Jim Dobbin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Dobbin
KSG KMCO
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| Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton |
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| In office 1 May 1997 – 6 September 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Jim Callaghan |
| Succeeded by | Liz McInnes |
| Majority | 5,971 (12.9%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Dobbin
26 May 1941 Fife, Scotland |
| Died | 6 September 2014 (aged 73) Słupsk, Poland |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour and Co-operative |
| Spouse |
Patricia Russell
(m. 1964) |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | Napier College |
| Profession | Microbiology |
James Dobbin (26 May 1941 – 6 September 2014) was a British politician and scientist. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Heywood and Middleton from 1997 until he passed away in 2014. He was part of the Labour Co-operative party. Before becoming an MP, he worked as a microbiologist.
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Early Life and Education
Jim Dobbin was born in Fife, Scotland. His father worked as a coal miner. Jim went to Catholic schools for his education.
Later, he studied bacteriology and virology at Napier College, Edinburgh. These subjects are about studying very tiny living things like bacteria and viruses.
He worked as a microbiologist for the NHS for 33 years. Most of this time was at the Royal Oldham Hospital. In 1980, he was chosen to lead the Labour Party in the Rochdale area for a year.
Becoming a Politician
In 1983, Jim Dobbin became a local councillor in the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale. A councillor is someone elected to represent people in a local area. He became the leader of the Labour group in 1994. Then, in 1996, he became the leader of the entire council.
When he was elected to the House of Commons, he left his jobs at the NHS and the council. The House of Commons is where MPs work to make laws for the country. In 1992, he tried to become an MP for Bury North but did not win.
His Time in Parliament
Jim Dobbin was elected to the House of Commons in the 1997 General Election. He became the MP for Heywood and Middleton. He took over from the previous Labour MP, Jim Callaghan.
He won the election easily and kept his seat as MP for the rest of his life. He gave his first speech in Parliament on 30 July 1997. From 1998 to 2014, he was a member of the European Scrutiny Select committee. This committee checks new laws from Europe.
Jim Dobbin employed his wife as his secretary in the House of Commons. This was allowed by the rules of Parliament. He also employed other local councillors to help him with his work. In 2009, it was noted that he claimed more money for staff than other MPs in his region. He explained this was because he had a very large number of people he represented. Overall, his total expenses were lower than many other MPs.
Passing Away
Jim Dobbin passed away in Słupsk, Poland, on 6 September 2014. He was 73 years old. He was in Poland for a visit with the Council of Europe. He felt unwell after an official dinner and was taken to bed. Later, his wife found she could not wake him. A British coroner investigated his death and ruled it was an accident.
His funeral was a special service held at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Evangelist in Salford. Many important political figures attended, including Ed Miliband, who was the leader of the Labour Party, and John Bercow, the Speaker of the House of Commons. He was later buried in a private ceremony.
Personal Life
Jim Dobbin was a very religious person and a devout Roman Catholic. He was given a special award called a Knight of the Pontifical Order of St Gregory the Great by Pope Benedict XVI. He also received an honour from the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.
He married Patricia Russell in 1964. They had four children together, two sons and two daughters.
