Barry Sheerman

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Barry Sheerman

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Official portrait of Mr Barry Sheerman MP crop 2.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2020

| office = Member of Parliament
for Huddersfield
{{nobold|Huddersfield East (1979–1983)}}

| majority =

| predecessor = Joseph Mallalieu

| successor = Harpreet Uppal

| term_start = 3 May 1979

| term_end = 30 May 2024

| office1 = Chair of the Children, Schools and Families Committee{{efn|Education and Skills from 2001 to 2007.}}

| term_start1 = 16 July 2001

| term_end1 = 19 June 2010

| predecessor1 = Malcolm Wicks

| successor1 = Graham Stuart

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1940|08|17|df=y}}

| birth_place = Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, England

| party = Labour Co-op

| alma_mater = London School of Economics (BSc)
University of London (MSc)

}}

Barry John Sheerman (born 17 August 1940) is a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Huddersfield, previously Huddersfield East, for 45 years from 1979 to 2024. A member of the Labour and Co-operative parties, he is one of the longest serving MPs in recent history.

Early life

Sheerman was born on 17 August 1940 in Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, and went to Hampton Grammar School (which became the independent Hampton School in 1975) on Hanworth Road in Hampton, then to Kingston Technical College.

He graduated from the London School of Economics (BSc Economics 1965) and from the University of London (MSc 1967). He became a lecturer at the University of Wales, Swansea, in 1966 and remained there until his election to parliament in 1979.

Parliamentary career

Sheerman unsuccessfully contested Taunton at the October 1974 election. He became the MP for Huddersfield East from 1979 to 1983 and for Huddersfield since the 1983 general election, holding the seat since then, with a majority as low as 3,955 in 1983 and as high as 15,848 at the 1997 general election. At the most recent general election, in 2019, Sheerman's majority fell to 4,937 with a swing of 7.8% to the Conservatives, in line with many other seats in Yorkshire.

As the shadow Employment and Training minister from 1983 to 1988, he was the opposition spokesperson for post-16 education in both the education and employment teams. He served as a shadow Home Affairs minister from 1988 to 1992, focusing on police, prisons and probation as the deputy to Roy Hattersley, the Shadow Home Secretary. Following John Smith's election as Labour leader, Sheerman served as the shadow Disabled People's Rights minister from 1992 to 1994.{{cite web|date=2011-10-22|title=Labour's new MPs are denied promotion|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-s-new-mps-are-denied-promotion-1536659.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-09|website=The Independent|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809225732/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-s-new-mps-are-denied-promotion-1536659.html |archive-date=9 August 2021 }}{{cite web|title=Parliamentary career for Mr Barry Sheerman - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/411/career|access-date=2021-08-09|website=members.parliament.uk}}

He chaired the House of Commons Education and Skills select committee from 2001 to 2007, and remained chair of the renamed Children, Schools and Families Select Committee from 2007 to 2010. Under his chairmanship, the committee was often critical of government policy. Sheerman warned the government not to "lose their nerve" over reforming secondary education exam system back in 2005,{{cite news|title=End A-level 'obsession', says MP|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4284407.stm|work=BBC News|access-date=7 April 2015|date=21 February 2005|archive-date=12 November 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051112140533/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4284407.stm|url-status=live}} and in 2006 said it was "naive" to allocate local school places through parental choice, with lottery selection being the best way to avoid "bloody awful" schools existing as a side effect of parents pushing for their children to study elsewhere.{{cite news|title=Parental school choice 'naive'|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/5237548.stm|access-date=7 April 2015|work=BBC News|date=2 August 2006}} During Sheerman's chairmanship, the select committee produced reports on subjects such as home education, education outside the classroom, and young people not in education employment or training (NEETs).

He is Chair of the Labour Forum for Criminal Justice and of the Cross-Party Advisory Group on Preparation for European Monetary Union. Outside parliament, he is Chair of the National Educational Research and Development Trust, and a trustee of the National Children's Centre. His political interests are listed as trade, industry, finance, further education, education, economy, the European Union, South America and the United States.

In June 2009, Sheerman called for a secret ballot of the Parliamentary Labour Party on whether Gordon Brown should continue in office as prime minister. This followed widespread criticism of Brown's performance and the resignation of Cabinet member James Purnell. Sheerman later reassured his local party chairman that he had not directly called for Brown's resignation.{{cite news |last=Gibson |first=Barry |title=Huddersfield MP Sheerman called to account by local party members |url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2009/06/06/huddersfield-mp-sheerman-called-to-account-by-local-party-members-86081-23804506/ |work=Huddersfield Daily Examiner |date=6 June 2009 |accessdate=6 June 2009 |archive-date=22 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222035904/http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2009/06/06/huddersfield-mp-sheerman-called-to-account-by-local-party-members-86081-23804506/ |url-status=live }}

Sheerman called for a London catering company to employ "English workers" in a Twitter exchange on 23 April 2012.{{cite news |last=Gibson |first=Barry |title=Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman demands British jobs for British workers after disappointing bacon buttie |url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2012/04/25/huddersfield-mp-barry-sheerman-demands-british-jobs-for-british-workers-after-disappointing-bacon-buttie-86081-30832588/ |work=Huddersfield Daily Examiner |date=25 April 2012 |accessdate=26 April 2012 |archive-date=1 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501081540/http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2012/04/25/huddersfield-mp-barry-sheerman-demands-british-jobs-for-british-workers-after-disappointing-bacon-buttie-86081-30832588/ |url-status=live }} The comments reached the national press. In response, Sheerman said the objection to him speaking out was "pernicious political correctness".{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/9226143/MP-accused-of-xenophobia-after-complaining-that-Polish-cannot-make-decent-bacon-sandwich.html |title=MP accused of 'xenophobia after complaining that Polish cannot make decent bacon sandwich |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=25 April 2012 |accessdate=26 April 2012 |archive-date=26 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426172932/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/labour/9226143/MP-accused-of-xenophobia-after-complaining-that-Polish-cannot-make-decent-bacon-sandwich.html |url-status=live }}

He is founder and chairman of Policy Connect, a cross-party, not-for-profit based in London, where he regularly chairs seminar events and research inquiries. Sheerman is also chair and co-chair of a number of official All-Party Parliamentary Groups, including the All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group, the All-Party Parliamentary Manufacturing Group, and the Bullying All-Party Group. Since 2012, He has led the Schools to Work Commission, the Labour Party's policy review on the transition from education to employment.{{cite web|url=http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/cei/centrelinkmagazine/november2012contents/theschoolstoworkcommission/|title=University of Warwick, 'The Schools to Work Commission'|accessdate=14 April 2023|archive-date=3 September 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130903170555/http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/cei/centrelinkmagazine/november2012contents/theschoolstoworkcommission/|url-status=bot: unknown}}

In June 2015, Sheerman caused controversy when he argued that lowering the voting age to 16, by reducing childhood, might raise the risk of sexual abuse.{{cite news|date=18 June 2015|title=Votes at 16 raises abuse risk, says MP|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-33188463|accessdate=19 June 2015|archive-date=22 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622132027/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-33188463|url-status=live}}

On 5 December 2021, Sheerman announced his intention to stand down at the next election; at the time of the announcement he was the longest-serving Labour MP.{{cite news|date=5 December 2021|title=Barry Sheerman: Longest-serving Labour MP to step down|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-59538838|accessdate=5 December 2021|archive-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205114451/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-59538838|url-status=live}}

Political positions

Sheerman consistently voted for the Iraq War,{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/10534/barry_sheerman/huddersfield/divisions?policy=1049|title=Barry Sheerman MP, Huddersfield|website=TheyWorkForYou|accessdate=14 April 2023|archive-date=25 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325212538/https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/10534/barry_sheerman/huddersfield/divisions?policy=1049|url-status=live}} and has nearly always voted to block subsequent independent investigations into the war, with the most recent such vote in 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/10534/barry_sheerman/huddersfield/divisions?policy=975|title=Barry Sheerman MP, Huddersfield|website=TheyWorkForYou|accessdate=14 April 2023|archive-date=30 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240730085600/https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/10534/barry_sheerman/huddersfield/divisions?policy=975|url-status=live}} He is a member of Labour Friends of Israel.{{cite web|title=LFI Supporters in Parliament|url=https://www.lfi.org.uk/in-parliament/|access-date=8 September 2019|work=Labour Friends of Israel|archive-date=2 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002100511/https://www.lfi.org.uk/in-parliament/|url-status=live}}

He supported Owen Smith in the 2016 Labour Party leadership election.{{cite web|url=https://labourlist.org/2016/07/which-mps-and-meps-have-nominated-owen-smith/|title=Full list of MPs and MEPs backing challenger Owen Smith|publisher=LabourList|date=21 July 2016|access-date=1 November 2020|last=Pope|first=Conor|archive-date=15 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715214543/https://labourlist.org/2016/07/which-mps-and-meps-have-nominated-owen-smith/|url-status=live}} Sheerman supported the UK remaining within the EU in the 2016 membership referendum.{{cite news|date=22 June 2016|title=EU vote: Where the cabinet and other MPs stand|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35616946|url-status=live|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220152844/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35616946 |archive-date=20 February 2016 |accessdate=1 November 2020}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheerman suggested that "on the spot fines" would increase compliance with mask mandates.{{cite news|last=Teale|first=Connor|date=30 November 2021|title=Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman calls for 'on the spot fines' for non mask wearers|work=Huddersfield Daily Examiner|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/huddersfield-mp-barry-sheerman-calls-22316116|accessdate=5 December 2021|archive-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205165031/https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/huddersfield-mp-barry-sheerman-calls-22316116|url-status=live}}

Personal life

Barry Sheerman married Pamela Elizabeth Brenchley in 1965 in north Surrey, with whom he has one son (born in 1978) and three daughters (born in 1970, 1972 and 1981).{{fact|date=October 2021}} During a Parliamentary Debate in November 2022 he announced the recent birth of his 13th grandchild.{{cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2022-11-24/debates/9CB70ECE-12A1-417E-A973-22FEE1032BD1/BusinessOfTheHouse|title=Business of the House - Hansard - UK Parliament|accessdate=14 April 2023}} His recreations include walking, biography and films.{{fact|date=October 2021}}

In 1993, Sheerman co-wrote, with Isaac Kramnick, a biography of the Labour intellectual Harold Laski.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/book-review-the-art-of-collective-irresponsibility-harold-laski-isaac-kramnick-and-barry-sheerman-1494568.html|title=The art of collective irresponsibility: Harold Laski - Isaac Kramnick and Barry Sheerman: Hamish Hamilton, pounds 25|date=29 June 1993|last=Torode|first=John|work=The Independent|accessdate=1 November 2020|archive-date=7 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107222459/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/book-review-the-art-of-collective-irresponsibility-harold-laski-isaac-kramnick-and-barry-sheerman-1494568.html|url-status=live}}

Notes

References

External links

{{UK MP links |parliament=mr-barry-sheerman/411 |hansardcurr=663 |hansard=mr-barry-sheerman |publicwhip=Barry_Sheerman |theywork=barry_sheerman}}
[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,,-4719,00.html Ask Aristotle]
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/329.stm BBC Politics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202104744/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/329.stm |date=2 December 2008 }}
{{C-SPAN|29156}}
[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmchilsch/316/316i.pdf NEET: Young People Not in Education, Employment or Training] Children, Schools and Families Committee
[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmchilsch/39/39i.pdf The Review of Elective Home Education] Children, Schools and Families Committee
[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmchilsch/418/418.pdf Transforming Education Outside the Classroom] Children, Schools and Families Committee

=News items=

[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8318030.stm Appointments in October 2009]
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8283198.stm Single mothers hostels in September 2009]
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6174554.stm School bully in November 2006]
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/5237548.stm Choice of schools in August 2006]
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/4671936.stm Gas safety in February 2006]
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4284407.stm Obsession with A levels in February 2005]
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4079653.stm Women are brighter than men in December 2004]

=Video clips=

{{YouTube|hiEels6TeEY|2020 Vision on the Environment in schools in November 2009}}
{{YouTube|BBeXO134-ZQ|Money skills at the Galpharm Stadium in October 2009}}
{{YouTube|_5HBfmhGSzU|Religion in schools on Teachers TV in January 2008}}

{{s-ttl| title = Member of Parliament for Huddersfield East

| years = 1979–1983}}

{{s-ttl| title = Member of Parliament for Huddersfield

| years = 1983–2024}}

{{s-ttl| title = Shadow Minister of State for Social Security
(Shadow Minister for Disabled People)

| years = 1992–1994}}

{{s-ttl| title = Chairman, Education & Skills Select Committee

| years = 2001–2007}}

{{s-ttl| title = Chairman, Children, Schools and Families Select Committee

| years = 2007–2010}}

Category:1940 births

Category:Living people