Rudi Vis

Labour MP Finchley and Golders Green

Date of birth

4 April 1941

Political profile

Of the many unexpected victories in 1997, few had the symbolic significance of Rudi Vis' win in Finchley and Golders Green, when he claimed Mrs Thatcher's old seat for Labour.

Mr Vis' surprise was palpable - he had not arranged any leave from his job as an economics lecturer.

Nonetheless, he held the seat with an increased majority in 2001.

He is an infrequent speaker in the Commons, and usually speaks on constituency matters when he appears.

Without being a dogmatic member of the left, he is one of the least naturally loyal of Labour's London MPs.

He has repeatedly criticised government proposals for London Underground funding, and abstained from the selection battle for the candidature for London mayor.

He is also a veteran anti-nuclear campaigner and has had public arguements with BNFL over their nuclear trains' presence in his seat.

He is Dutch by birth and upbringing, and is strongly pro-European, being a leading member of the Council of Europe.

Contact

Commons office: 020 7219 4562

[e-mail]