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Steve McCabe (politician)
Encyclopedia
Stephen James McCabe is a British
Labour Party
politician
who was the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Birmingham Hall Green from 1997
to 2010, when he was elected for Birmingham Selly Oak.
town of Port Glasgow
on the River Clyde
, McCabe attended the town's local secondary school before studying at the Moray House College (later named Moray House School of Education
) in Edinburgh
, where he was awarded a Diploma in Social Studies (Certificate Qualification Social Work) in 1977 and qualified as a social work
er.
He worked initially as a social worker in Wolverhampton
for six years from 1977, and from 1978-1982 he served as a shop steward
with the National and Local Government Officers Association. In 1983 he was appointed manager with the Priory Group
working in the mental health
field in Newbury
. He left the Priory in 1985 and returned to education, taking an MA
in Social Work at the University of Bradford
in 1986.
Following his degree he worked as a social services lecturer
at the North East Worcestershire College in Redditch
. In 1989 he became a child care worker in Solihull
until 1991 when was appointed as an education adviser to the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (now called the General Social Care Council
). He remained in this position until his election to the House of Commons
.
He was elected as a councillor to Birmingham City Council
in 1990 and served until 1998, during which time he served as the chair of the city's housing committee.
when he unseated the Conservative
member Andrew Hargreaves by 8,420 votes in the Labour landslide; the first time a Labour MP held the seat.
He served as the Parliamentary Private Secretary
to Charles Clarke
in his capacity as Secretary of State for Education and Skills
(2003–2004) and as Home Secretary
(2004–2005). He joined the government Whips Office
in 2006 as an Assistant, and since 2007 a Lord Commissioner to the Treasury (a full Whip). He has also served on various select committees, including Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee (1998–2003) and Home Affairs Select Committee
(2005–2006).
In October 2006 he applied for selection to the redrawn Birmingham Selly Oak seat, which incorporates much of his existing seat. Following the announcement by Lynne Jones
, the sitting member for Selly Oak, in January 2007 that she would stand down at the next election, he became the favourite to be selected for the newly drawn constituency, and was duly selected by the local Labour party. He decided not to apply for the redrawn Hall Green seat on the grounds that its boundaries were significantly different from the existing seat of the same name.
He was re-elected, in Selly Oak, at the May 2010 general election.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
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 Birmingham Hall Green 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...
to 2010, when he was elected for Birmingham Selly Oak.
Early life
Born in the shipbuildingShipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
town of Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow
Port Glasgow is the second largest town in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland. The population according to the 1991 census for Port Glasgow was 19426 persons and in the 2001 census was 16617 persons...
on the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
, McCabe attended the town's local secondary school before studying at the Moray House College (later named Moray House School of Education
Moray House School of Education
The Moray House School of Education is a school within the College of Humanities and Social Science at the University of Edinburgh...
) in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, where he was awarded a Diploma in Social Studies (Certificate Qualification Social Work) in 1977 and qualified as a social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
er.
He worked initially as a social worker in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
for six years from 1977, and from 1978-1982 he served as a shop steward
Union steward
A union representative, union steward, or shop steward is an employee of an organization or company, who represents and defends the interests of her/his fellow employees but who is also a labor union official...
with the National and Local Government Officers Association. In 1983 he was appointed manager with the Priory Group
Priory Group
The Priory Group is an independent provider of mental health care facilities in the United Kingdom. They also manage schools, some for students with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism...
working in the mental health
Mental health
Mental health describes either a level of cognitive or emotional well-being or an absence of a mental disorder. From perspectives of the discipline of positive psychology or holism mental health may include an individual's ability to enjoy life and procure a balance between life activities and...
field in Newbury
Newbury, Berkshire
Newbury is a civil parish and the principal town in the west of the county of Berkshire in England. It is situated on the River Kennet and the Kennet and Avon Canal, and has a town centre containing many 17th century buildings. Newbury is best known for its racecourse and the adjoining former USAF...
. He left the Priory in 1985 and returned to education, taking an MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Social Work at 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...
in 1986.
Following his degree he worked as a social services lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
at the North East Worcestershire College in Redditch
Redditch
Redditch is a town and local government district in north-east Worcestershire, England, approximately south of Birmingham. The district had a population of 79,216 in 2005. In the 19th century it became the international centre for the needle and fishing tackle industry...
. In 1989 he became a child care worker in Solihull
Solihull
Solihull is a town in the West Midlands of England with a population of 94,753. It is a part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located 9 miles southeast of Birmingham city centre...
until 1991 when was appointed as an education adviser to the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work (now called the General Social Care Council
General Social Care Council
The General Social Care Council is a the regulator of social workers and social work students in England. The GSCC protects the public by requiring high standards of education, conduct and practice of social workers by ensuring that only those who are properly trained and committed to high...
). He remained in this position until his election to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
.
He was elected as a councillor to Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council
The Birmingham City Council is the body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local authority in the United Kingdom with, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, 120 Birmingham...
in 1990 and served until 1998, during which time he served as the chair of the city's housing committee.
Parliamentary career
Steve McCabe was elected as the Labour MP for Birmingham Hall Green at the 1997 General ElectionUnited 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...
when he unseated the Conservative
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...
member Andrew Hargreaves by 8,420 votes in the Labour landslide; the first time a Labour MP held the seat.
He served as the 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 Charles Clarke
Charles Clarke
Charles Rodway Clarke is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Norwich South from 1997 until 2010, and served as Home Secretary from December 2004 until May 2006.-Early life:...
in his capacity as Secretary of State for Education and Skills
Secretary of State for Education and Skills
The Secretary of State for Education is the chief minister of the Department for Education in the United Kingdom government. The position was re-established on 12 May 2010, held by Michael Gove....
(2003–2004) and as Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
(2004–2005). He joined the government Whips Office
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...
in 2006 as an Assistant, and since 2007 a Lord Commissioner to the Treasury (a full Whip). He has also served on various select committees, including Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee (1998–2003) and Home Affairs Select Committee
Home Affairs Select Committee
The Home Affairs Select Committee is a Committee of the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom.-Remit:The Home Affairs Committee is one of the House of Commons Select Committees related to government departments: its terms of reference are to examine "the expenditure,...
(2005–2006).
In October 2006 he applied for selection to the redrawn Birmingham Selly Oak seat, which incorporates much of his existing seat. Following the announcement by Lynne Jones
Lynne Jones
Lynne Mary Jones is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Selly Oak from 1992 until the dissolution of parliament in April 2010.-Early life:...
, the sitting member for Selly Oak, in January 2007 that she would stand down at the next election, he became the favourite to be selected for the newly drawn constituency, and was duly selected by the local Labour party. He decided not to apply for the redrawn Hall Green seat on the grounds that its boundaries were significantly different from the existing seat of the same name.
He was re-elected, in Selly Oak, at the May 2010 general election.
External links
- His website
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Stephen McCabe MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Stephen McCabe MP