Tax Simplification is an office of HM Treasury, part of the Government of the United Kingdom. The office was created on 20 July 2010 to identify areas where complexities in the tax system for both businesses and individual taxpayers can be reduced and to publish their findings for the...
. Before he took upon this unpaid position that will be filled by a new appointment in 2011, he was a Conservative Party
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...
politician in the United Kingdom
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...
and was 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 Fylde
Fylde (UK Parliament constituency)
Fylde 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.-History:...
between 1987 and 2010, serving at various junior ministerial posts during the John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
administration.
Early life
The son of Ralph and Florence Edith, Jack attended Bradford Grammar SchoolBradford Grammar School
Bradford Grammar School is a co-educational, independent school in Frizinghall, Bradford, West Yorkshire. Headmaster, Stephen Davidson is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference . The school was founded in 1548 and granted its Charter by King Charles II in 1662...
and then Bradford Institute of Technology (now the University of Bradford
University of Bradford
The University of Bradford is a British university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The University received its Royal Charter in 1966, making it the 40th University to be created in Britain, but its origins date back to the early 1800s...
). At the University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
, he received 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 Economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, and a MPhil
Master of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree.An M.Phil. is a lesser degree than a Doctor of Philosophy , but in many cases it is considered to be a more senior degree than a taught Master's degree, as it is often a thesis-only degree. In some instances, an M.Phil...
in Transport Economics. He worked for Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
from 1971-5. From 1975-80 he worked at Marks & Spencer
Marks & Spencer
Marks and Spencer plc is a British retailer headquartered in the City of Westminster, London, with over 700 stores in the United Kingdom and over 300 stores spread across more than 40 countries. It specialises in the selling of clothing and luxury food products...
, being PA to Managing Director Lord Derek Rayner
Lord Derek Rayner
Derek George Rayner, Baron Rayner was a chairman and chief executive of Marks & Spencer plc , one of the major British retailers who revived and rapidly expanded the company in the 1980s...
from 1975-6, then was Sales Director at LO Jeffs Ltd (a fresh produce supply company and part of Northern Foods
Northern Foods
Northern Foods Ltd is a British food manufacturer headquartered in Leeds, England. It was formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index. The company was scheduled to merge with Greencore Group in 2011 to form Essenta Foods, the group being...
) from 1981-7. He has also been a member of the Eastern Area Electricity Consultative Council, and of the Mersey Regional Health Authority.
Parliamentary career
He contested Newcastle CentralNewcastle upon Tyne Central (UK Parliament constituency)
Newcastle upon Tyne Central is a borough 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 :...
in February 1974. He was a Minister at the DSS
Department of Social Security
The Department of Social Security is the name of a defunct governmental agency in the United Kingdom.The DSS replaced the older Department of Health and Social Security, from 1988 until 2001, when it was itself largely replaced as a department of the Government of the United Kingdom by the...
from 1990-2, at the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
from 1992-3, then at MAFF
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was a United Kingdom government department created by the Board of Agriculture Act 1889 and at that time called the Board of Agriculture, and then from 1903 the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and from 1919 the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries...
from 1993-5. From 1995-7, he was Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury
Financial Secretary to the Treasury is a junior Ministerial post in the British Treasury. It is the 4th most significant Ministerial role within the Treasury after the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, and the Paymaster General...
. William Hague
William Hague
William Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001...
appointed him a member of his Shadow Cabinet
Shadow Cabinet
The Shadow Cabinet is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the government's, whose members shadow or mark each individual member of the government...
in 1997 as Shadow Agriculture Minister, but he returned to the back-benches in 1998. He was Chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee is a select committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The remit of the Committee is to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its...
. He was a pro-European, and was member of the Tory Reform Group
Tory Reform Group
The Tory Reform Group is a group aligned to, but independent of, the British Conservative Party, that works to promote the values of the One Nation Tory vision...
.
He was appointed to the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
in the 1997 New Year Honours.
On 14 March 2008, Jack announced that he would stand down at the 2010 general election.
Personal life
He married Alison Jane Musgrave in 1976, and they have two sons.He is Chairman of the Hartington Group (based in Newport, Shropshire
Newport, Shropshire
Newport is a market town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England. It lies some north of Telford and some west of Stafford sitting on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border...
). He is a non-executive Director of Topps Tiles
Topps Tiles
Topps Tiles plc is a British national retailer based in Enderby. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index.-History:...
.
External links
- Official Website
- ePolitix.com - Michael Jack MP
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Michael Jack MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Michael Jack MP
- The Public Whip - Michael Jack MP voting record
- BBC News - Michael Jack MP profile 4 March, 2005