.gif)
Paul Holmes (politician)
Encyclopedia
Paul Robert Holmes is a politician in the United Kingdom
. He was the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament
for Chesterfield
, previously held by Tony Benn
, from 2001
to 2010.
), a comprehensive from 1969 (when he was 12).
He graduated in History from the University of York
in 1978 and before being elected an MP, was a history teacher for 22 years. He gained a PGCE
from the University of Sheffield
. He taught from 1979-84 at Chesterfield School
(now Brookfield Community School), then Buxton College
from 1984-90, and from 1990-2001 he was Head of Sixth Form at Buxton Community School
(the successor to Buxton College).
He joined the SDP in 1983. From 1987-95 he was a councillor for Brimington ward, then from 1999-2003 for Walton ward on Chesterfield Borough Council.
). Commentators attributed the result to dissatisfaction with some elements of Kennedy's leadership and a belief amongst MPs that the role of party chairman should be more that of a backbencher
s' 'shop steward' and less under the influence of the leadership.
Holmes, not yet an MP, supported Simon Hughes
in the leadership election following Paddy Ashdown
's retirement in 1999. At the 2005 party conference, he voted against plans by the leadership to support capping the European Union
budget at 1% of GDP and to privatise the post office
(and was on the winning side in both votes). However, he publicly declared himself to be in full support of Kennedy's leadership following rumours that Hughes was planning a leadership challenge. In the leadership election caused by the resignation of Charles Kennedy, Paul Holmes took on the role of chair to Simon Hughes' leadership campaign
Holmes was a member of the House of Commons Education & Skills Select Committee from 2001-2007, but stood down from the Committee in July 2007 to concentrate on his appointment as Shadow Minister for Housing. Previously Holmes had been a Spokesman on Disability (2001-2005), Work and Pensions (2002-2005) and Arts and Heritage (2006-2007). In December 2007 he returned to the back benches, being one of only two MPs in the party to lose their shadow cabinet responsibilities in the reshuffle after Nick Clegg
's election as Liberal Democrat leader.
Paul Holmes is a founding member of the centre-left Beveridge Group
within the Liberal Democrats. He is also an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society
and a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association
, and was also a vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, before his defeat in the 2010 general election.
Paul Holmes hit the headlines in March 2008 when he was the only Liberal Democrat MP to sign an Early Day Motion praising Fidel Castro
at the time of his resignation. He was quoted on the BBC as saying "It is true Cuba has political prisoners and no free elections, but it has very good dentistry."
Holmes was the Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Justice and sat on the Children, Families and Schools Select Committee.
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...
. He was the Liberal Democrat 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 Chesterfield
Chesterfield (UK Parliament constituency)
Chesterfield is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is a marginal seat between Labour and the Liberal Democrats. The best-known MP was Tony Benn from 1984 to 2001...
, previously held by Tony Benn
Tony Benn
Anthony Neil Wedgwood "Tony" Benn, PC is a British Labour Party politician and a former MP and Cabinet Minister.His successful campaign to renounce his hereditary peerage was instrumental in the creation of the Peerage Act 1963...
, from 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...
to 2010.
Early life
He grew up in Sheffield on a council estate. He went to Prince Edward Primary School, Manor Top, then Firth Park Secondary School (now Firth Park Community Arts CollegeFirth Park Community Arts College
Firth Park Community Arts College is a comprehensive school located in the Shiregreen area of Sheffield, England.It is partnered with Longley Park Sixth Form College, Hatfield Primary School, Beck Primary School and others.-History:...
), a comprehensive from 1969 (when he was 12).
He graduated in History from the University of York
University of York
The University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
in 1978 and before being elected an MP, was a history teacher for 22 years. He gained a PGCE
Postgraduate Certificate in Education
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a one-year course in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for undergraduate degree holders that allows them to train to be a teacher....
from the University of Sheffield
University of Sheffield
The University of Sheffield is a research university based in the city of Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. It is one of the original 'red brick' universities and is a member of the Russell Group of leading research intensive universities...
. He taught from 1979-84 at Chesterfield School
Brookfield Community School
Brookfield Community School is a school located on Chatsworth in the west of the town of Chesterfield, Derbyshire in England.-Admissions:Brookfield Community School is a secondary school and a Sports College And A Language College...
(now Brookfield Community School), then Buxton College
Buxton College
Buxton College was a boys' school in Buxton, Derbyshire.-History:It was founded in the 16th century and moved to a new building in 1881. The new building was by William Pollard of Manchester. It became a County Grammar school in 1923/4...
from 1984-90, and from 1990-2001 he was Head of Sixth Form at Buxton Community School
Buxton Community School
Buxton Community School is a comprehensive school in Buxton, Derbyshire, England. Deb Hill is the headteacher, and the school is a specialist sports college....
(the successor to Buxton College).
He joined the SDP in 1983. From 1987-95 he was a councillor for Brimington ward, then from 1999-2003 for Walton ward on Chesterfield Borough Council.
Parliamentary career
His election as chairman of the parliamentary party in 2005 was a surprise to many, since it came at the expense of incumbent chairman Matthew Taylor (a close friend of then Liberal Democrat leader Charles KennedyCharles Kennedy
Charles Peter Kennedy is a British Liberal Democrat politician, who led the Liberal Democrats from 9 August 1999 until 7 January 2006 and is currently a Member of Parliament for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency....
). Commentators attributed the result to dissatisfaction with some elements of Kennedy's leadership and a belief amongst MPs that the role of party chairman should be more that of a backbencher
Backbencher
In Westminster parliamentary systems, a backbencher is a Member of Parliament or a legislator who does not hold governmental office and is not a Front Bench spokesperson in the Opposition...
s' 'shop steward' and less under the influence of the leadership.
Holmes, not yet an MP, supported Simon Hughes
Simon Hughes
Simon Henry Ward Hughes is a British politician and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats. He is Member of Parliament for the constituency of Bermondsey and Old Southwark. Until 2008 he was President of the Liberal Democrats...
in the leadership election following Paddy Ashdown
Paddy Ashdown
Jeremy John Durham Ashdown, Baron Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, GCMG, KBE, PC , usually known as Paddy Ashdown, is a British politician and diplomat....
's retirement in 1999. At the 2005 party conference, he voted against plans by the leadership to support capping the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
budget at 1% of GDP and to privatise the post office
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
(and was on the winning side in both votes). However, he publicly declared himself to be in full support of Kennedy's leadership following rumours that Hughes was planning a leadership challenge. In the leadership election caused by the resignation of Charles Kennedy, Paul Holmes took on the role of chair to Simon Hughes' leadership campaign
Holmes was a member of the House of Commons Education & Skills Select Committee from 2001-2007, but stood down from the Committee in July 2007 to concentrate on his appointment as Shadow Minister for Housing. Previously Holmes had been a Spokesman on Disability (2001-2005), Work and Pensions (2002-2005) and Arts and Heritage (2006-2007). In December 2007 he returned to the back benches, being one of only two MPs in the party to lose their shadow cabinet responsibilities in the reshuffle after Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
's election as Liberal Democrat leader.
Paul Holmes is a founding member of the centre-left Beveridge Group
Beveridge Group
The Beveridge Group is a centre-left group within the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. It was set up in 2001 by MPs Alistair Carmichael, Paul Holmes, John Barrett and John Pugh to promote debate within the party regarding public service provision....
within the Liberal Democrats. He is also an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society
National Secular Society
The National Secular Society is a British campaigning organisation that promotes secularism and the separation of church and state. It holds that no-one should gain advantage or disadvantage because of their religion or lack of religion. It was founded by Charles Bradlaugh in 1866...
and a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association
British Humanist Association
The British Humanist Association is an organisation of the United Kingdom which promotes Humanism and represents "people who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs." The BHA is committed to secularism, human rights, democracy, egalitarianism and mutual respect...
, and was also a vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, before his defeat in the 2010 general election.
Paul Holmes hit the headlines in March 2008 when he was the only Liberal Democrat MP to sign an Early Day Motion praising Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
at the time of his resignation. He was quoted on the BBC as saying "It is true Cuba has political prisoners and no free elections, but it has very good dentistry."
Holmes was the Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Justice and sat on the Children, Families and Schools Select Committee.
Personal life
In 1978 he married Raelene Palmer. His children were born and brought up in Chesterfield.External links
- Paul Holmes MP official site
- Paul Holmes MP profile at the site of Liberal Democrats
- ePolitix.com - Paul Holmes
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Paul Holmes MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Paul Holmes MP
- The Public Whip - Paul Holmes MP voting record
- BBC News - Paul Holmes profile 10 February 2005
- BBC News - New Lib Dem chairman Interview of Paul Holmes 14 July 2005