Brian Sedgemore facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brian Sedgemore
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| Member of Parliament for Hackney South and Shoreditch |
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| In office 9 June 1983 – 11 April 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Ronald Brown |
| Succeeded by | Meg Hillier |
| Member of Parliament for Luton West |
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| In office 28 February 1974 – 7 April 1979 |
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| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | John Carlisle |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Brian Charles John Sedgemore
17 March 1937 Exmouth, England |
| Died | 29 April 2015 (aged 78) North London, England |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Other political affiliations |
Labour (before 2005) |
| Spouses |
Audrey Reece
(m. 1964; div. 1985)
(m. 2002, died) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Hele's School, Exeter |
| Alma mater | Corpus Christi College, Oxford |
Brian Charles John Sedgemore (born March 17, 1937 – died April 29, 2015) was a British politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Labour Party from 1974 to 1979, and again from 1983 to 2005. After leaving Parliament, he joined the Liberal Democrats political party.
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Early Life and Education
Brian Sedgemore was born in Exmouth, Devon. He grew up with his two siblings, raised by his mother. His father, who worked in the Royal Navy, died during the Second World War.
Brian went to Newtown Primary School and then to Hele's School, Exeter, which was a grammar school (a type of secondary school). From 1956 to 1958, he completed his national service in the RAF.
He then studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, graduating in 1962. While working as a civil servant, he also trained to become a barrister (a type of lawyer who represents people in court). He specialized in criminal law and was officially allowed to practice law in 1966.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
Brian Sedgemore was first elected to the House of Commons (the main part of the UK Parliament) in February 1974. He represented the area of Luton West. However, he lost this seat in the 1979 election.
From 1978 to 1979, he worked as a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) for Tony Benn, who was the Energy Secretary at the time. A PPS is like a special assistant to a government minister. In 1979, Brian had to resign from this role. This happened after some secret government papers were shared with a special committee.
After losing his seat, he worked as a journalist for Granada Television.
Return to Parliament
Brian Sedgemore returned to Parliament in the 1983 election. This time, he became the MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch. He held this seat until he decided to step down from Parliament in 2005. He took over from Ronald Brown, who had previously been the MP for Shoreditch.
Views on Europe
At first, Brian was part of a group of Labour MPs who were against the European Communities (which is now the European Union). However, he changed his mind in the late 1980s and became more supportive of Europe.
In 1993, he was one of only five Labour MPs who voted for the Maastricht Treaty. This treaty was important for European cooperation. By voting for it, he went against his party's instructions, which was to not vote.
Comments on Women MPs
In 1998, Brian Sedgemore gave a speech where he criticized some of the new female Labour MPs who were elected in 1997. He said they were like "Stepford Wives" who just followed the party's orders. He was particularly upset that they voted to reduce benefits for single parents.
During his last time in Parliament (2001-2005), he often voted against his own Labour Party's plans. He was one of the MPs who most frequently disagreed with the government's decisions.
Changing Parties
On April 25, 2005, just before the general election, Brian Sedgemore announced he was leaving the Labour Party. He decided to join the Liberal Democrats. He explained his reasons for leaving, which included his strong disagreement with the Iraq War. He had been a critic of the war for a long time.
He also mentioned concerns about university tuition fees and new anti-terrorism laws. He said that Tony Blair, the leader of the Labour Party at the time, showed "scorn for liberal Britain." Brian made comments suggesting Tony Blair was not truthful. Tony Blair responded on TV, saying he didn't remember discussing these issues with Brian. The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Charles Kennedy, called Brian's decision "a pivotal moment" in the election.
Personal Life
Brian Sedgemore was an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society. He was also a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association. These groups promote a non-religious view of life and ethics.
He married Audrey Reece, who was also a barrister, in 1964. They had one son. They divorced in 1985 but later remarried in 2002.
Brian Sedgemore passed away in 2015. He died after a fall in the hospital while he was recovering from kidney surgery.
