John Denham facts for kids
John Yorke Denham was born on July 15, 1953. He is an English politician. This means he helps make important decisions for the country. He is a Member of Parliament (MP) for an area called Southampton Itchen in the United Kingdom. He was first chosen for this job in the 1992 general election.
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Who is John Denham?
John Denham has been a Member of Parliament for many years. An MP is someone who represents the people in their local area in the UK Parliament. Think of it like a school council, but for the whole country! MPs discuss laws, ask questions to the government, and try to make sure their local area's needs are met.
What Does an MP Do?
As an MP, John Denham works for the people living in the Southampton Itchen area. This area is called a constituency. When people vote in an election, they choose an MP to speak for them in Parliament. MPs work on many different things, from local issues like roads and schools to big national topics like health and the economy.
John Denham's Roles in Government
Over the years, John Denham has held many important jobs in the government. These jobs are called ministerial posts. He has worked in different departments, helping to manage various parts of the country's services.
Here are some of the areas he worked in:
- Social Security: He helped with rules about money and support for people.
- Health Services: He was involved in decisions about hospitals and healthcare.
- Policing: He worked on matters related to law enforcement and safety.
Later, he took on even bigger roles:
- Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills: This meant he was in charge of things like new ideas, universities, and helping people learn new skills.
- Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government: In this role, he looked after local areas and how they are run.
After his time as a government minister, he became a Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. A "Shadow" minister is part of the main opposition party. Their job is to watch what the government is doing and suggest different ideas.
Being Part of a Political Party
John Denham is a member of the Labour Party. In the UK, there are different political parties. Each party has its own ideas about how the country should be run. When people vote, they often choose a candidate from the party whose ideas they agree with most. The Labour Party is one of the biggest political groups in the United Kingdom.
