Alan Johnson

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Alan Arthur Johnson (born 17 May 1950, London) is a British Labour Party politician. He has been Member of Parliament for Hull West and Hessle since 1997. In 2004 he became the first ex-trade union general secretary since Frank Cousins in 1964 to make it to the Cabinet.

Early life

Born in London, Johnson lost both his parents at an early age and was effectively brought up by his older sister. He attended Sloane Grammar School in Chelsea, leaving at the age of 15 without any qualifications. He stacked shelves at Tesco for a while, before becoming a postman at 18. Here he became involved in trade union activities, becoming a branch official. Johnson became a full-time union official in 1987, and following a series of mergers became general secretary of the CWU in 1993.

Before entering Parliament he was a member of Labour's National Executive Committee. Just three weeks before the 1997 general election Johnson was selected to stand for Parliament in the safe Labour seat of Hull West and Hessle when the previous incumbent, Stuart Randall, stood down suddenly. Randall was subsequently elevated to the House of Lords.

Ministerial career

He was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Dawn Primarolo in 1997 which was quickly followed by his first ministerial post at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in 1999. Having left school at 15 it was a significant achievement when he moved to the Department for Education and Skills in 2000 as Higher Education minister.

He entered the Cabinet in September 2004 as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, following the resignation of Andrew Smith. After the 2005 election he moved to become Secretary of State for Productivity, Energy and Industry, a post which replaced the DTI but it was shortly reverted to the old name Secretary of State for Trade and Industry after complaints were made about the new name. On 5 May 2006, one day after the English local elections, his brief was changed to that of Secretary of State for Education and Skills, replacing Ruth Kelly. He was replaced at the DTI by Alistair Darling.

He is tipped to be the next Deputy Prime Minister and likely rival of Gordon Brown to succeed Tony Blair as Prime Minister. [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,1789937,00.html The Observer Retrieved 4th June 2006.

External links

[Alan Johnson MP] official site
[Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Alan Johnson MP]
[TheyWorkForYou.com - Alan Johnson MP]
[New Statesman - NS Profile: Alan Johnson] 29 November 2004
[BBC: Alan Johnson MP] 22 October 2002

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Alistair Darling |- |-

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