Dave Watts

Labour MP St Helens North

Date of birth

26 August 1951

Political profile

Dave Watts' election for the safe Labour seat of St Helen's North marked the development of a career which has been largely devoted to Labour politics.

Even in his time with United Biscuits, he was a union activist and he subsequently became a full time Labour Party organiser.

He was also an assistant to his predecessor in the seat, as well as leading St Helens metropolitan borough council.

He is a thorough party loyalist and is strongly pro-European.

He is also a great champion of the region and is a former chair of the north-west group of Labour MPs.

He has organised a campaign for EU structural funds for the region, as well as calling for a revision of the Barnett formula which allocates central government resources.

He is also a vocal opponent of the structure of the farming industry, which he regards as heavily over-subsidised.

Since 1999, he has been parliamentary private secretary to John Spellar.

Contact

Constituency office 01744 623416