Michael (`Mick') CLAPHAM Labour WEST & PENISTONE '92-

Majority: 12,352 (35.7%) over Conservative 3- way Description: The unaltered remaining half of the old Penistone seat, north of the Peak District, from the sheep-raising Pennine farms down to the mining outskirts of Barnsley; it includes the towns of Penistone, Hoyland and ; it has over 20 closed collieries and over 20,000 lost pit jobs; Position: Chairman, all-party Groups on: Trade and Industry '03-, Fire Safety '01-, Coalfield Community Campaign '97-, Occupational Health and Safety '96-; ex: PPS, to , May- Dec '97; on Trade and Industry Select Committee

'92-97; Vice Chairman, PLP Trade and Industry Group '96-97; member, NATO Parliamentary Assembly; on Branch Committee of NUM '65- 70; Outlook: A rebellion-prone Campaign Group campaigner against industrial diseases with "great expertise in the field" (Maria Eagle MP); a sometime Scargill protege who made a comeback after a difficult time for his differing defence of a dying coalmining industry: "I had a bad time for a couple of years" (MC); a locally-popular former coalface-worker-turned- lecturer and top NUM official; once friendly with , he mourns the "tragedy" of Scargill's self-segregation in a "stillborn Stalinist anachronism"; his political hero is another intellectual ex-miner, Aneurin Bevan; he has said he sees "socialism operating on two levels: one is ethical; the other is about how you organise the resources of society to benefit people by a more equitable distribution"; he resigned as Alan Milburn's PPS in order to vote against the Blair Government's '97 lone- parent benefit cuts, and has rebelled serially since on nomination of peers, incapacity benefit cuts, jury trial curbs, pensions, air-traffic control privatisation, religious schools, asylum seekers, foundation hospitals, and war in Iraq; has proved to be a restrained, factual and effective defender of a mining industry under terminal attack; until the '92 election was head of NUM's Industrial Relations Department; his speeches concentrate on miners' and unions' problems; pro: a political rather than a military solution in Ulster; anti: US national missile defence system, asbestos-related diseases; an enthusiastic supporter of defence cuts to release "8b a year" to "increase social provision and better the nation's economic infrastructure"; anti-nuclear (Greenpeace); previously pro-Soviet (British-Soviet Friendship Society); was NUM-sponsored, recently by UCATT; History: After having left the Labour Party in the '60s in protest against Harold Wilson's appeasement of the US over Vietnam, he rejoined it at 36, '79; there was confusion about his alleged initial backing by NUM and Arthur Scargill for selection for Barnsley Central in succession to Roy Mason, won by Eric Illsley, who finally secured NUM backing against his closest NUPE rival, helped by the story - repeated in PRIVATE EYE - that Clapham had signed nomination papers in '79 for a `Troops Out' candidate, the father of a convicted IRA bomber, against ex-miner Roy Mason when Ulster Secretary Dec '86-Jan '87; "it was my intention to focus attention on the Irish question; to construe the fact that I signed his nomination papers as an act which supports terrorism is totally absurd"; announced he would seek selection for Barnsley West when Allen McKay said he would not stand again; he was in a quandry when Arthur Scargill, whom he had known since he was a coalface worker in the '60s, refused to rule himself out and tried to persuade McKay to stay on until the mid-90s, Sep-Oct '89; was selected for Barnsley West and Penistone Jan '90; retained the seat by a virtually identical majority of 14,504 votes Apr '92; in his Maiden pointed out that his constituency had lost 20,000 pit jobs in the previous decade, although miners had almost trebled their productivity May '92; co-sponsored motion opposing opencast coal mining May

1 Copyright © Parliamentary Profile Services Ltd. Michael (`Mick') CLAPHAM Labour BARNSLEY WEST & PENISTONE '92-

'92; emphasised that the four pension schemes in the mining industry held over 12b "which is a great attraction to an asset stripper"; British Coal had already taken 735m from it in pensions holidays, which would continue until 2001; urged copper- bottomed guarantees for all pensioners in the industry June '92; pointed out that the safety record of British Coal was much better than its foreign or domestic private competitors June '92; was named to Trade and Industry Select Committee as its only ex- miner Oct '92; led motion opposing "dash for gas" and guaranteeing 65m ton takeup of coal by generators Nov '92; insisted that he wanted all 31 surviving pits to be saved, not merely 25; this could be done by transferring to coal the nuclear levy and ending taking electricity from France Feb '93; was vilified by Arthur Scargill for accepting the Trade and Industry Select Committee's plan to close 31 pits Feb '93; defended the agreed pit-saving decisions of the Trade and Industry Select Committee against the pit-sacrificing Government White Paper Mar '93; co-sponsored amendment by ex-miner MPs to save all 31 threatened pits Mar '93; voted against 3rd Reading of Maastricht treaty Bill May '93; in debate on Employment Rights Bill insisted that part-time workers should have a statutory right to an itemised pay slip to enable them to make claims against folded small businesses June '93; in debate on Trade Union Reform Bill attacked clause enabling employer to "offer a bribe" of higher wages if employees gave up right to belong to a union of his choice June '93; complained that cut in Arts Council funding would affect mainly smaller theatrical companies July '93; complained that the Mines (Health and Safety) Bill's removal of the safety role of the pit deputy would undermine British Coal's outstanding safety record Oct '93; ridiculed the "Back to Basics" philosophy in the Queen's Speech as meaning "deregulation", "low wages, poor working conditions and a lack of representational rights" Nov '93; insisted that markets for coal were the crucial area but "the Governement have failed to deal with that point" Jan '94; supported anti-US motion on North Korea Feb '94; opposed Deregulation Bill because of its adverse impact on health and safety regulations Feb '94; voted against restoring capital punishment, even for killers of policemen Feb '94; voted to reduce age of homosexual consent to 18 or 16, Feb '94; warned that privatisation would end the support given to miners for industrial diseases Mar '94; introduced Bill to reduce to ten years the period of underground work required for miners to qualify for benefits for chronic bronchitis and emphysema Apr '94; secured a debate to pay fuller tributes to just-deceased Labour MPs Apr '94; voted for Prescott for Leader, Beckett for Deputy Leader July '94; in the Queen's Speech debate, deplored the "further reduction in the share of the national income going to the public sector" Nov '94; co-wrote TRIBUNE article defending Clause IV and claiming the "UK privatisation model has run its course", on behalf of the miners' group of MPs Jan '95; complained of impact of Tory Government's "standstill Budget" on education in Barnsley Feb '95; called for money to clean up water courses polluted by minewater from defunct pits June '95; claimed one-third of Barnsley households had at least one person suffering from a disabling disease June '95; voted for Tony Benn's defence amendment calling for scrapping of Trident and curbing of defence spending to the West European average Oct '95; urged a minimum wage to stimulate the economy, complaining that 18% of Barnsley's males were unemployed Nov '95; complained that Barnsley's 2.8% increase in Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) for '96-97 was a freeze in real terms Jan '96; deplored the "tragedy" of Arthur Scargill's departure to form his own party: "the Labour Party is the dominant political force and it is the place where socialists should be"; Scargill's alternative was a "still-born Stalinist anachronism" Jan '96; claimed the EU's Social Chapter "could save European manufacturing industry" Feb '96; again opposed nuclear privatisation on safety grounds, insisting "profits and plutonium do not mix" Mar '96; asked about risk to workers from slaughtering BSE-infected cattle Mar '96; alleged Tory Government was abandoning its two-year training period for probation officers to bring in ex-servicemen to instill discipline Apr '96; was listed in INDEPENDENT as one of 26 Labour MPs in the Parliamentary Humanist Group Apr '96; attacked cuts in accessibility to Reduced Earning Allowance by

2 Copyright © Parliamentary Profile Services Ltd. Michael (`Mick') CLAPHAM Labour BARNSLEY WEST & PENISTONE '92- miners with pneumoconiosis June '96; attacked partial privatisation of nuclear industry as meaning the decommissioning costs of the older power stations would have to be met by the taxpayer June '96; attacked Tory Government for its inflexibility in recognising and compensating miners with emphysema and chronic bronchitis June '96; insisting public ownership of energy utilities would be "back on the agenda within 10 years", attacked slipping safety precautions in private mines and deplored opencast mining July '96; opposed 3% cap on MPs' pay rise July '96; urged more funds for Barnsley's depressed areas Feb '97; retained unaltered seat by enhanced majority of 17,267 on a pro- Labour swing of 5.3% May '97; was named PPS to Alan Milburn, Minister of State for Health May '97; voted to ban fox- hunting June '97; co-wrote to GUARDIAN protesting lack of access to material on Jonathan Aitken's involvement with BMARC in arms-for- Iran when his Select Committee on Trade and Industry was investigating June '97; in the wake of the RJ Budge warning of an impending disaster for remaining coal mines, formed a discreet lobby with colleagues Paddy Tipping and Kevin Barron to save remaining 11,000 mining jobs Nov '97; was told by PM about a six-month deal between coal producers and power generators; hours later he resigned as PPS to Alan Milburn as one of the Labour MP opposing cuts in lone-parent benefits Dec '97; voted against military action against Iraq Feb '98; urged more educational emphasis on the creative arts Feb '98; again urged a ban on white asbestos, asking PM Blair to backdate payment for asbestosis to the onset of the disease Mar '98; visited Egypt as guest of the Egytian government Apr '98; in debate on union workplace recognition he sought formula of 50% plus one Apr '98; blamed fall in union membership almost wholly on unemployment May '98; urged that multinationals like Rio Tinto be pushed "to promote human rights and protect the environment in areas of the world where they practice" May '98; having broadened his `save the coalmines' lobby into allied industries, was delighted by the Government's reprieve for the coalmining industry June '98; complained about Portugal's treatment of a constituent, Professor David Lowery June '98; derided John Redwood as "a classic case of Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance because he does one thing and says another" July '98; visited Bahrain courtesy of the Gulf Centre for strategic studies Sep '98; praised German education system for linking vocational and academic education Nov '98; opposed "stressful" test for miners seeking lung damage compensation Nov '98; initiated debate on safety at work highlighting stress-related illness and asbestosis Nov '98; urged membership of occupational pension schemes Dec '98; visited Egypt courtesy of the Egyptian government Apr '99; rebelled against Prime Minister's power to nominate peers Feb '99; initiated debate on work noise levels causing deafness or tinnitus Mar '99; raised issue of cancer-related contamination at Rio Tinto smelting plant May '98; spoke up for workers subjected to excessive noise Mar '99; voted against means-tested incapacity benefits May '99; highlighted local drugs problem with 3-5,000 regularly using heroin at an individual cost of 10-20,000 and 80% of local crime related to feeding the habit July '99; initiated debate on coal industry noting there were only 18 remaining deep mine pits and that "we are fast losing the industry's critical mass" Nov '99; opposed performance-related teachers' pay as undermining morale Feb '00; rebelled against curbs on jury trial Mar '00; rebelled to restore pensions link to earnings Apr '00; welcomed subsidy for coal mines to compensate for announcement of new gas-fired power stations Apr '00; rebelled against part-privatisation of air-traffic control May '00; initiated debate on social exclusion in Barnsley June '00; condemned cuts to `health action zones' in deprived areas June '00; again voted against part-privatisation of air-traffic control Nov '00; in TELEGRAPH letter co-urged an end to US blockade of Cuba Nov '00; urged more health and safety legislation Dec '00; opposed requirement on home sellers to spend 300 on a "seller's pack" Jan '01; sought protection of retired miners' free coal concession from metrication Jan '01; co- opposed US national missile defence system Feb '01; rebelled against listing of proscribed terrorist organisations Mar '01; sought inquiry into collapsed Chester Street insurance company leaving many uncompensated asbestosis claims Mar '01; urged provision of more

3 Copyright © Parliamentary Profile Services Ltd. Michael (`Mick') CLAPHAM Labour BARNSLEY WEST & PENISTONE '92- information on asbestos-linked cancer mesothelioma Apr '01; admitting his CND sympathies to his Tory electoral opponent, claimed the "one thing that saved the world was the Communist Party, and since the crash of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union the world has been a much more dangerous place because of nuclear proliferation" June '01; he retained his seat with a 12,352 majority on a 2.6% swing to the Conservatives June '01; opposed reintroduction of selection in schools June '01; claimed intercepting nuclear missiles could lead to undamaged warheads falling on Europe Oct '01; urged compensation from London- based Cape Plc for pre-'79 asbestos-damaged miners and mill workers Oct '01; urged more health and safety inspectors Nov '01; backed ASLEF train drivers' strike Nov '01; urged compensation for asbestosis sufferers Jan '02; voted against compulsory identity cards Jan '02; noted that the 62m tonnes of coal burned in UK in '01 would have sustained a mining industry of 40 collieries Jan '02; raised a case on non-compensated asbestos-related mesothelioma cancer Jan '02; sought action to raise secondary school attainment levels in coalfield areas Feb '02; rebelled to require faith schools to admit 25% of pupils from non-faith or other faith backgrounds Feb '02; opposed US withdrawal from anti- ballistic missile treaty claiming "smart diplomacy" was preferable to "smart bombs" Feb '02; urged elimination of asbestos health risks Mar '02; sought curb on false self- employment in building trade Mar '02; urged blocking of drug route from Afghanistan via the Balkans Apr '02; tabled a raft of questions to government departments about number of staff retired through ill health May '02; backed coal against nuclear energy, warned of over-dependence on gas, and urged investment in clean coal technology June '02; sought UK influence to encourage democracy in the Middle East "without having to enter into ill- considered meddling in other people's affairs" July '02; visited Bahrain as guest of the Gulf Centre for Stategic Studies and the Bahrain government Sep '02; again urged action against asbestos- derived mesothelioma Oct '02; voted against exclusion of asylum seekers' children from mainstream schools Nov '02; opposed US missile defence system as adding to proliferation Jan '03; sought "sustainable future for the indigenous deep mining industry Jan '03; voted against war in Iraq Jan '03; voted against war in Iraq Feb '03; again rebelled against war in Iraq Mar '03; rebelled against foundation hospitals May '03; again rebelled against foundation hospitals July '03; again sought more generous awards for former miners' diseases July '03; was elected chairman of the Trade and Industry Committee Oct '03; voted against the Higher Education Bill Jan '04; Born: 15 May 1943 , Barnsley Family: Son, Laura Alice and late Thomas Clapham, miner; m '65 Yvonne (Hallsworth); 1s, 1d; Education: Darton Secondary Modern School; Barnsley Technical College; Leeds Polytechnic (BSc Hons); Leeds University (PGCE); Bradford University (MPhil); Occupation: Sponsored, by UCATT, formerly by NUM (600 p a for constituency and 80% of election expenses) '92-95; ex: Head, NUM Industrial Relations Department '83-92; Deputy Head, Yorkshire NUM Compensation Department '77-83; Lecturer, in trade union studies, at Whitwood FE College, Castleford '75-77; Miner '58-70 (left for further education); Traits: Dark, pleasant-looking; front-combed, centre-parted hair; heavy, arched eyebrows; "looks like a character out of `Sons and Lovers' (Anne Perkins, GUARDIAN); acts with "customary modesty" (Ann Clwyd MP); intense; loyal (especially to miners and ex-miners); humanist; enjoys squash, walking, reading; Address: House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 0AA; 18 Regent Street, Barnsley Yorkshire S70 2HG; Telephone: 0207 219 0477 (H of C); 01226 731244 (office); 01924 291221 (regional party);

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