TDO wrote:
Who's Derek Twigg
Derek was born and brought up in Widnes and studied at Halton College of Further Education. He started work at 16 years old working as a civil servant for 19 years at the Department of Education and Science (formerly the Department of Employment) in Runcorn.
At 18 years old he became Branch Secretary of the large CPSA union at the Department of Employment serving at both regional and national levels. Dismayed by the Labour Government’s defeat in the 1979 general election, Derek joined the Labour Party. By the age of 21 he was elected to represent the Broadheath and Kingsway wards on Cheshire County Council, winning the seat back from the Tories. That election saw the Conservatives lose their majority on the Council for the first time. He went on to serve on the Education, Transport and Social Services Committee before he stood down from the council in 1985.
In a by-election in 1983 Derek won a seat on Halton Borough Council where he focused on his main concerns: housing and social inclusion. By the age of 26 he had become Chairman of the Housing Committee where he vigorously pursued a policy of modernising Halton’s housing stock and increased tenant participation. Later during his time on Halton Council he served as Chairman of Finance and led on Education during Halton’s successful bid to become a Unitary Authority.
In 1997 Derek succeeded the Rt Hon Gordon Oakes as Member of Parliament for Halton winning with a record majority of over 23,000. To view election results please click here*. On 10th June 1997 Derek made his maiden speech in the House of Commons in the Education (Schools) Bill debate (if you would like to read Derek’s maiden speech, please click here*).
During his time in Parliament Derek has served as a member of the Public Accounts Committee. He has been Parliamentary Private Secretary to two ministers, firstly to Rt Hon Helen Liddell MP who was then Minister of State for Energy, and then to Rt Hon Stephen Byers MP when he was Secretary of State for Transport and the Regions. In June 2002 Derek became a Government Whip. In December 2004 Derek was appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Schools at the Department for Education and Skills.
After the May 2005 General Election Derek was assigned the role of Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport. His primary interests in Parliament are; education, health, economy and local government concerns.
Derek’s main interests outside of Politics include hill walking, military history, particularly World War Two, Rugby League and football.
Regards
JD
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