Gordon Prentice

Labour MP Pendle

Date of birth

28 January 1951

Education

George Heriot's School, Edinburgh
Glasgow University (MA politics and economics 1972)

Non-political career

Labour Party Policy Directorate 1982-92
Labour Party Local Government Officer 1985-92

Electoral history

Member for Pendle since April 9, 1992.

Political profile

Gordon Prentice was first elected to the Commons in 1992 and seemed a good bet for early promotion.

He had spent many years as a full time employee of Labour's policy unit and had strong political credentials as a former leader of Hammersmith and Fulham Council.

Mr Prentice proved to be a sparky backbencher on the left of the party, who often made effective bitter sallies against the Conservatives.

When Labour came to power in 1997, he joined the government as parliamentary private secretary to Transport Minister Gavin Strang.

However, his career within the big tent proved to be shortlived; he resigned his role in December 1997 in order to vote against cuts to lone parent benefits.

Since then he has become one of the government's most persistent critics.

He has voted against the executive on many issues, from air traffic privatisation to freedom of information.

Mr Prentice is a particular critic of the reform of the House of Lords, ridiculing the 'People's Peers'.

He is seen as one of the party's few remaining 'class warriors'.

He was formerly married to Lewisham East MP Bridget Prentice.

Contact

Commons office: 020 7219 4011
Constituency office: 01282 695471
Website: www.gordonprenticemp.com