Colin Pickthall

Colin Pickthall (born 13 September 1944) in Dalton-in-Furness (then Lancashire, now Cumbria) is a politician in the United Kingdom. He was Labour member of Parliament for Lancashire West and was first elected to the Commons in 1992, retiring in 2005. He became a member of the CND and Labour Party in 1963. He currently is a Labour Party Branch secretary and chair, and a Constituency Chairman. Colin Pickthall File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Colin Pickthall File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... September 13 is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years). ... 1944 was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Market Street, Dalton-in-Furness Dalton-in-Furness is a small town of approximately 11,000 people outside Barrow-in-Furness. ... Lancashire (archaically, the County of Lancaster) is a county palatine of England, lying on the Irish Sea. ... Cumbria is a administrative county located in the northwest area of England. ... The Labour Party is the principal centrist/centre-left political party in the United Kingdom (see British politics). ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament; in the Westminster system, specifically to the lower house. ... Lancashire (archaically, the County of Lancaster) is a county palatine of England, lying on the Irish Sea. ... 1992 was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ...

His father was a shipyard fitter. He attended Ulverston Grammar School, University of Wales, obtaining a B.A. Hons. English Literature and History. He then went on to the University of Lancaster, where he obtained an M.A. with the thesis "The Influence of Socialism on 20th. Century British Poetry." The University of Wales, or Prifysgol Cymru in Welsh, is a federal university founded in 1893. ... Lancaster University is a campus university located about three miles south of Lancaster, England. ...

He married a Canadian, Judith Ann in 1973. Has 2 daughters: Alisoun and Jenny. He initially worked as an English lecturer in the Ruffwood Comprehensive School and Edge Hill College of H.E. (where he became the Head of European Studies)

In 1987 he ran for office in West Lancashire, but lost to a Tory by a couple thousand votes. Later, in 1989, he won the Ormskirk seat on the Lancashire County Council. In following elections in 1997 and 2001 he retained his seat by a vast majority. In 1992 he became member of the Select Committee on Agriculture, post that he maintained until 1997. In 1997 he was promoted to parliamentary private secretary to Alun Michael. He later served Jack Straw. However, he had to resign in 2000 over a police investigation of his election expenses. Since the police did not find anything wrong, he was later reinstated. In 2001 he was transferred to the Foreign Office, also under Jack Straw.

Mr. Pickthall is considered a leftist, usually campaigning about animal welfare (he is opposed to hare coursing and hunting) and environmental issues. Strangely, he is also opposed to wind turbines. He retired from the House of Commons at the 2005 general election. Barring a change in the law, the next general election in the United Kingdom must be held some time before June 30, 2006. ...

External links

• Official Web Site of Colin Pickthall