Bob Laxton

Labour MP Derby North

Date of birth

7 September 1944

Political profile

Bob Laxton, first elected in 1997, is a classic local politician; born and raised in his constituency, he served as a councillor and, ultimately, leader of Derby City Council, before making the transition to national politics.

He is a pragmatic politician, who supports the use of private finance for capital projects, but is sceptical about wider privatisation.

He is generally seen as a loyal backbencher despite making some cautious critiques of the commercialisation of the Post Office.

A former telephone engineer, and CWU official, with a low profile in the Commons, he takes an interest in the Post Office and the telecommunications industry.

He sat throughout the 1997 Parliament on the Trade and Industry Committee, and after the 2001 election was appointed parliamentary private secretary to fellow CWU alumnus Alan Johnson.

Contact

Constituency office 01332 206699

[e-mail]