Roger Stott

Roger Stott, CBE (7 August 1943 – 9 August 1999) was a British Labour Party politician.

Biography

Roger Stott was born in Rochdale, the first child of Richard and Edith Stott. He went to school in Rochdale and when he was 15 he joined the merchant navy. He then worked as an engineer for the Post Office and became local councillor for the Labour Party in Rochdale, he was the Chair of the Housing Committee. He married Irene Mills on 17 June 1969 from which he had two sons Andrew (1970) and Matthew (1972). The marriage ended in 1982 and he married again for a second time to a teacher Gillian Pye on 30 March 1985 and later had two children Daniel (1990) and Ciara (1992). When Roger wasn't working he loved to play sport, he was a great Rugby League fan and went to watch it whenever he had the chance. He was also a great fan of cricket.

Political career

Stott was first elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Westhoughton at a by-election in 1973, following the death of the sitting Labour MP Tom Price. He held that seat at three subsequent general elections before the constituency was abolished for the 1983 general election.

He was then elected Member of Parliament for the Wigan constituency in Greater Manchester, and held that seat at the next three general elections. His death in office in 1999 made him the fourth Wigan MP in the twentieth century to die in office (the others being John Parkinson, Ronald Williams and William Foster).

Stott was a longtime joint chairman of the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding, and served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to James Callaghan during his administration. He later served as a junior opposition spokesman.

Death

Roger Stott died of liver cancer on Monday 9 August 1999, two days after his 56th birthday. He had been ill for some time. After his death many people wrote tributes including Ian McCartney and Jack Cunningham to him and the work he had done while he was MP.