Peter Atkinson
Encyclopedia
Peter Landreth Atkinson (born 19 January 1943) is a British Conservative Party
politician. He was the Member of Parliament
for Hexham
from 1992
until 2010.
and after leaving school he became a journalist and joined the Newcastle Journal in November 1968. He moved to London to work on the Evening Standard
as a reporter, eventually becoming News Editor.
In 1982 he left to join a free newspaper company which grew to fifteen titles. He left to become Deputy Director of the British Field Sports Society
with responsibility for political and public affairs.
His political career began in 1978 when he was elected to Wandsworth Council. He left the Council in 1982 and became a member of Wandsworth Health Authority (1982–88) and later a Suffolk County Council
lor (1989–1992), until his election as MP for Hexham.
for the seat of Hexham with a majority of 13,438. At the 1997 election
he was narrowly re-elected with a majority of just 222, but at the 2001
and 2005
elections his majority increased again, to 2,529 and 5,020 respectively.
From 1994-1997 Atkinson was a Parliamentary Private Secretary
to a number of ministers in the Conservative government. Since 1997 he has alternated between serving on the Chairmen's Panel and working in the Conservative whips
office.
In 1995 Atkinson blocked a Private Members Bill on the live export of veal
calves by reading from the London telephone directory in Parliament
to use up all the debating time, a technique known as filibuster
ing.
Atkinson is one of the 98 MPs who voted to keep their expense details secret.
On 19 June 2008, Atkinson announced he would not stand at the next general election.
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. He 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 Hexham
Hexham (UK Parliament constituency)
- Elections in the 2000s :- Elections in the 1990s :- Elections in the 1980s :- Elections in the 1970s :-Notes and references:...
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...
until 2010.
Early life
Atkinson was educated at Cheltenham CollegeCheltenham College
Cheltenham College is a co-educational independent school, located in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.One of the public schools of the Victorian period, it was opened in July 1841. An Anglican foundation, it is known for its classical, military and sporting traditions.The 1893 book Great...
and after leaving school he became a journalist and joined the Newcastle Journal in November 1968. He moved to London to work on the Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
as a reporter, eventually becoming News Editor.
In 1982 he left to join a free newspaper company which grew to fifteen titles. He left to become Deputy Director of the British Field Sports Society
Countryside Alliance
The Countryside Alliance is a British organisation promoting issues relating to the countryside such as country sports, including hunting, shooting and angling...
with responsibility for political and public affairs.
His political career began in 1978 when he was elected to Wandsworth Council. He left the Council in 1982 and became a member of Wandsworth Health Authority (1982–88) and later a Suffolk County Council
Suffolk County Council
Suffolk County Council is the administrative authority for the county of Suffolk, England. It is run by 72 elected county councillors representing 63 divisions...
lor (1989–1992), until his election as MP for Hexham.
Parliamentary career
Atkinson was elected at 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 the seat of Hexham with a majority of 13,438. At 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 was narrowly re-elected with a majority of just 222, but at 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...
and 2005
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....
elections his majority increased again, to 2,529 and 5,020 respectively.
From 1994-1997 Atkinson was a Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to a number of ministers in the Conservative government. Since 1997 he has alternated between serving on the Chairmen's Panel and working in the Conservative whips
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
office.
In 1995 Atkinson blocked a Private Members Bill on the live export of veal
Veal
Veal is the meat of young cattle , as opposed to meat from older cattle. Though veal can be produced from a calf of either sex and any breed, most veal comes from male calves of dairy cattle breeds...
calves by reading from the London telephone directory in Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
to use up all the debating time, a technique known as filibuster
Filibuster
A filibuster is a type of parliamentary procedure. Specifically, it is the right of an individual to extend debate, allowing a lone member to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal...
ing.
Atkinson is one of the 98 MPs who voted to keep their expense details secret.
On 19 June 2008, Atkinson announced he would not stand at the next general election.