Simon Hugh McGuigan Burns (born 6 September 1952, Nottingham) is a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom. He has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Chelmsford since the 1987 general election. In May 2010 he was appointed Minister of State for the Department of Health.
Simon Burns | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of Parliament for Chelmsford West Chelmsford (1997-2010) | |
| Assumed office 11 June 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Norman St John-Stevas |
| Majority | 5,110 (9.4%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 September 1952 Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Emma Clifford (div. 2000) |
| Alma mater | Worcester College, Oxford |
Biography
Simon Burns was educated at Christ the King School, Accra, Ghana; Stamford School; and Worcester College, Oxford, where he obtained a BA Honours Degree in Modern History (third class honours, resulting in the nickname 'third degree burns') in 1975. He also has an Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy from University of East Anglia. Burns was married to Emma Clifford from 1982 until their divorce in 2000. They have a son (born October 1991) and daughter (born November 1987). Burns is interested in American politics, collecting political books, swimming and tennis.
Political career
From 1975 to 1980, Burns was political adviser to the Rt Hon Sally Oppenheim. From 1980–83 he was a journalist and company director of What To Buy for Business magazine, and from 1983–87 was on the Policy Executive of the Institute of Directors. He has been active in politics since 1970, when he was a founder member of the Rutland and Stamford Young Conservatives, and founder and Chairman of the Stamford School CPC.
In 1972, he worked for Senator George McGovern against Richard Nixon in his presidential election bid of that year. From 1973–75, he was a committee member, Political Action Officer and Secretary of Oxford University Conservative Association, and a member of the Oxford Union. From 1977–81, he was Treasurer, Southfields Ward, and a member of the Treasurer's and Executive Council, Putney Conservative Association. In 1983, he was Conservative candidate in Alyn and Deeside (North Wales) when he reduced Labour's majority from 6,800 to 1,368. In 1986 he was Chairman, Avonmore Ward, Fulham Conservative Association.
Controversies
In 2007, Burns successfully proposed to the House of Commons Administration Committee, of which he was then a member, that Members of Parliament should have "priority access" to services within the Parliamentary Estate. In practice, this meant that MPs could avoid queues for shops, restaurants, bars, computers, photocopiers and even toilets by "pushing in" ahead of visitors or staff. The so-called "queue jumping rule" provoked cross-party opposition from Commons staff and other MPs but Burns trenchantly defended the proposal.[1][2]
On 3 April 2008 Burns was involved in a collision with a cyclist as he drove his 4x4 out of the Palace of Westminster into Parliament Square. The cyclist, British Army Major Stuart Lane, was thrown over the handlebars of his bicycle and broke two vertebrae in his neck "which could hinder his Army career". In February 2009 Burns pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving and was fined £400 with £200 costs at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court.[3]
In June 2010 Burns was forced to issue “a grovelling apology” after calling Commons speaker John Bercow a "stupid sanctimonious dwarf."[4] Burns was one of the few MPs to refuse to shake the Speaker’s hand when he took the oath of allegiance and his remarks were branded "derogatory" by the primordial dwarfism medical charity, Walking with Giants Foundation who expressed very serious concern about the negative influence of the remarks from someone of Burns seniority.[4]
Election results
In the May 2005 General Election, Simon Burns gained 22,946 votes (44.9%), beating the three other candidates by a majority of 9,620 (18.8%). The number of votes cast for Burns in 2005 was an increase of 2.4% from the previous General Election in 2001. His majority also increased from 6,261 to 9,620. Turnout was 61.9%, down from 62.5% in 2001.
In the May 2010 General Election, Simon Burns gained 25,207 votes (46.2%), winning a majority over the Liberal Democrat candidate of 5,110 (9.4%).
References
- ^ McWalter, Simon (2007-09-11). "Secretaries slam "Victorian" Parliament which lets MPs queue jump at bars and restaurants". London: The Daily Mail. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ^ Hurst, Greg (2007-11-03). "Courteous palace coup stops MPs jumping to the head of the queue". London: The Times. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ^ Moore, Matthew (2009-02-03). "Tory MP fined over Parliament car crash". London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
- ^ a b Kirsty Walker (30-June-2010). "Minister's apology to Dwarves after branding speaker a 'stupid sanctimonious dwarf'". Daily Mail. Retrieved 1-July-2010.
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External links
- Simon Burns MP official constituency website
- West Chelmsford Conservatives
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
- BBC Politics page
- News articles
- Upset in 2002 over awards of five new cities
- 2005 Election Result: West Chelmsford (Source: BBC Election 2005)
- Previous General Election Results (Source: Chelmsford Borough Council)