Ian Pearson

Labour MP Dudley South

Date of birth

5 April 1959

Political profile

Ian Pearson entered Parliament in a blaze of publicity when he won the Dudley West by-election in 1994, beating the Conservatives on a massive swing of almost 30%.

He has since twice comfortably held its successor seat.

His subsequent political career has inevitably been more low-key, and was not helped by the two years he spent as PPS to ill-starred Treasury minister Geoffrey Robinson.

He proved, however, to be a hard-working and confident backbencher.

As an economic development consultant, he has often spoken on employment and business issues with intelligence and expertise and is a particular supporter of his local industries.

He is also a supporter of radical reform to higher education, and supporter of top-up fees.

He also proved to have an independent streak when he spoke in strong opposition to the government's parliamentary reforms, claiming that they were undermining the Commons' scrutiny role.

His outspoken comments did not hold him back and he was made a Whip in the reshuffle following the 2001 election and a Minister in the Northern Ireland Office in 2002.

Contact

Constituency office: 01384 482123

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