Daniel Zeichner
{{Short description|British politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Daniel Zeichner
| image = Official portrait of Daniel Zeichner crop 2.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2017
| honorific-suffix = MP
| office = Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs
| term_start = 8 July 2024
| primeminister = Keir Starmer
| predecessor = Mark Spencer
| office1 = Member of Parliament
for Cambridge
| term_start1 = 7 May 2015
| term_end1 =
| predecessor1 = Julian Huppert
| majority1 = 11,078 (26.3%)
| office2 = Member of South Norfolk District Council
for Long Row
| term_start2 = 4 May 1995
| term_end2 = 1 May 2003
| predecessor2 = D. Mitchell
| successor2 = Keith Weeks
| birthname = Daniel Stephen Zeichner
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|11|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = Beckenham, Kent, England
| party = Labour
| alma_mater = King's College, Cambridge
| website = {{Official website|https://www.danielzeichner.co.uk/}}
}}
Daniel Stephen Zeichner (born 9 November 1956) is a British Labour Party politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Cambridge since 2015.{{Cite web|url= http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridge-general-election-2015-results-analysis/story-26450727-detail/story.html|title=Cambridge general election 2015 results: Daniel Zeichner wins the seat from Julian Huppert|date=8 May 2015 |publisher=Cambridge News|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509043058/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cambridge-general-election-2015-results-analysis/story-26450727-detail/story.html|archive-date=9 May 2015|df=dmy-all}} He has served as Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs since July 2024.{{Cite web |title=Ministerial Appointments: July 2024 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-july-2024 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Minister of State (Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs) - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state--189 |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=www.gov.uk |language=en}}
Early life and career
Daniel Zeichner was born on 9 November 1956 in Beckenham. His father was an Austrian political refugee whose family fled Vienna in 1938, and his mother was the descendant of agricultural workers from Cambridgeshire.{{cite web |author=Gabriel Rath |date=6 June 2017 |title="Es reicht mit dem Brexit": Wahlkampf in Cambridge |url=https://www.diepresse.com/5229848/es-reicht-mit-dem-brexit-wahlkampf-in-cambridge |access-date=14 December 2019 |publisher=Die Presse, Vienna}} As a teenager, Zeichner was a middle-distance runner.{{cite book | first1=Richard | last1=Johnson | title=Camaraderie: One hundred years of the Cambridge Labour Party, 1912–2012 | publisher=Cambridge Labour Party | date=2012 | last2=Walsh | first2=Ashley | location=Cambridge | pages=240–3 | isbn=978-0-86117-498-0}}
He attended Trinity School of John Whitgift, a former grammar school, turned private school. After school, Zeichner went to the University of Cambridge, studying history at King's College. He joined the Labour Party in 1979.
Zeichner's first job after graduation was as a trainee computer programmer, working for Cambridgeshire County Council at the register office next to Shire Hall on Castle Hill, Cambridge. He later worked in IT for a number of companies, including Norwich Union in Norfolk, Philips in East Chesterton and Perkins Engines in Peterborough.
In 1992 Zeichner was hired by Norwich South MP John Garrett, working as press officer and parliamentary assistant for Garrett between 1992 and 1997.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/candidates/candidates/4/42706.stm |title=Daniel Zeichner|work=Vote2001: Candidates|publisher=BBC|access-date=14 December 2019}}{{cite web|work=Meet the Candidates |title=Daniel Zeichner, The Labour party|publisher=Tab Media Ltd., London|url=https://thetab.com/uk/cambridge/2017/06/04/meet-the-candidates-95070|author=Matt Green (compiler)|date=4 June 2017 |access-date=14 December 2019}} He subsequently worked for Garrett's successor, Charles Clarke, until 1999. In 2002 Zeichner began working for the public sector trade union UNISON as a political officer, a post he held until he was elected to Parliament.
Political career
Zeichner has served several terms on Labour's National Policy Forum, the Labour Party's top policy-making body. He was first elected to represent the East of England on the body shortly after it was first established by Tony Blair as part of the "Partnership in Power" process.
He was elected as a councillor in Burston, Norfolk, in 1995, a position in which he served until 2003.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=South Norfolk Council Election Results 1973-2011|url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/South-Norfolk-1973-2011.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515040528/https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/South-Norfolk-1973-2011.pdf |archive-date=15 May 2021 |access-date=|website=}} During this time Zeichner became leader of the Labour group on South Norfolk District Council.
At the 1997 general election, Zeichner stood as the Labour Party candidate in Mid Norfolk, coming second with 37.3% of the vote behind the Conservative candidate Keith Simpson.{{cite web |title=Election Data 1997 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054424/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}} He stood again in Mid Norfolk at the 2001 general election, again coming second with 36.1% of the vote behind Keith Simpson.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2001 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}} At the 2005 general election, Zeichner again came second in Mid Norfolk, with 29.2% of the vote.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2005 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}
In 2006, Zeichner described his politics as "socialist in a modern context".{{cite news |last1=Capel |first1=Grace |date=27 October 2006 |title=The lighter touch of Cantab politics |work=Varsity}}
In the 2010 Labour leadership election, Zeichner supported Ed Miliband.
Parliamentary career
At the 2010 general election, Zeichner stood in Cambridge, coming third with 24.3% of the vote behind the Liberal Democrat candidate Julian Huppert and the Conservative candidate Nick Hillman.{{cite web |title=Cambridge – Statement of Persons Nominated |url=http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/public/docs/Statement%20of%20persons%20nominated%20for%20parliament.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305214425/http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/public/docs/Statement%20of%20persons%20nominated%20for%20parliament.pdf |archive-date=5 March 2012}}
Zeichner was elected to Parliament as MP for Cambridge at the 2015 general election, with 36% of the vote and a majority of 599.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}{{cite web |title=Cambridge News – News, Sport and Events from around Cambridge |url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/General-election-2015-list-candidates/story-26309665-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414063333/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/General-election-2015-list-candidates/story-26309665-detail/story.html |archive-date=14 April 2015 |website=www.cambridge-news.co.uk}} He was appointed as a Shadow Minister for Transport in September 2015, responsible for buses, bikes and walking.{{cite web|url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cycling-public-transport-priority-Cambridge-MP/story-27825444-detail/story.html|title=Cambridge News – News, Sport and Events from around Cambridge|website=www.cambridge-news.co.uk|access-date=18 September 2015|archive-date=25 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125063930/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Cycling-public-transport-priority-Cambridge-MP/story-27825444-detail/story.html|url-status=dead}}
In the 2015 Labour leadership election he supported Yvette Cooper.
In July 2016 Zeichner stated his opposition to the renewal of Trident.{{cite web |last1=Rampen |first1=Julia |date=19 July 2016 |title=How Labour MPs voted on Trident |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2016/07/how-labour-mps-voted-trident |access-date=6 August 2020 |website=New Statesman}}
At the snap 2017 general election, Zeichner was re-elected as MP for Cambridge with an increased vote share of 51.9% and an increased majority of 12,661.{{cite news|title=Cambridge Parliamentary constituency|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000617|access-date=12 June 2017|publisher=BBC|date=9 June 2017}}{{cite web |title=Cambridge - 2017 Election Results |url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/election/2017-06-08/Results/Location/Constituency/Cambridge |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110155706/https://electionresults.parliament.uk/election/2017-06-08/Results/Location/Constituency/Cambridge |archive-date=10 November 2019 |access-date=10 November 2019 |website=Parliament.uk}}
In June 2017 Zeichner resigned as a Shadow Transport Minister in order to vote in favour of an amendment to the government's 2017 Queen's Speech supporting the UK's membership of the single market, in defiance of the party whip. The amendment, which was defeated by 322 votes to 101, was tabled by former Shadow Cabinet Minister Chuka Umunna. In justifying his decision Zeichner explained: "My position on Europe has always been clear. I am a passionate pro-European and a straightforward politician. ... I promised the people of Cambridge I would stick to my principles and I would do right by our city – that means voting with my conscience and doing all I can to oppose the Tories' extreme Brexit which would, in my opinion, damage our economy, our security and our society as a whole".{{Cite web |last=Pilgrim |first=Tom |date=29 June 2017 |title=Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner resigns as Shadow Minister |url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/daniel-zeichner-resign-shadow-minister-13260352 |access-date=30 June 2017 |website=Cambridgeshire Live}}
Zeichner was again re-elected at the 2019 general election, with a decreased vote share of 48% and a decreased majority of 9,639.{{cite news |title=Cambridge parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 - BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000617|date=13 December 2019}}{{cite web |title=General Election 2019 - Cambridge constituency result |url=https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/news/2019/12/13/general-election-2019-cambridge-constituency-result |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213095140/https://www.cambridge.gov.uk/news/2019/12/13/general-election-2019-cambridge-constituency-result |archive-date=13 December 2019 |access-date=13 December 2019 |website=cambridge.gov.uk}}
In January 2020, Zeichner was appointed as a Shadow Farming and Agriculture Minister in the Shadow Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) team.{{Cite web|title=Luke announces new Shadow DEFRA Team|url=https://www.lukepollard.org/news/2020/01/14/luke-announces-new-shadow-defra-team/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Luke Pollard MP|language=en-GB}}{{cite web |title=Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner appointed to the shadow front bench |url= https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/cambridge-mp-daniel-zeichner-appointed-17570269|date=15 January 2020}} He supported Keir Starmer in the 2020 leadership election.{{cite web |last1=Brackley |first1=Paul |date=9 January 2020 |title=Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner backs Sir Keir Starmer to be the next Labour leader |url=https://www.cambridgeindependent.co.uk/news/cambridge-mp-daniel-zeichner-backs-sir-keir-starmer-to-be-the-next-labour-leader-9095852/ |access-date=6 August 2020 |website=Cambridge Independent}} Zeichner remained in the Shadow DEFRA team following Keir Starmer's first reshuffle as Labour leader, but gained the fisheries brief from Ruth Jones MP, as Shadow Food, Farming and Fisheries Minister.{{Cite web|last=Rodgers|first=Sienna|title=Shadow ministers appointed as Starmer completes frontbench|url=https://labourlist.org/2020/04/shadow-ministers-appointed-as-starmer-completes-frontbench/|access-date=2021-01-13|website=LabourList|date=9 April 2020 |language=en-GB}}
In June 2020, Parliament's :Standards and Privileges Committee censured Zeichner for misusing public funds relating to stationery and pre-paid House of Commons envelopes during the 2019 general election campaign.{{cite news|url=https://www.parliament.uk/documents/pcfs/rectifications/Mr-Daniel-Zeichner-MP-rectification.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0FJU9Gam4rj_KcVeIJoD1MShaUp9Q1tBduSRrcexeAQWo3Qe3Lj9-kX5I|access-date=15 June 2020|publisher=parliament.uk|title=Committee on Standards Publishes Report on Daniel Zeichner|date=10 June 2020}}
On 30 August 2021, Keir Starmer announced that Zeichner would become acting Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in place of Luke Pollard until the 2021 Labour Party Conference to allow Pollard to spend more time with his community after the Plymouth shooting.{{Cite web|last=Starmer|first=Keir|author-link=Keir Starmer|date=30 August 2021|title=Today I've agreed a request from @LukePollard to take a step back from his shadow environment role for the next month so he can support his community after the shootings in Keyham. He will return for #Lab21. While away, @DanielZeichner will look after Labour's Defra work.|url=https://twitter.com/keir_starmer/status/1432343665192677377|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-30|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210830142412/https://twitter.com/Keir_Starmer/status/1432343665192677377 |archive-date=30 August 2021 }}
At the 2024 general election, Zeichner was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 46.6% and an increased majority of 11,078.{{cite web |title=Election results for Cambridge Borough UK Parliamentary Election - Thursday, 4th July, 2024 |url=https://democracy.cambridge.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?ID=291&RPID=89625428 |access-date=7 July 2024 |website=cambridge.gov.uk| date=4 July 2024 }}
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.danielzeichner.co.uk}}
- {{UK MP links |parliament=daniel-zeichner/4382 |publicwhip=Daniel_Zeichner |theywork=daniel_zeichner}}
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{{s-bef|before=Julian Huppert}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Cambridge|years=2015–present}}
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{{Labour Party UK MPs}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Zeichner, Daniel}}
Category:Alumni of King's College, Cambridge
Category:Councillors in Norfolk
Category:British people of Austrian descent
Category:English people of Austrian descent
Category:Labour Party (UK) councillors
Category:Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
Category:People from Beckenham
Category:People from Comberton