Anthony Louis Banks (Tony Banks) (born April 8, 1943) is a British politician, and Member of Parliament for West Ham. He is a member of the Labour Party, and was Sports Minister from 1997 to 1999.

Career

He was born in Belfast and educated at St John's School, Brixton, Archbishop Tenison's Grammar School in Kennington, University of York and the London School of Economics.

In 1964 he unsuccessfully stood for the Liberal Party in the first elections to the new London Boroughs.

During the 1970s and 1980s he was a prominent Labour member of the Greater London Council representing Hammersmith (1970-1977) and Tooting (1981_1986). He was Chairman of the GLC from 1985 until its abolition in 1986. From 1983 to 1997 he was the Labour MP for Newham North West. Following a boundary review, Newham North West was expanded and renamed West Ham for the 1997 election, and Tony Banks has represented that seat since. He has since announced he would not be contesting his seat at the next election.

After two years as Sports Minister, Tony Banks stepped down to become the Prime Minister's envoy for England's bid to host the 2006 World Cup. The bid failed, with Germany winning the nomination. Since then he has remained a backbencher, though he made a failed bid to become Labour's candidate in the 2004 election for Mayor of London.

Political Views

A vegetarian, Tony Banks is one of Parliament's staunchest supporters of animal rights, often speaking out against fox hunting and vivisection. He is regarded as being on the left of the party, and voted against the invasion of Iraq. His only speeches regarding the war in Afghanistan was to request government money and the help of the Royal Navy for the animals of the Kabul Zoo, particularly for Marjan, the elderly lion which needed air-conditioning for its rheumatism.

On May 21, 2004 he wrote Early Day Motion EDM 1255 available here (http://edm.ais.co.uk/weblink/html/motion.html/EDMI_SES=03/ref=1255) titled "Pigeon Bombs" in response to newspaper reports on declassified files relating to wartime research. The motion stated:

"That this House is appalled, but barely surprised, at the revelations in MI5 files regarding the bizarre and inhumane proposals to use pigeons as flying bombs; recognises the important and live-saving role of carrier pigeons in two world wars and wonders at the lack of gratitude towards these gentle creatures; and believes that humans represent the most obscene, perverted, cruel, uncivilised and lethal species ever to inhabit the planet and looks forward to the day when the inevitable asteroid slams into the earth and wipes them out thus giving nature the opportunity to start again."

It was only supported by the signtures of two other MPs, Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell.

Outspoken behaviour

He is also known for his outspoken comments and gaffes. Infamously, at the 1997 Labour Party conference, he described the then Conservative leader William Hague as a "foetus". He also once referred to another MP, Terry Dicks, as a "pig's bladder on a stick". The best of these have been collected in a book called The Wit and Wisdom of Tony Banks ISBN 1861052006

Personal life

He is married to Sally Banks. They have no children.

Though he is MP for West Ham, he is an ardent supporter of Chelsea F.C..

See also

Chris Whitbread Conservative Party Spokesman for West Ham

External links

• Labour Party - West Ham (http://www.labour.org.uk/maps/locinfo.phtml?ctid=2764) official biography
• Guardian Politics Ask Aristotle - Tony Banks (http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,,-221.html)
• They Work For You - Tony Banks (http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/?pid=10025)
• BBC news story (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo011128/debtext/11128-03.htm#11128-03_spnew23) November 23, 2001 about Tony Banks's campaign to rescue the animals of the Kabul Zoo
• Request in Commons (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020114/debtext/20114-04.htm#20114-04_spnew14) January 14, 2002 for Royal Navy transport for the Kabul Zoo animals to the UK