Members of Parliament for Dudley - Dudley News

Member of Parliament for Dudley North

Party

Committees

Building Societies And Financial Mutuals Group, Sea Cadets Group, Tackling Terrorism Group, Lupus Group, Children Group, Epilepsy Group, Zoos And Aquarium Group, Business, Finance And Accountancy (associate Group)

Surgery Information

The first FULL weekend of every month (except August)

Every Friday
3.00pm
Youth Centre, Old Meeting Street, Coseley.
4.15pm
Wrens Nest Community Centre, Summer Road, Dudley.
5.30pm
Dudley Library, St James's Road, Dudley.

Every Saturday
9.00am
Library, Abbey Road, Lower Gornal.
10.00am
Housing Office, Bilst

Surgery Telephone 01384 342503/4

Surgery Email austini@parliament.uk

Biography

MP Since - 2005 Majority - 5,432 Born - 06/03/1965, Married (2 sons & 1 daughter).

Education - Dudley School. Essex University, Colchester, Essex.

Previous Occupation - Formerly an communications manager for Focus Housing (1989-1994). Constituency Researcher (1994-95). A regional press officer for West Midlands Labour Party (1995-1998). Deputy Director of communications, Scottish Labour Party (1998-1999). Public Relations/Press Officer.

Personal Overview - Gordon Brown's Press Officer prior to the 2005 General Election, replacing the more flamboyant Charlie Whelan in 1999. He later became a PPS to Gordon Brown as Prime Minister in 2007. A Dudley local, his father was headmaster at Dudley Grammar School. He faced strong competition for the Dudley seat following the decision of former MP Ross Cranston to stand down at the last General Election. Although Dudley North and its predecessors have a decided Labour tendency Austin cannot count out a Tory revival, back in 1992 the Tories took the old Dudley West with a majority of 5,786. Local interests will therefore be an important consideration in his public pronouncements. Has been an assiduous parliamentary questioner on a range of issues from anti-social behaviour to sustainable water systems and wind farms.

Political History - Councillor, Dudley MBC (1991-95), Labour Party Press Officer, West Midlands Region (1995-98), Deputy Director of Communications, Scottish Labour Party (1998-99), to Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer (1999-2005), Member for Dudley North (2005-). Vice-chair of the Anti-Semitism Group (2006-). PPS to Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown as Prime Minister (2007-08). Minister for the West Midlands (2008-). Assistant Government Whip (2008-09). Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (2009-).

Characteristics - N/a.

Member of Parliament for Dudley South

Party

Committees

Solvent Abuse Group

Biography

MP Since - 1994 (by-election) Majority - 4,244 Born - 05/04/1959. Married, 2 daughters & 1 son

Education - Brierley Hill Grammar School, Balliol College, Oxford, Warwick University.

Previous Occupation - Deputy Director, Urban Trust (1987-88); Business and economic development consultant (1988-89); Joint Chief Executive, West Midlands Enterprise Board (1989-94). TGWU member.

Personal Overview - From a public sector background with business experience. Won the predecessor seat with a crushing by-election win against the Conservatives in 1994. Since then he has had several Select Committee memberships, and was made a PPS after the 1997 General Election (until December 1998). His low profile will not have been altered by promotion into the Whips' Office, although it is likely to improve with his ministerial preferment. Politically a supporter of regional government.

Political History - Councillor, Dudley Borough Council (1984-87), MP Dudley West (1994-97 by-election). MP Dudley South (1997-). Member of the Treasury Select Committee (1996-97), Deregulation Select Committee (1996-97). PPS to Geoffrey Robinson at the Treasury (1997-98). Member of the Education & Employment Select Committee, Employment Sub-Committee (1999-01). Assistant Government Whip (2001-02), Government Whip (2002). Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office (2002-05), Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Trade & Industry (2005-06). Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Minister for the Environment) (2006-07). Minister of State, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (Science and Innovation) (2007-08). Economic Secretary to the Treasury (2008-). Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (2008-09), (Economic and Business Minister).

Characteristics - Likely to be a 'New Labour' style member, who's career prospects look bright.

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