- Michael Mates
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The Right Honourable
Michael MatesMember of Parliament
for East Hampshire
Petersfield (1974-1983)In office
10 October 1974 – 6 May 2010Preceded by Joan Quennell Succeeded by Damian Hinds Personal details Born 9 June 1934
Brentford, Middlesex, EnglandNationality English Political party Conservative Spouse(s) (1) Mary Rosamund Paton (married 1959, divorced 1980)
(2) Rosellen Bett (married 1982, divorced 1995)
(3) Christine Robinson-Moltke (married 1998)Military service Service/branch British Army Years of service 1954-1974 Rank Lieutenant Colonel Unit 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards Michael John Mates (born 9 June 1934) is a Conservative Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of East Hampshire from 1974 to 2010.
He has been a member of the Privy Council since February 2004.
Contents
Education
Michael Mates was educated at Salisbury Cathedral School, Blundell's School and King's College, Cambridge, where he was a choral scholar.
Army service
Prior to his election to the House of Commons, he served for twenty years in the British Army leaving in 1974 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel with the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards.
Parliamentary career
Michael Mates was first elected to Parliament in October 1974 general election for Petersfield in Hampshire, following the retirement of Joan Quennell.
Between 1983 and 2010 he represented East Hampshire.
From 1992 to 1993, Mates was Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office. He resigned after a scandal involving his links to fugitive businessman Asil Nadir.[1]
He also served as the Chairman of the Defence (1987–1992) and Northern Ireland (2001–2005) select committees and chaired the All-Party Anglo-Irish Parliamentary Group.
Personal life
He married Mary Rosamund Paton in 1959, whom he divorced in 1980. They had two sons (James and Rory) and two daughters (Caroline and Emily). In 1982, he married Rosellen Bett in Lambeth, whom he divorced in 1995. They had one daughter (Arabella, born July 1986). He then married Christine Robinson-Moltke (widow of Petersfield's Lt Cdr Glen Robinson-Moltke who was killed in the Falklands) in October 1998 in Chichester, having two step children (Michael and Helene). He has 10 grandchildren (Ben, Joe, Maddie, Leo, Jet, Flora, Phoebe, Charlie, Kobi, and James) and a great-grandson (Aidan).
Retirement
Mates announced on 24 November 2006 that he would stand down effective at the 2010 general election.[2] His replacement as Conservative Party candidate was Damian Hinds.
His son, James Mates, is a senior reporter and presenter for ITN.
See also
Bibliography
- Mates, Michael The Secret Service: Is There A Case For Greater Openness? Alliance Publishers, 1989. ISBN 0-907967-07-8
- Hurd, Douglas & Mates, Michael et al. What's Wrong With British Foreign Policy? Tory Reform Group, 2007 ISBN 0-9555426-0-X
References
- ^ On this Day: 24 June 1993, BBC News
- ^ "Veteran MP announces retirement". BBC News Online. 24 November 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/6182424.stm.
External links
- Official Website
- Rt Hon Michael Mates Epolitix site
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Michael Mates MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Michael Mates MP
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Michael Mates
- Veteran MP announces retirement BBC article
- BBC Politics Profile
Audio clips
Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded by
Joan QuennellMember of Parliament for Petersfield
Oct 1974–1983Constituency abolished
See East HampshireNew constituency
before: PetersfieldMember of Parliament for East Hampshire
1983 - 2010Succeeded by
Damian HindsRobin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell (chairman)
Sir John Chilcot • Peter Inge, Baron Inge • Ann Taylor • Michael MatesCategories:- 1934 births
- Living people
- Conservative Party (UK) MPs
- Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
- Members of the United Kingdom Parliament for English constituencies
- UK MPs 1974–1979
- UK MPs 1979–1983
- UK MPs 1983–1987
- UK MPs 1987–1992
- UK MPs 1992–1997
- UK MPs 1997–2001
- UK MPs 2001–2005
- UK MPs 2005–2010
- 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards officers
- Petersfield, Hampshire
- Alumni of King's College, Cambridge
- Old Blundellians
- People educated at Salisbury Cathedral School
- People of The Troubles (Northern Ireland)
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