Graham Stringer

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = Graham Stringer MP (cropped).JPG

| caption = Stringer in 2007

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Graham Stringer

| honorific-suffix = MP

| office = Lord Commissioner of the Treasury

| primeminister = Tony Blair

| term_start = 12 June 2001

| term_end = 29 May 2002

| office1 = Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office

| primeminister1 = Tony Blair

| predecessor1 = Office established

| successor1 = Chris Leslie

| term_start1 = 9 November 1999

| term_end1 = 7 June 2001

| office2 = Member of Parliament
for Blackley and Middleton South
{{nobold|Blackley and Broughton (2010–2024)}}
{{nobold|Manchester Blackley (1997–2010)}}

| predecessor2 = Kenneth Eastham

| successor2 =

| term_start2 = 1 May 1997

| majority2 = 10,220 (32.7%)

| office3 = Leader of Manchester City Council

| term_start3 = 1984

| term_end3 = 1996

| predecessor3 = Bill Egerton

| successor3 = Richard Leese

| office4 = Member of Manchester City Council

| 1blankname4 = Ward

| 1namedata4 = Harpurhey (1982–1998)
Charlestown (1979–1982)

| term_start4 = 4 May 1979

| term_end4 = 7 May 1998

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1950|02|17}}

| birth_place = Manchester, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Labour

| alma_mater = University of Sheffield

}}

Graham Eric Stringer (born 17 February 1950) is a British Labour politician who has served as Member of Parliament for Blackley and Middleton South since the 2024 general election. He has served as the area's MP continuously since 1997, representing the predecessor constituencies of Manchester Blackley (1997–2010), and Blackley and Broughton (2010–2024). Between 1999 and 2002, He served Minor roles in the Labour Government of Tony Blair.

Prior to entering parliament, within local politics, He was leader of Manchester City Council from 1984 to 1996, and a City councillor from 1979 to 1998, representing Charlestown and Harpurhey. He also served as chairman of Manchester Airport from 1996 to 1997.

Early life and career

Graham Stringer was born on 17 February 1950 in Manchester. He attended Christ Church Primary School in Beswick and Openshaw Technical High School for Boys in Openshaw. After graduating in chemistry from the University of Sheffield in 1971, Stringer worked as an analytical chemist in the plastics industry.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliamentaryrecord.com/content/profiles/mp/Graham-Stringer/638|title=Westminster Parliamentary Research entry for Stringer|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228203408/http://www.parliamentaryrecord.com/content/profiles/mp/Graham-Stringer/638|archive-date=28 December 2010}}{{cite web |url=https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/graham-eric-stringer |title=Graham Stringer |publisher=politics.co.uk |access-date=20 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420131921/https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/graham-eric-stringer |archive-date=20 April 2019 |url-status=live }}

He became a local councillor in Manchester in 1979, and was Manchester City Council leader from 1984 to 1996. He was also chair of Manchester Airport from 1996 to 1997.

Parliamentary career

He is a member of Labour Friends of Israel.{{cite web|url=https://www.lfi.org.uk/in-parliament/|title=LFI Supporters in Parliament|access-date=8 September 2019|work=Labour Friends of Israel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002100511/https://www.lfi.org.uk/in-parliament/|archive-date=2 October 2019|url-status=live}}

At the 1997 general election, Stringer was elected to Parliament as MP for Manchester Blackley with 70% of the vote and a majority of 19,588.{{cite web |title=Election Data 1997 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054424/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archivedate=15 October 2011 |accessdate=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}

Stringer was a member of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee until 1999. He then served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office until 2001.

At the 2001 general election, Stringer was re-elected as MP for Manchester Blackley with a decreased vote share of 68.9% and a decreased majority of 14,464.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2001 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archivedate=15 October 2011 |accessdate=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}} He was again re-elected at the 2005 general election with a decreased vote share of 62.3% and a decreased majority of 12,027.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2005 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archivedate=15 October 2011 |accessdate=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}

Following a spell on the back benches and as a government whip, he spent the last six years of the Labour Government as a member of the Transport Select Committee. He campaigned against a proposed Congestion Charge in Greater Manchester.{{cite news|url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/234515_mps_split_on_congestion_charging|title=MPs split on congestion charging|work=Manchester Evening News|date=29 January 2007|last=Osuh|first=Chris|publisher=M.E.N. Media|access-date=25 October 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421023702/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/234515_mps_split_on_congestion_charging|archive-date=21 April 2013|url-status=live}}

In September 2008, Stringer became the first Labour MP to publicly call for Gordon Brown to resign as Prime Minister.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7613701.stm|title=Seven MPs in Labour contest call|work=BBC News|date=13 September 2008|access-date=9 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114180924/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7613701.stm|archive-date=14 January 2009|url-status=live}}

Prior to the 2010 general election, Stringer's constituency of Manchester Blackley was abolished, and replaced with Blackley and Broughton. At the 2010 general election, Stringer was elected to Parliament as MP for Blackley and Broughton with 54.3% of the vote and a majority of 12,303.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2010 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-date=26 July 2013 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}

In January 2011, he called for Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, a lifelong Labour voter and vocal supporter of the party at elections, to be given a seat in the House of Lords.{{cite news|url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1406445_good_lord_could_united_boss_alex_ferguson_be_made_a_top_toff|title=Good lord! Could United boss Alex Ferguson be made a top toff?|work=Manchester Evening News|date=27 January 2011|last=Welsh|first=Pamela|publisher=M.E.N. Media|access-date=27 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205164642/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1406445_good_lord_could_united_boss_alex_ferguson_be_made_a_top_toff|archive-date=5 February 2011|url-status=live}}

He was a critic of former Labour Party leader Ed Miliband, whom he accused in May 2014 of running an "unforgivably unprofessional" campaign,{{cite news |last1=Akkoc |first1=Razie |date=23 May 2014 |title=Ed Miliband 'led an unforgivably unprofessional campaign', Labour MP says |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/local-elections/10850921/Ed-Miliband-led-an-unforgivably-unprofessional-campaign-Labour-MP-says.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414140358/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/local-elections/10850921/Ed-Miliband-led-an-unforgivably-unprofessional-campaign-Labour-MP-says.html |archive-date=14 April 2015 |access-date=7 April 2015 |work=The Daily Telegraph}} and referred to as "not an asset on the doorsteps" when campaigning.{{cite news|last1=Grice|first1=Andrew|title=Ed Miliband slammed by own MPs as Labour leader told he is 'not an asset on the doorstep' for his party|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-miliband-slammed-by-own-mps-as-labour-leader-told-he-is-not-an-asset-on-the-doorstep-for-his-party-9790701.html|access-date=7 April 2015|work=The Independent|date=13 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413012249/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ed-miliband-slammed-by-own-mps-as-labour-leader-told-he-is-not-an-asset-on-the-doorstep-for-his-party-9790701.html|archive-date=13 April 2015|url-status=live}}

At the 2015 general election, Stringer was re-elected as MP for Blackley and Broughton with an increased vote share of 61.9% and an increased majority of 16,874.{{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 news |title=Blackley & Broughton |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000571 |access-date=11 May 2015 |work=BBC News}}

At the snap 2017 general election, Stringer was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 70.5% and an increased majority of 19,601.

Stringer was again re-elected at the 2019 general election, with a decreased vote share of 61.9% and a decreased majority of 14,402.{{cite web |title=Blackley & Broughton Parliamentary constituency |url=https://secure.manchester.gov.uk/info/362/elections_and_voting/7866/uk_parliamentary_general_election_-_12_december_2019/2 |access-date=13 December 2019 |website=manchester.gov.uk |publisher=Manchester City Council}}

As a result of the 2023 review of Westminster constituencies, Stringer's constituency of Blackley and Broughton was abolished, and replaced with Blackley and Middleton South. In June 2024, Stringer was selected as the Labour candidate for Blackley and Middleton South, and he was duly elected at the 2024 general election with a decreased majority of 10,220.{{cite web | url=https://www.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/466429/blackley_and_middleton_south | title=Statement of person nominated and notice of poll - Blackley and Middleton South | Manchester City Council }}

Political views

=Controversies on dyslexia=

In January 2009, Stringer denied the existence of dyslexia, calling it "a cruel fiction" invented by "the education establishment" to divert blame for illiteracy from "their eclectic and incomplete methods for instruction".{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-mp-calls-dyslexia-a-cruel-fiction-1349007.html |title=Labour MP calls dyslexia 'a cruel fiction' |last=Hurst |first=Pat |website=The Independent |agency=Press Association |date=14 January 2009 |access-date=20 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420130439/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-mp-calls-dyslexia-a-cruel-fiction-1349007.html |archive-date=20 April 2019 |url-status=live }} The Dyslexia Action charity and the British Dyslexia Association criticised Stringer's claims.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7828121.stm|title=MP brands dyslexia a 'fiction'|work=BBC News|date=14 January 2009|access-date=14 January 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118232612/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/7828121.stm|archive-date=18 January 2009|url-status=live}}

=Global warming=

Stringer is a trustee of The Global Warming Policy Foundation, an organisation that promotes climate change denialism.Ian Johnston, [https://web.archive.org/web/20140511082724/http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/nigel-lawsons-climatechange-denial-charity-intimidated-environmental-expert-9350069.html "Nigel Lawson's climate-change denial charity 'intimidated' environmental expert"], The Independent, 11 May 2014{{cite book |author1=Frederick F. Wherry |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ByWDCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1020 |title=The SAGE Encyclopedia of Economics and Society |author2=Juliet B. Schor, Consulting Editor |date=8 December 2015 |publisher=SAGE Publications |isbn=978-1-5063-4617-5 |page=1020 |access-date=12 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224215609/https://books.google.com/books?id=ByWDCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1020 |archive-date=24 February 2017 |url-status=live}} As a member of the Science and Technology Committee, Stringer participated in the investigation into the Climatic Research Unit email controversy ("Climategate") in 2010, questioning Phil Jones closely on transparency[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/387/387ii.pdf Evidence] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707134725/https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/387/387ii.pdf|date=7 July 2017}}, questions 95 to 107 and other issues; in the five-member group producing the report, he voted against the other three voting members on every vote, representing a formulation more critical of the CRU and climate scientists.[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/387/387i.pdf Report and Minutes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707203021/https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/387/387i.pdf|date=7 July 2017}}, p. 52

In an op-ed in March 2011, Stringer criticised the British inquiries into the CRU email controversy, writing that the controversy "demanded independent and objective scrutiny of the science by independent panels. This did not happen".{{cite web |last=Stringer |first=Graham |date=14 March 2011 |title=Climate jiggery-pokery |url=http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/News/Climate-jiggery-pokery |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528170219/http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk/News/Climate-jiggery-pokery |archive-date=28 May 2013 |work=Manchester Confidential}}

Stringer contributed to the book What Next for Labour? Ideas for a New Generation in January 2012; his piece was entitled "Transport Policy for the Twenty-First Century".{{cite web|url=http://www.whatnextforlabour.com/contributors/|title=Contributors - What Next for Labour?|website=www.whatnextforlabour.com|access-date=10 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106122208/http://www.whatnextforlabour.com/contributors/|archive-date=6 November 2018|url-status=live}}

Stringer was a member of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee from 2013 to 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/graham-stringer/449 |title=Graham Stringer MP |publisher=UK Parliament |work=House of Commons |access-date=20 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330234201/https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/graham-stringer/449/ |archive-date=30 March 2019 |url-status=live }} In 2014, Stringer was one of two MPs on the committee to vote against the acceptance of the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change conclusion that humans are the dominant cause of global warming.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/graham-stringer-mp-climate-change-science-and-technology-committee-global-warming-policy-foundation-a7946966.html |title=MP appointed to Parliament's science committee is part of climate change denial think tank |last=Embury-Dennis |first=Tom |website=The Independent |date=14 September 2017 |access-date=20 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420130443/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/graham-stringer-mp-climate-change-science-and-technology-committee-global-warming-policy-foundation-a7946966.html |archive-date=20 April 2019 |url-status=live }}

=Immigration=

In February 2014, Stringer, along with 98 others, voted for the Dominic Raab amendment to the Immigration Bill, aimed at preventing foreign criminals using European Human Rights Law in deportation cases.{{cite web|url=http://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2014/01/the-full-list-of-mps-who-voted-for-the-raab-amendment.html|title=The full list of MPs who voted for the Raab amendment - Conservative Home|date=30 January 2014 |access-date=15 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219110640/http://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2014/01/the-full-list-of-mps-who-voted-for-the-raab-amendment.html|archive-date=19 February 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2014-01-30b.1106.0|title=New Clause 15 — Exceptions to automatic deportation: 30 Jan 2014: House of Commons debates - TheyWorkForYou|website=TheyWorkForYou|access-date=31 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912102017/https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2014-01-30b.1106.0|archive-date=12 September 2017|url-status=live}}

=Brexit=

Stringer has established a reputation as a prominent Eurosceptic in the Labour Party who favoured a referendum on the EU. He called for Britain to leave the EU in the 2016 Brexit referendum, describing the EU as a barrier to a progressive government.{{cite news|last1=Stringer|first1=Graham|title=If you want a genuine leftwing government, you need to vote Leave|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2016/06/if-you-want-genuine-leftwing-government-you-need-vote-leave|access-date=7 August 2016|work=New Statesman|date=16 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808091027/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2016/06/if-you-want-genuine-leftwing-government-you-need-vote-leave|archive-date=8 August 2016|url-status=live}}

On 17 July 2018, a vote was held on whether the United Kingdom should remain in the customs union in the event of a no deal Brexit. Frank Field, Kate Hoey, John Mann and Stringer were the only Labour MPs to oppose the amendment, which was voted down by 307 votes to 301.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/17/theresa-may-sees-off-rebellion-customs-union-amendment-defeated|title=May sees off rebellion on customs union as amendment is defeated|last=Crerar|first=Pippa|date=17 July 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=30 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724183558/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/17/theresa-may-sees-off-rebellion-customs-union-amendment-defeated|archive-date=24 July 2018|url-status=live}}

=COVID-19=

On 21 October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Stringer was the only Labour MP to vote against implementing stricter lockdown in the North West of England, an area that includes his own constituency in Greater Manchester.{{Cite web|url=https://votes.parliament.uk/Votes/Commons/Division/893|title=Commons' votes in Parliament - UK Parliament|website=votes.parliament.uk}}

Personal life

In 1999, he married Kathryn Carr; they have three children. In the 2021 BBC One drama The Trick, a dramatisation of the Climategate scandal, Stringer was portrayed by Andrew Dunn.{{cite web |title=The Trick |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/programme/b-f1oxgx/the-trick/ |website=Radio Times |access-date=20 October 2022}}

References

External links

{{UK MP links |parliament=graham-stringer/449 |hansardcurr=4167 |hansard=mr-graham-stringer |publicwhip=Graham_Stringer |theywork=graham_stringer}}

[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-5043,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics – Ask Aristotle: Graham Stringer MP]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20130106111447/http://www.labour.org.uk/mp/graham_stringer/192/ Bio at the Labour Party website]
[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/393.stm BBC Politics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202104428/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/393.stm |date=2 December 2008 }}
{{C-SPAN|1001226}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Manchester Blackley|years=1997–2010}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Blackley and Broughton|years=2010–2024}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Blackley and Middleton South|years=2024–present}}

{{succession box|title=Leader of Manchester City Council|before=Bill Egerton|after=Richard Leese|years=1984–1996}}

Category:1950 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of the University of Sheffield

Category:Councillors in Manchester

Category:Labour Party (UK) councillors

Category:Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies

Category:People educated at Moston Brook High School

Category:Labour Friends of Israel