David Hanson, Baron Hanson of Flint facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable The Lord Hanson of Flint PC
Official portrait, 2024
Minister of State for the Home Office
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 July 2024
Prime Minister	Keir Starmer
Preceded by	Office established
Minister of State for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing
In office 8 June 2009 – 11 May 2010
Prime Minister	Gordon Brown
Preceded by	Vernon Coaker
Succeeded by	Nick Herbert
Minister of State for Justice
In office 9 May 2007 – 9 June 2009
Prime Minister	Tony Blair Gordon Brown
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Maria Eagle
Minister of State for Northern Ireland
In office 11 May 2005 – 8 May 2007
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	John Spellar
Succeeded by	Paul Goggins
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
In office 8 Jun 2001 – 6 May 2005
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Bruce Grocott
Succeeded by	Keith Hill
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Wales
In office 29 Jul 1999 – 7 Jun 2001
Prime Minister	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Peter Hain Jon Owen Jones
Succeeded by	Don Touhig
Shadow portfolios Shadow Minister for Immigration In office 7 October 2011 – 13 September 2015 Leader Ed Miliband Harriet Harman Preceded by Gerry Sutcliffe Succeeded by Keir Starmer Shadow Economic Secretary to the Treasury In office 11 May 2010 – 7 October 2011 Leader Harriet Harman Ed Miliband Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Cathy Jamieson
Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 July 2024 Life Peerage
Member of Parliament for Delyn
In office 9 April 1992 – 6 November 2019
Preceded by	Keith Raffan
Succeeded by	Rob Roberts
Personal details
Born	(1957-07-05) 5 July 1957 (age 68) Liverpool, England
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Margaret Hanson
Children	4
Alma mater	University of Hull

David George Hanson, also known as Baron Hanson of Flint, born on 5 July 1957, is a British politician. He has been a Minister of State for the Home Office since July 2024. Before this, he was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Delyn from 1992 to 2019. He held many important roles in the governments led by Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He also served as a shadow minister when his party was not in power.

Who is David Hanson?

David Hanson is a well-known figure in British politics. He has worked in government for many years, helping to make important decisions for the country. His career shows how someone can start in local politics and move up to national roles.

Early Life and Education

David Hanson was born in Liverpool, England. His father, Brian Hanson, was a forklift truck driver, and his mother, Glenda Hanson, worked as a personnel records clerk. He has a younger sister named Helen.

He went to Roscoe Primary School in Liverpool and Grange Primary School and Verdin County Comprehensive School in Winsford, Cheshire. Later, he studied at the University of Hull. He earned a degree in 1978 and a teaching certificate in 1980. While at university, he was the vice president of the student's union, which represents students' interests.

After university, David Hanson started his career in 1980 as a trainee manager for the Cooperative Society. He later worked for the Spastics Society (now called Scope), a charity that supports disabled people. He then worked for the Society for the Prevention of Solvent Abuse.

Starting His Political Journey

Local Government Roles

David Hanson began his political career in local government. In 1983, he was elected as a councillor for the Vale Royal Borough Council. A councillor is someone elected by local people to represent them and make decisions about local services, like schools and parks. He led the Labour group and the council from 1989 to 1991. He also served as a councillor for Northwich Town Council from 1987 to 1991.

He tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) several times before succeeding. He ran for election in 1983 and 1987 but was not elected. He also ran for a seat in the European Parliament in 1984.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

David Hanson was elected to the House of Commons in the 1992 general election. He won the seat for Delyn, a constituency in Wales. His first speech in Parliament, known as a maiden speech, was on 6 May 1992.

David Hanson (left) speaking in 2013.

In Parliament, he was part of the Welsh affairs select committee from 1992. A select committee is a small group of Members of Parliament who look closely at specific topics or government departments. He later joined the public accounts committee in 1996, which checks how the government spends money.

Serving in National Government

Working with Prime Ministers Blair and Brown

In 1997, David Hanson became a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Alistair Darling, who was a senior government minister. A PPS helps a minister with their parliamentary duties.

He joined Tony Blair's government in 1998 as an Assistant Government Whip. Whips help make sure that members of their political party vote in Parliament as the party wishes. In 1999, he was promoted to Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Wales Office. This is a junior minister role in a government department.

After the 2001 general election, he became the PPS to Prime Minister Tony Blair. This was a very important role, working closely with the Prime Minister.

From 2005 to 2007, David Hanson served as a Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office. A Minister of State is a senior minister who leads a specific area within a government department.

In 2007, he became a member of the Privy Council. This is a group of senior advisors to the King.

From 2007 to 2009, he was a Minister of State at the new Ministry of Justice. During this time, he helped create new laws to protect people from being treated unfairly or having hatred stirred up against them.

Gordon Brown appointed David Hanson as Minister of State for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing at the Home Office in 2009. He held this role until the 2010 general election, when the Labour Party left government.

After Government Roles

After the Labour Party was no longer in government, David Hanson became a Shadow Treasury Minister. A shadow minister is a member of the opposition party who scrutinizes the work of a government minister. He later became the Shadow Immigration Minister.

In 2011, he wrote a piece for a book called What Next for Labour? Ideas for a new Generation.

David Hanson lost his seat as an MP in the 2019 general election. He was recognized for his political service in 2020.

Joining the House of Lords

On 9 July 2024, David Hanson was appointed as a Minister of State in the Home Office by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. He was also nominated for a life peerage. This means he was given the title of Baron Hanson of Flint and became a member of the House of Lords for life. The House of Lords is the second chamber of the UK Parliament. He was officially introduced to the House of Lords on 23 July 2024.

Family Life

David Hanson is married to Margaret Rose Mitchell. She has also been involved in local politics in Vale Royal. They have four children: a son and three daughters.