Geoff Hoon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Geoff Hoon
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Hoon in 2002
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| Secretary of State for Transport | |
| In office 3 October 2008 – 5 June 2009 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Ruth Kelly |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Adonis |
| Chief Whip of the House of Commons Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury |
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| In office 28 June 2007 – 3 October 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Deputy | Nick Brown |
| Preceded by | Jacqui Smith |
| Succeeded by | Nick Brown |
| Minister of State for Europe | |
| In office 5 May 2006 – 28 June 2007 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Douglas Alexander |
| Succeeded by | Jim Murphy |
| In office 28 July 1999 – 11 October 1999 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Joyce Quin |
| Succeeded by | Keith Vaz |
| Leader of the House of Commons Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal |
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| In office 6 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Deputy | Phil Woolas Nigel Griffiths |
| Preceded by | Peter Hain |
| Succeeded by | Jack Straw |
| Secretary of State for Defence | |
| In office 11 October 1999 – 6 May 2005 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | George Robertson |
| Succeeded by | John Reid |
| Minister of State for Asia, the Pacific, Middle East and North Africa | |
| In office 9 May 1999 – 28 July 1999 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Derek Fatchett |
| Succeeded by | Peter Hain |
| Minister of State for the Lord Chancellor's Department | |
| In office 28 July 1998 – 9 May 1999 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Harriet Harman (2005) |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Lord Chancellor's Department | |
| In office 6 May 1997 – 28 July 1998 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Keith Vaz |
| Member of Parliament for Ashfield |
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| In office 9 April 1992 – 12 April 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Frank Haynes |
| Succeeded by | Gloria De Piero |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Geoffrey William Hoon
6 December 1953 Derby, Derbyshire, England |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Elaine Dumelow |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Jesus College, Cambridge |
Geoffrey William Hoon (born 6 December 1953) is a British politician from the Labour Party. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashfield in Nottinghamshire from 1992 to 2010.
During his time in government, he held several important jobs. These included Defence Secretary, Transport Secretary, and Leader of the House of Commons. He also served as the Government Chief Whip. Before becoming an MP, he was a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Derbyshire from 1984 to 1994.
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Early Life and Education
Geoff Hoon was born in Derby, England. His father was a railway worker. He attended Nottingham High School, which is a private school.
After high school, he studied law at Jesus College, Cambridge, graduating in 1976. He then taught law at the University of Leeds from 1976 to 1982. He also spent time as a visiting law professor in the United States. In 1982, he became a practicing barrister in Nottingham. A barrister is a type of lawyer who represents clients in court.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
Serving in Europe
Geoff Hoon was first elected as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Derbyshire in 1984. He worked in Brussels and Strasbourg for ten years. The European Parliament is where elected representatives from different European countries work together on laws and policies for the European Union.
Joining the UK Parliament
In 1992, he was elected to the House of Commons in the UK. He represented the area of Ashfield. He kept this seat until the 2010 general election. The House of Commons is where the main laws for the UK are made.
Key Government Roles
Early Government Positions
After the 1997 general election, Geoff Hoon became part of Tony Blair's government. He started as a junior minister in the Lord Chancellor's Department. He was promoted to a more senior minister in the same department in 1998.
In 1999, he briefly worked at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This department handles the UK's relationships with other countries. Later that year, he joined the Cabinet as the Secretary of State for Defence. The Cabinet is a group of senior ministers who lead government departments. As part of this, he also became a member of the Privy Council, which advises the King or Queen.
From 2005 to 2006, he was the Lord Privy Seal and the Leader of the House of Commons. This role involves managing government business in the House of Commons. After this, he became the Minister for Europe.
Leading the Ministry of Defence
On 11 October 1999, Geoff Hoon became the Secretary of State for Defence. This meant he was in charge of the UK's armed forces and military operations. During his time in this role, the UK military was involved in several important events.
These included a British military action in Sierra Leone in 2000 and a NATO operation in Macedonia in 2001. His time as Defence Secretary was also marked by the start of the War on terror in 2001. This included British involvement in the War in Afghanistan and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
In 2003, Geoff Hoon stated that the UK would be willing to use nuclear weapons in "extreme self-defence" if needed. He also gave evidence about the Iraq war to an official inquiry in 2010.
Secretary of State for Transport
In October 2008, Geoff Hoon became the Secretary of State for Transport. This role meant he was responsible for transport systems in the UK, like roads, railways, and airports.
In January 2009, he approved the expansion of Heathrow Airport. Later that year, he helped launch the vehicle scrappage scheme. This program encouraged people to trade in older, more polluting cars for newer, more environmentally friendly ones.
After Government Roles
In June 2009, Geoff Hoon left his job as Transport Secretary. In January 2010, he and another former minister, Patricia Hewitt, suggested a secret vote on the leadership of then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown. This idea did not succeed.
Geoff Hoon decided not to run for re-election as an MP in the 2010 general election. After leaving politics, he helped start a consulting company. He later became a Managing Director at AgustaWestland, a company that makes helicopters.
Images for kids
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Hoon in 2002
