Tony Banks, Baron Stratford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Stratford
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Official portrait, 2005
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| Minister for Sport | |
| In office 2 May 1997 – 20 October 1999 |
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| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Iain Sproat |
| Succeeded by | Kate Hoey |
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| Life peerage 23 June 2005 – 8 January 2006 |
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| Member of Parliament for West Ham |
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| In office 9 June 1983 – 11 April 2005 |
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| Preceded by | Arthur Lewis |
| Succeeded by | Lyn Brown |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Anthony Louis Banks
8 April 1942 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Died | 8 January 2006 (aged 63) Fort Myers, Florida, US |
| Political party | Labour (after 1960s) |
| Other political affiliations |
Liberal (1960s) |
| Alma mater | |
Anthony Louis Banks, Baron Stratford (born 8 April 1942 – died 8 January 2006) was a British politician. He was known for his strong opinions and sharp wit. He served as the Minister for Sport from 1997 to 1999.
Banks was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1983 to 2005. Later, he became a member of the House of Lords, which is the upper house of the UK Parliament. He was a member of the Labour Party.
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Early Life and Career
Anthony Banks was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. His family moved back to England when he was young. He grew up in areas of London like Brixton and Tooting.
He went to St John's School and Tenison's School. After leaving school, he worked as a clerk. He studied at night school to get the grades needed for university. From 1964 to 1967, he studied politics at the University of York. He then continued his studies at the London School of Economics.
After university, Banks worked as a trade union official. A trade union is an organization that protects the rights of workers. He worked for the Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers. Later, he worked for the Association of Broadcasting Staff.
Political Journey
Anthony Banks first tried to get into politics in 1964. He ran for the Liberal Party in local elections in London. He later joined the Labour Party.
He was a member of the Lambeth Council from 1971 to 1974. He also played a big role in the Greater London Council (GLC). The GLC was the main local government body for London at the time. He represented different areas of London on the GLC. He was even the Chairman of the GLC from 1985 until it closed down in 1986.
Banks tried to become a Member of Parliament (MP) several times. He finally won a seat in 1983 for Newham North West. He continued to represent this area, which was later renamed West Ham. He was an MP until 2005, when he decided to step down.
Minister for Sport
When the Labour Party won the election in 1997, Anthony Banks became the Minister for Sport. This role meant he was in charge of sports policy for the country.
He had some interesting ideas during his time as Minister. He suggested that foreign players in English football should be able to play for England. He also thought the UK's four football teams (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) should combine. He believed they should form one team to compete in the Olympic Games. This idea was not popular with everyone, especially Scottish football fans.
Banks was also involved in decisions about important buildings. He approved the demolition of the famous Twin Towers at Wembley Stadium. He called them "concrete blocks."
After two years, he left his role as Minister for Sport. He then worked to help England's bid to host the 2006 FIFA World Cup. However, Germany won the bid instead. After this, he remained an MP but did not hold another government job. He also tried to become the Mayor of London in 2004, but he was not chosen as the Labour candidate.
His Beliefs
Anthony Banks had strong beliefs on many topics. He was a vegetarian and a big supporter of animal rights. He was a Vice-President of the League Against Cruel Sports. This group works to stop cruel activities involving animals.
He was also a republican, meaning he believed the UK should not have a monarch. He was against the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He was known for his unique sense of humor. In 2004, he made a funny suggestion in Parliament. He joked about pigeons, saying he hoped an asteroid would wipe them out. This was a humorous response to old reports about using pigeons in wartime.
Banks also cared about art. He led a committee in the House of Commons that looked after historical paintings and sculptures in the Palace of Westminster.
Retirement and Later Life
In 2004, Anthony Banks announced he would not run for MP again. He said he found the work of an MP "intellectually numbing and tedious." He also mentioned he didn't enjoy helping people with their everyday problems. However, he did enjoy his work with the Works of Art Committee.
He gave his last speech in the House of Commons in March 2005. A few weeks later, it was announced he would become a life peer. This means he was given the title of Baron Stratford and became a member of the House of Lords for life.
Personal Life and Legacy
Anthony Banks was married to Sally Jones. He was a big fan of Chelsea F.C. football club and often went to their games.
On 7 January 2006, while on holiday in Florida, he suffered a severe stroke. He passed away the next day, on 8 January 2006, without waking up. The Prime Minister at the time, Tony Blair, called him "one of the most charismatic politicians in Britain."
Many important politicians and friends attended his funeral. His friend, David Mellor, spoke at the service. He described Banks as a unique and irreplaceable person.
After his death, his wife, Lady Stratford, promised to continue his work for animal rights. She has campaigned against the culling of seal pups in Canada. She also supports the Captive Animals Protection Society. This charity works to end the use of animals in circuses, zoos, and the exotic pet trade.
