Greg Mulholland
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| Greg Mulholland MP | |
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Member of Parliament
for Leeds North West |
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| Assumed office 5 May 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Harold Best (Labour) |
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| Majority | 1,877 (4.2%) |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2007 |
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| In office 2006 – 2007 |
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| In office 2005 – 2006 |
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| In office 2003 – 2005 |
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| Preceded by | David Pratt |
| Succeeded by | James Monaghan |
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| Born | August 31, 1970 |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Liberal Democrat |
| Spouse | Raegan |
| Children | Isabel |
| Residence | Otley, West Yorkshire |
| Alma mater | University of York |
| Website | http://www.gregmulholland.org/ |
Gregory Thomas Mulholland (born 31 August 1970) is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom, and is Member of Parliament for Leeds North West. He was elected in the 2005 general election, winning the seat from Labour, which had held it for eight years.
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[edit] Early life
Born in Manchester, Mulholland attended St. Ambrose College near Altrincham[1] and studied politics at the University of York, going on to achieve an MA in Public Administration and Public Policy. While at York University he played at centre for the university rugby league team in matches against Bradford, Leeds, Manchester and Hull. He then worked in marketing for five years, including two years spent in Edinburgh, working on several national promotional campaigns.
His first experience in politics was canvassing in the Knowsley North by-election in 1986, while studying politics for A-level[2].
He had a longstanding interest and involvement in international development, trade justice and debt campaigns. He was an active member of the campaigning groups TIDAL (Trade Injustice and Debt Action Leeds) and CAFOD.
[edit] Councillor
In 2003, he was elected as a Leeds City Councillor for Headingley ward. From 2004-2005 he was the lead member for corporate services, until his election to Parliament in 2005. He was also the Lib Dem group's spokesperson on the Leeds Supertram, approval for which was turned down in 2006.
[edit] Member of Parliament
[edit] Constituency and party
Mulholland was first elected in the General Election of 2005, and represents the constituency of Leeds North West. This West Yorkshire constituency extends from inner-city Leeds through suburban and rural areas to the towns of Otley and Yeadon. It was previously held by Labour.
In the 2006 Liberal Democrat leadership election he backed Chris Huhne, who eventually finished second behind Menzies Campbell. In the 2007 Liberal Democrat leadership election he backed Nick Clegg. [3]
[edit] Positions held
Upon his election to Parliament, he was appointed his party's Junior International Development Spokesperson from 2005-2006. In 2006 he was appointed Shadow Spokesperson on Schools, and in 2007 he became Shadow Spokesperson on Health. He is also a member of the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee.
He is Vice-Chair of two all-party parliamentary groups, on Rugby League[4] and Balanced and Sustainable Communities[5]. He was formerly a member of two other such groups on Beer and Small Shops.
[edit] Subjects of interest
[edit] Land Banking
In November 2005, Mulholland proposed the Sale of Green Belt Land bill to prevent 'land banking' (property speculation in Green Belt land)[6].
[edit] Healthcare
In his constituency, Mulholland took part in a community campaign against further cuts at the Wharfedale Hospital in Otley. He called a public meeting[7] and presented a 5,000-signature petition to Parliament,[8] after one ward was closed. He has also campaigned alongside other Leeds MPs for a new children's hospital in the City, questioning the then Prime Minister Tony Blair over the issue at Prime Ministers Question Time.[9] However, Mulholland was accused of "political grandstanding" and lying in public and the House of Commons over this matter after a "Focus" leaflet distributed by the Liberal Democrats in Leeds featuring Mulholland claimed the government was responsible for axing plans to build a new £204 million Children's Hospital at St. James's, a proposal backed by all the City's MPs. Hansard records that this statement was untrue, with the decision made solely by the Leeds Hospital Trust without the prior knowledge of the Government. Caroline Flint, Minister of state (Public Health), described the statement as: "...taking political grandstanding too far. The article is not true, it is a complete misrepresentation."[10]
[edit] Other
In 2007, he was nominated for best campaigning politician in the Channel 4 Political Awards for helping to secure the release of Mirza Tahir Hussain from prison in Pakistan.
He has tabled Early Day Motions on a variety of subjects including support for small breweries, winter fuel payments for the severely disabled under 60, and biometric data collection in schools[11].
In 2008 Mulholland was recorded in Hansard describing health minister Ivan Lewis as an "arsehole" for refusing to let him intervene in a discussion on hospice funding. [12].
[edit] Voting Record
According to TheyWorkForYou.com, Mulholland is an occasional rebel against his party.[13] In May 2008, Mulholland voted for an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to reduce the abortion limit to 12 weeks.[14]
[edit] Personal life
He is married to Raegan (on 13 August 2004), and they have a daughter, Isabel (born 25 July 2005). They live in Otley in the north-west of the constituency. Outside politics, his interests include real ale, rugby league and hillwalking.
[edit] References
- ^ Guardian "Ask Aristotle" biography. Retrieved on 2007-10-05.
- ^ Profile on Lib Dem website. Retrieved on 2007-10-05.
- ^ "Nick Clegg: My leadership will be bold and give millions a voice", Yorkshire Post, 2007-10-19. Retrieved on 2007-10-20.
- ^ All-Party Parliamentary Rugby League Group. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
- ^ All-Party Parliamentary Balanced and Sustainable Communities Group. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
- ^ Hansard 1 Nov 2005 column 728. Retrieved on 2007-10-23.
- ^ Briefing note: Wharfedale Hospital:. Leeds City Council: Scrutiny Board: Health and Adult Social Care 44-45 (2007-02-19). Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
- ^ Wharfedale Hospital, Otley. Hansard Col 1603 (2007-03-28). Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
- ^ Debate: Prime Minister. Hansard Col. 1508 (2007-05-02). Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
- ^ Westminster Hall debates: Leeds Children's and Maternity Hospital. Hansard (2007-05-01). Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^ Parliamentary information service EDMs by member 2006-2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-23.
- ^ MP defends himself over swearing. Retrieved on 2008-03-12.
- ^ Greg Mulholland MP. TheyWorkForYou.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
- ^ Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill — Change abortion limit from 24 weeks to 12 weeks — rejected. The Public Whip (2008-05-20). Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
[edit] External links
- Greg Mulholland MP official site, including contact details and surgery times
- Greg Mulholland MP profile at the site of Liberal Democrats
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Greg Mulholland MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Greg Mulholland MP includes "How Greg Mulholland voted on key issues"
- The Public Whip - Greg Mulholland voting record
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Harold Best |
Member of Parliament for Leeds North West 2005 – present |
Incumbent |
| Civic offices | ||
| Preceded by David Pratt |
Councillor for Headingley, Leeds City Council 2003 - 2005 |
Succeeded by James Monaghan |
