Hull History Centre: Records of Austin Mitchell MP U DMM Records of Austin Mitchell MP 1954-2002 Accession number: 1994/07, 1996/27, 1999/03, 2001/07, 2000/16, 2002/12, 2004/24 Biographical Background: Austin Vernon Mitchell was born on 19 September 1934 in Bradford. He went to school at Woodbottom Council School and Bingley Grammar School, before reading History at the University of Manchester and graduating from Nuffield College, Oxford, with a Doctor of Philosophy in 1963. Between 1959 and 1963 he worked as a lecturer in history at Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand, and then left to become a Senior Lecturer in sociology at Canterbury University, Christchurch, New Zealand (1963-1967). Returning to Britain, he then took up a post as Official Fellow of Nuffield College, Oxford (1967-1969). In 1969, he changed career and became a journalist with Yorkshire Television (1969-1971), then with the BBC in 1972 before returning to Yorkshire Television in 1973. In 1977 he changed career again when he was elected as Labour MP for Grimsby (Great Grimsby from 1983). He held the seat until his retirement in 2015. During his political career he served as Personal Private Secretary to J.D. Fraser Minister of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (1977-1979), Opposition Whip, member of the Civil Service Select Committee, Front Bench Spokesperson on Trade and Industry, Member of the Treasury, member of the Public Accounts Committee, Chair of the Council Housing Group of MPs and member of the Agriculture Select Committee. His other political activities included putting forward the House Buyers Bill (1985) and being a key supporter of compulsory seatbelts in cars, a cause he supported after surviving a car crash in 1977 which he put down to his use of a seatbelt. He was also a member of the Socialist Campaign Group and as a Eurosceptic, supported the Better Off Out campaign and opposed the Common Fisheries Policy. In support of the fishing industry within his constituency and its staple catch, he briefly changed his name to Austin Haddock in 2002. During 2009, Mitchell's expenses claims, and those of other MPs, were analysed by an independent audit following the Parliamentary expenses scandal. It was found that Mitchell had wrongly claimed £10,549 for mortgage payments on his second home, which he argued was the result of an oversight made in 2006. He later issued an apology and repaid the amount. Mitchell announced in April 2014 that he would not stand in the next general election, and retired from parliament in May 2015. Alongside his political career, Austin Mitchell presented 'Target' with Norman Tebbit on Sky Television from 1989 to 1998 and is the author of several books. His published books include: Politics and People in New Zealand (1970), Four years in the Death of the Labour Party (1983) and Britain: Beyond the Blue Horizon (1989). Austin Mitchell has been married twice and has one son and three daughters. He currently lives with his second wife, Linda McDougall, who is a journalist and author. Custodial history: Donated by Austin Mitchell in successive instalments over the period 1984 to 2015. Description: This collection comprises constituency correspondence/case files and subject files on constituency and wider isssues (including fishing, economics, Europe and education). Extent: 45.25 linear metres Page 1 of 104 Hull History Centre: Records of Austin Mitchell MP Finding aids: Entry in Modern political papers subject guide Access conditions: Some of the records in this collection contain sensitive personal information. In accordance with data protection legislation, records containing sensitive personal information are not available for public inspection for 75 years if the information relates to adults, or 100 years if the information relates to children. In some circumstances access may be granted for research purposes. To request access or for further information please contact [email protected] . Part of U DMM is currently un-catalogued. In some cases a draft or box list may exist which may allow us to provide access to the collection ahead of the material being catalogued. If you require access please contact the University Archives team at [email protected] clearly outlining your interest and timescales. Access to all other material will be granted to any accredited reader. Copyright: Austin Mitchell Language: English U DMM/1 Set of leaflets used by Grimsby Labour Party 1983 during general election 11 items U DMM/2 Subject file. Photocopies of papers in the case of 1983-1984 A V Mitchell and C L Hubbard v. P W Genney, regarding Mitchell's expenses during the general election campaign of 1983 1 file U DMM/3 File. Miscellaneous correspondence. Copies of Oct 1980 letters out 1 file This item contains personal sensitive information and is not available for public inspection for 75 years until Jan 2056. This is in accordance with data protection legislation. If you have a query about access to this record please contact [email protected] . U DMM/4 File. Miscellaneous correspondence. Copies of Nov 1980 letters out 1 file This item contains personal sensitive information and is not available for public inspection for 75 years until Jan 2056. This is in accordance with data protection legislation. If you have a query about access to this record please contact [email protected] . Page 2 of 104 Hull History Centre: Records of Austin Mitchell MP U DMM/5 File. Miscellaneous correspondence. Copies of Dec 1980 letters out 1 file This item contains personal sensitive information and is not available for public inspection for 75 years until Jan 2056. This is in accordance with data protection legislation. If you have a query about access to this record please contact [email protected] . U DMM/6 File. Miscellaneous correspondence. Copies of Jan 1981 letters out 1 file This item contains personal sensitive information and is not available for public inspection for 75 years until Jan 2057. This is in accordance with data protection legislation. If you have a query about access to this record please contact [email protected] . U DMM/7 File. Miscellaneous correspondence. Copies of Feb 1981 letters out 1 file This item contains personal sensitive information and is not available for public inspection for 75 years until Jan 2057. This is in accordance with data protection legislation. If you have a query about access to this record please contact [email protected] . U DMM/8 File. Miscellaneous correspondence. Copies of Mar 1981 letters out 1 file This item contains personal sensitive information and is not available for public inspection for 75 years until Jan 2057. This is in accordance with data protection legislation. If you have a query about access to this record please contact [email protected] . U DMM/9 File. Miscellaneous correspondence. Copies of Apr 1981 letters out 1 file This item contains personal sensitive information and is not available for public inspection for 75 years until Jan 2057. This is in accordance with data protection legislation. If you have a query about access to this record please contact [email protected] . Page 3 of 104 Hull History Centre: Records of Austin Mitchell MP U DMM/10 File. Miscellaneous correspondence. Copies of May 1981 letters out 1 file This item contains personal sensitive information and is not available for public inspection for 75 years until Jan 2057. This is in accordance with data protection legislation. If you have a query about access to this record please contact [email protected] . U DMM/11 File. Miscellaneous correspondence. Copies of Jan-Mar 1983 letters out 1 file This item contains personal sensitive information and is not available for public inspection for 75 years until Jan 2059. This is in accordance with data protection legislation. If you have a query about access to this record please contact [email protected] . U DMM/12 Subject file. Abortion 1977-1980 1 file U DMM/13 Subject file. Agriculture 1979-1980 1 file U DMM/14 Subject file. Anglian Water authority 1981-1984 1 file U DMM/15 Subject file. Animal welfare 1977-1980 1 file U DMM/16 Subject file. Animal welfare 1981-1982 1 file U DMM/17 Subject file. Animal welfare 1981-1983 1 file U DMM/18 Subject file. Animal welfare 1984-1986 1 file U DMM/19 Subject file. Broadcasting 1977-1980 1 file U DMM/20 Subject file. Broadcasting 1981-1984 1 file U DMM/21 Subject file. Broadcasting 1985-1986 1 file Page 4 of 104 Hull History Centre: Records of Austin Mitchell MP U DMM/22 Subject file. Charities 1980-1986 1 file U DMM/23 Subject file. Charities 1986 1 file U DMM/24 Subject file. Children 1978-1979 1 file U DMM/25 Subject file. Citizens' Band Radio 1978-1979 1 file U DMM/26 Subject file. Citizens' Band Radio 1979-1980 1 file U DMM/27 Subject file. Citizens' Band Radio; citizens' advice 1981-1983 1 file U DMM/28 Subject file. Common Market 1977-1980 1 file U DMM/29 Subject file. Common Market 1981-1986 1 file U DMM/30 Subject file. Docks 1977-1980 1 file U DMM/31 Subject file. Docks 1981 1 file U DMM/32 Subject file. Economy 1979-1983 1 file U DMM/33 Subject file. Education 1977-1980 1 file U DMM/34A Subject file. Education 1980-1981 1 file U DMM/34B Subject file. Education 1980-1981 1 file U DMM/35 Subject file. Education 1981-1983 1 file U DMM/36 Subject file. Education 1984 1 file U DMM/37 Subject file. Education 1985-1986 1 file Page 5 of 104 Hull History Centre: Records of Austin Mitchell MP U DMM/38 Subject file.