Bob Spink

Infobox MP
honorific-prefix = Dr
name = Bob Spink
honorific-suffix = MP
constituency_MP = Castle Point
parliament =
majority = 8,201 (17.9%)
term_start = 7 June 2001
term_end =
predecessor = Christine Butler
successor =
parliament2 =
majority2 =
term_start2 = 9 April 1992
term_end2 = 1 May 1997
predecessor2 = Bernard Braine
successor2 = Christine Butler
birth_date = birth date and age|df=y|1948|8|1
birth_place = Worth Valley, Yorkshire
death_date =
death_place =
nationality = British
party = UK Independence 2008-
(Conservative 1992-2008)
spouse = Janet Barham
partner =
relations =
children =
residence =
alma_mater = University of Manchester, Cranfield University
occupation =
profession = Member of Parliament
net worth =
religion =


website = [http://www.epolitix.com/EN/MPWebsites/Robert%20Spink/ Bob Spink MP]
footnotes =Dr Robert Michael Spink (born 1 August 1948, Worth Valley, Yorkshire) is a politician in the United Kingdom. He was elected as the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for Castle Point in Essex, and was first elected in 1992. He lost his seat in 1997, but regained it in 2001. He was deselected as a Conservative candidate in March 2008, and in April 2008 he defected to the United Kingdom Independence Party, becoming that party's first and currently only MP.

Early life

He went to Holycroft Secondary Modern School (now a primary school) on "Victoria Road" in Keighley and Southall Technical College, At the University of Manchester, he gained an BSc Hons (1st) in 1972. At Cranfield University, he gained an MSc in Industrial Engineering and Administration in 1975 and PhD in Economics and Management in 1988.

He joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1964, and until 1966 did his Basic Training at RAF Cosford and RAF Uxbridge, being invalided. He was an engineer for EMI Electronics Ltd from 1966-77 in Hayes and gained an Ordinary National Certificate (ONC) from Southall Technical College in 1969 when on day-release, then became an Industrial Management Consultant in 1977 for Harold Whitehead and Partners. From 1980-4, he was Director of Seafarer Navigation International Ltd (eventually bought by [http://www.standardcom.com Standard Communications] ) in Bournemouth, and from 1989-93, he was a non-executive Director of Bournemouth International Airport. From 1984-93, he was a Management Consultant. From 1997 to 2001, he worked for Harold Whitehead in Windsor. He was a county councillor in Essex from 1985-92.

Parliamentary career

He is opposed to abortion and wants to bring back capital punishment. He is against research into animal chimeras and refers to those involved in or supporting human bioengineering as "dark forces" [cite hansard | url=http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo060525/debtext/60525-0014.htm | house=commons| date=2006-05-25 | column=1706 ] .

In April 2005, Spink took out an anti-immigration advert in the local "Yellow Advertiser" newspaper reading "What bit of 'send them back' don't you understand Mr Blair?" about which his rival for the constituency, the Labour candidate Luke Akehurst, said: "This advertisement contains appalling comments that whip up racial tension and fear to win votes. It is reminiscent of the worse utterances of Enoch Powell. The Tory leadership should disown it." [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2005/apr/14/uk.immigration "Tory candidate under fire for 'send them back' asylum ad"] "The Guardian" 14 April 2005. Retrieved on 22 April 2008.] . Spink went on to win the election, increasing his majority seven fold.

On 12 March 2008, Spink announced to the UK House of Commons that he had resigned the Conservative Party Whip due to "criminal and other irregularities" in his constituency. This announcement was later rebutted by the party chief whip Patrick McLoughlin and they described the whip having been withdrawn from him.cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7292642.stm|title=Deselection row MP leaves Tories|date=2008-03-12|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=2008-07-28]

On 21 April 2008, Bob Spink became the first member of Parliament for the United Kingdom Independence Party, saying that "positive and sensible co-operation with the EU does not require us to sell the British people down the river or to give our independence away" [ [http://www.ukip.org/ukip/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=590&Itemid=57 UKIP welcomes its first MP ] ] .

He recently found himself at odds with his new-found colleagues over the issue of whether or not to extend the amount of time a suspect can be detained without charge from 28 to 42 days. He voted for the bill, but UKIP opposed it.

Personal life

He married Janet Barham; they have three sons and a daughter.

External links

* [http://www.epolitix.com/EN/MPWebsites/Robert%20Spink/ Bob Spink MP] official site
* [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-5824,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Bob Spink MP]
* [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/bob_spink/castle_point TheyWorkForYou.com - Bob Spink MP]
* [http://publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Bob_Spink&mpc=Castle+Point The Public Whip - Bob Spink MP] voting record
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/132.stm BBC News - Dr Bob Spink] profile 30 March, 2006
* [http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/cm060525/debtext/60525-0331.htm Hansard debate 25th May 2006]

References