Roger Berry
Encyclopedia
Dr Roger Leslie Berry is a British
Labour Party
politician, who was the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Kingswood
from 1992
to 2010.
and educated at the Dalton County Primary School on Mayfield Avenue in Huddersfield; Huddersfield New College
; the University of Bristol
, where he obtained a BSc
in Economics
in 1970; and the University of Sussex
where he was awarded a DPhil
in Economics in 1977.
Berry lectured in Economics at the School of African and Asian Studies
in London from 1973-4; Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex
from 1973-4; the University of Papua New Guinea
from 1974-8; and the University of Bristol from 1978-92. He was elected as a councillor to the Avon County Council
in 1981, becoming the deputy in 1985 and the group leader in from 1986-92; he stood down from the council in 1993.
at the 1983 General Election
but was defeated by Jerry Wiggin. Berry also unsuccessfully fought the seat of Bristol
for the European Parliament
in 1984.
Roger Berry was selected to contest the marginal seat of Kingswood at the 1987 General Election
and was defeated by Robert Hayward by over 4,000 votes. Berry again contested Kingswood against Hayward at the 1992 General Election and this time was victorious and he won the seat with a majority of 2,370. He made his maiden speech
on 10 June 1992.
Berry has been a frequent "rebel" against the Labour government since 1997. He is a Member of the Trade and Industry Committee. On 17 January 2007, he criticised the government for halting a corruption inquiry into arms sales to Saudi Arabia
, saying it would do irreparable damage to
Britain's reputation.
In December 2007 Roger Berry added his name to a petition to save the threatened Somerdale Cadbury's Factory from demolition. The petition urges for English Heritage to protect the historic birthplace of modern chocolate production.
Berry lost his seat in a landslide defeat to Conservative Party candidate Chris Skidmore in the 2010 General Election His unseating was the result of a swing of nearly 10% in favour of the Tories, with Labour Party officials blaming his defeat on a restructuring of constituency boundaries which were seen to favour the Tory vote.http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/news/Upset-Berry-loses-Kingswood/article-2128438-detail/article.html
. Early on in his parliamentary
career, Roger Berry became known as a disabled people's rights champion.
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...
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, who 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,...
(MP) for Kingswood
Kingswood (UK Parliament constituency)
Kingswood 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...
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...
to 2010.
Early life
Roger Berry was born in 1948 in HuddersfieldHuddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
and educated at the Dalton County Primary School on Mayfield Avenue in Huddersfield; Huddersfield New College
Huddersfield New College
Huddersfield New College is a former grammar school and current sixth form college located in Salendine Nook on the outskirts of Huddersfield, in the English county of West Yorkshire. The current Principal is Angela Williams.-Admissions:...
; the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
, where he obtained a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
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"...
in 1970; and the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
where he was awarded a DPhil
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Economics in 1977.
Berry lectured in Economics at the School of African and Asian Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
in London from 1973-4; Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
from 1973-4; the University of Papua New Guinea
University of Papua New Guinea
The University of Papua New Guinea was established by ordinance of the Australian administration in 1965. This followed the Currie Commission which had enquired into higher education in Papua New Guinea...
from 1974-8; and the University of Bristol from 1978-92. He was elected as a councillor to the Avon County Council
Avon (county)
Avon was, from 1974 to 1996, a non-metropolitan and ceremonial county in the west of England.The county was named after the River Avon, which runs through the area. It was formed from parts of the historic counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset, together with the City of Bristol...
in 1981, becoming the deputy in 1985 and the group leader in from 1986-92; he stood down from the council in 1993.
Parliamentary career
He contested Weston-super-MareWeston-super-Mare (UK Parliament constituency)
Weston-super-Mare is a 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:...
at the 1983 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
but was defeated by Jerry Wiggin. Berry also unsuccessfully fought the seat of Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
for the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
in 1984.
Roger Berry was selected to contest the marginal seat of Kingswood at the 1987 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1987
The United Kingdom general election of 1987 was held on 11 June 1987, to elect 650 members to the British House of Commons. The election was the third consecutive election victory for the Conservative Party under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher, who became the first Prime Minister since the 2nd...
and was defeated by Robert Hayward by over 4,000 votes. Berry again contested Kingswood against Hayward at the 1992 General Election and this time was victorious and he won the seat with a majority of 2,370. He made 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 10 June 1992.
Berry has been a frequent "rebel" against the Labour government since 1997. He is a Member of the Trade and Industry Committee. On 17 January 2007, he criticised the government for halting a corruption inquiry into arms sales to Saudi Arabia
Al Yamamah
Al Yamamah is the name of a series of a record arms sales by the United Kingdom to Saudi Arabia, which have been paid for by the delivery of up to of crude oil per day to the UK government. The prime contractor has been BAE Systems and its predecessor British Aerospace...
, saying it would do irreparable damage to
Britain's reputation.
In December 2007 Roger Berry added his name to a petition to save the threatened Somerdale Cadbury's Factory from demolition. The petition urges for English Heritage to protect the historic birthplace of modern chocolate production.
Berry lost his seat in a landslide defeat to Conservative Party candidate Chris Skidmore in the 2010 General Election His unseating was the result of a swing of nearly 10% in favour of the Tories, with Labour Party officials blaming his defeat on a restructuring of constituency boundaries which were seen to favour the Tory vote.http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/news/Upset-Berry-loses-Kingswood/article-2128438-detail/article.html
Personal life
He married Alison Delyth in December 1996 in PontypriddPontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
. Early on in his parliamentary
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
career, Roger Berry became known as a disabled people's rights champion.
External links
- Website of Roger Berry MP
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Roger Berry MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Roger Berry MP
- The Public Whip - Roger Berry MP voting record
- BBC Politics page