Tom Levitt

Infobox MP


honorific-prefix =
name = Tom Levitt
honorific-suffix =MP
constituency_MP = High Peak
parliament =
majority = 735 (1.5%)
predecessor = Charles Hendry
successor = Incumbent
term_start = 1 May 1997
term_end =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1954|04|10|df=yes
birth_place = Crewe, Cheshire, England
death_date =
death_place =
nationality = British
spouse = Teresa Levitt
party = Labour
relations =
children =
residence =
alma_mater = Lancaster University
occupation =
profession = Teacher
religion =


website = http://www.tomlevitt.org.uk/
footnotes =

Tom Levitt (born 10 April 1954, Crewe), Cheshire is a British politician, and Labour member of Parliament for High Peak.

Early life

Although born in Crewe in 1954 and grew up in Leek, Staffordshire. He was one of the first intake of boys when a Girls Grammar School became comprehensive Westwood High. He is a Biology graduate from Lancaster University and has a teaching qualification from Oxford University.

Profession

He taught in comprehensive schools and also in further education. He is the author of a textbook on intertidal ecology.

Political career

Levitt was first elected to the House of Commons at the 1997 general election after 14 years service at all levels of local government, including Derbyshire County Council. He was for a year a vice chair of Education. He was also a member of the management committee of High Peak Citizens Advice Bureau.As one of the few MPs with a qualification in British Sign Language, Levitt was an elected Trustee of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) from 1998 to 2003. He has chaired the Community Development Foundation since 2004.

From 1997 to 2003 Tom was one of the longest serving members of the prestigious Standards & Privileges Committee, responsible for monitoring standards of MPs’ professional conduct. In 2004 he sat on the Scrutiny Committee for the Draft Disability Bill.

Following his election he has held various junior positions. He was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Barbara Roche MP (1999-2003), first in the Home Office and then in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.Following this he was the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for International Development from 2003-2007.

Levitt is known to be in favour of the Longdendale Bypass, which would run through the Peak District in his constituency.

He was the 8th highest spending MP in 2006-07 with expenses of over £160,000. He explained that he had envelopes in stock at the end of the year and was proud of his assiduous commitment to communicating with constituents.

Outside Parliament

As a consultant on disabled access to services and information (1993-97) Tom wrote 3 books: Sound Policies, Sound Practice and Clear Access. These deal with the way local authorities provide services for people with hearing and visual impairments. Tom also worked as a successful Deaf Awareness trainer.

Personal life

He has lived in Buxton since 1991. He is married to Teresa Levitt and have 3 grown up children.He is a keen cricket fan, enjoys skiing and swims regularly. He also enjoys going to the theatre and walking.

External links

* [http://www.tomlevitt.org.uk/ Tom Levitt] official site
* [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-3099,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Tom Levitt MP]
* [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/tom_levitt/high_peak TheyWorkForYou.com - Tom Levitt MP]