Austin Mitchell

Labour MP Great Grimsby

Date of birth

19 September 1934

Political profile

Austin Mitchell has sat on the Labour benches since 1977 but has held few formal positions.

He served a few years as a whip and as a junior Trade and Industry spokesman, but otherwise has been a constant presence on the back benches.

He engages in regular criticism of the Labour leadership whom he has accused of arrogance and elitism.

A prolific writer and journalist, he is a strong Eurosceptic, and is one of the fiercest critics of the single currency and of the Common Fisheries Policy.

He often rebels against the Labour whip, on matters such as benefits or civil liberties.

Since 1997, he has sat on the agriculture select committee and its successor.

Contact

Commons office: 020 7219 2307

[e-mail]