# Gordon Prentice > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gordon_Prentice > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Gordon_Prentice.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Prentice > Source revision: 1353329884 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|British politician (born 1951)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}} {{Use British English|date=May 2017}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Gordon Prentice | honorific_suffix = | image = Gordon Prentice 2007.jpg | caption = Prentice in 2007 | office = [Member of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom))
for [Pendle](/source/Pendle_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) | parliament = | majority = | predecessor = [John Lee](/source/John_Lee%2C_Baron_Lee_of_Trafford) | successor = [Andrew Stephenson](/source/Andrew_Stephenson) | term_start = 9 April 1992 | term_end = 12 April 2010 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1951|01|28|df=yes}} | birth_place = [Edinburgh](/source/Edinburgh), Scotland | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|[Bridget Corr](/source/Bridget_Prentice)|1975|2000|end = divorced}} * {{marriage|Heather Halliday|2011}} }} | party = [Labour](/source/Labour_Party_(UK)) | alma_mater = [University of Glasgow](/source/University_of_Glasgow) | occupation = Council Leader (1986–1988)
Member of Parliament (1992–2010) }} '''Gordon Prentice''' (born 28 January 1951) is a British-Canadian{{cite web|url=https://newmarketvotes.ca/en/candidates/registered-candidates/candidate-profile-gordon-prentice/|accessdate=6 August 2024|title=Candidate Profile Gordon Prentice|website=Newmarket Votes}} former politician of the [Labour Party](/source/Labour_Party_(UK)) who was the [Member of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom)) (MP) for [Pendle](/source/Pendle_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) in Lancashire from [1992](/source/1992_United_Kingdom_general_election) to [2010](/source/2010_United_Kingdom_general_election). ==Early life== He was educated at the independent [George Heriot's School](/source/George_Heriot's_School) in Edinburgh and the [University of Glasgow](/source/University_of_Glasgow), where he received an [MA](/source/Master_of_Arts) in [Politics and Economics](/source/Philosophy%2C_politics_and_economics) in 1975, and was president of the [union](/source/Glasgow_University_Union).{{cite news|url=https://www.gla.ac.uk/alumni/ouralumni/lifeafterglasgow/notablealumni/|title=ALUMNI|website=www.gla.ac.uk|access-date=24 June 2022}} He then worked for the Labour Party Policy Directorate from 1982 to 1992.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/press-1991-97/page/n17/mode/2up|title=Gordon Prentice MP press releases 1991 97|website=archive.org|date=5 January 2022|access-date=14 August 2022}} Prior to becoming an MP, Prentice was the leader of [Hammersmith and Fulham Council](/source/Hammersmith_and_Fulham_Council) from 1986 to 1988.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2123430.stm|title=Gordon Prentice|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=17 October 2002|access-date=13 September 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/5822290.mp-spread-wings/|title=How MP spread his wing|newspaper=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=27 August 2004|access-date=13 September 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/mps/712.shtml|title=Gordon Prentice|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=1997|access-date=13 October 2021}} ==Parliamentary career== Prentice was initially selected as the [prospective parliamentary candidate](/source/prospective_parliamentary_candidate) (PPC) for Pendle in October 1990, and was first elected at the 1992 [general election](/source/1992_United_Kingdom_general_election) with a majority of 2,113.{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/press-1991-97/page/n25/mode/2up|title=Gordon Prentice MP press releases 1991 97|website=archive.org|date=5 January 2022|access-date=16 May 2022}} At the same election his wife [Bridget Prentice](/source/Bridget_Prentice) was elected MP for [Lewisham East](/source/Lewisham_East_(UK_Parliament_constituency)); both having defeated Conservative incumbents. He delivered his [maiden speech](/source/maiden_speech) a month later, on 13 May, in a debate on the economy, in which he wished his [predecessor](/source/John_Lee%2C_Baron_Lee_of_Trafford) well for the future.{{cite news|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1992-05-13a.621.4#Gordon%20Prentice|title=Orders of the Day — The Economy|website=theyworkforyou.com|date=13 May 1992|access-date=9 June 2022}} Prentice held the constituency at the 1997 [general election](/source/1997_United_Kingdom_general_election) with a greatly increased majority of 10,824, the largest ever in Pendle and its predecessor constituency of [Nelson and Colne](/source/Nelson_and_Colne).{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6180229.largest-ever-majority/|title=Largest ever majority|website=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=15 May 1997|access-date=22 June 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6180959.record-show-staggers-mp/|title=Record show staggers MP|website=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=7 May 1997|access-date=22 June 2022}} However, his majority was reduced to 4,275 at the 2001 [general election](/source/2001_United_Kingdom_general_election) and to 2,180 in [2005](/source/2005_United_Kingdom_general_election).{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6026112.majority-cut-turnout-plunges/|title=Majority cut as turnout plunges|website=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=8 June 2001|access-date=23 June 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/5785253.prentice-sees-majority-cut-half/|title=Prentice sees majority cut by half|website=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=9 May 2005|access-date=23 June 2022}} In 1999, Prentice introduced a Right to Roam Bill as a [private member's bill](/source/Private_members'_bills_in_the_Parliament_of_the_United_Kingdom), which aimed to establish a [freedom to roam](/source/freedom_to_roam) over certain upland and uncultivated areas of England and Wales. This became law in November 2000 as the [Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000](/source/Countryside_and_Rights_of_Way_Act_2000).{{cite news|url=https://www.lgcplus.com/archive/right-to-roam-bill-wins-some-ministerial-support-10-02-1999/|title=RIGHT TO ROAM BILL WINS SOME MINISTERIAL SUPPORT|website=www.lgcplus.com|date=10 February 1999|access-date=24 March 2022}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/291283.stm|title=Ministers backtrack on right to roam|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=8 March 1999|access-date=24 March 2022}} Prentice campaigned against fox hunting and in May 2000 tabled an [amendment](/source/Table_(parliamentary_procedure)) to the government's Hunting Bill, vowing not to withdraw it unless the government gave a "cast-iron statement" that promised to introduce legislation before the next election.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/771557.stm|title=MP presses for fox hunt ban|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=31 May 2000|access-date=13 September 2020}} This resulted in protests outside his constituency office in [Nelson](/source/Nelson%2C_Lancashire) in July 2000, despite protesters knowing he was in London.{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6075472.mps-attack-pro-hunt-lobby/|title=MP's attack on pro hunt lobby|website=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=7 July 2000|access-date=1 April 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6075473.prentice-blasts-bully-boy-demo/|title=Prentice blasts 'bully boy' demo|website=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=8 July 2000|access-date=1 April 2021}} By 2002, Prentice was campaigning for fox hunting with dogs to be completely banned, asking the government to bring back the previous year's bill and to force it through parliament.{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/5979045.prentice-fights-total-ban/|title=Prentice fights on for total ban|website=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=20 March 2002|access-date=25 June 2022}} He later became a target of the [Countryside Alliance](/source/Countryside_Alliance), who named him top of a "most wanted" list published in December 2003 and attempted to remove him as an MP at the next election.{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/5866278.mp-tops-hunters-most-wanted-list/|title=MP tops hunters' 'most wanted' list|website=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=18 December 2003|access-date=25 June 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/5807479.pro-hunt-lobby-target-pendle-mp/|title=Pro-hunt lobby to target Pendle MP|website=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=22 November 2004|access-date=25 June 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/7995150.pro-hunting-lobby-vows-to-overthrow-labour-mp/|title=Pro-hunting lobby vows to overthrow Labour MP|website=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=28 January 2005|access-date=25 June 2022}} In 2000, Prentice organised hustings for the [election](/source/2000_Speaker_of_the_British_House_of_Commons_election) of the [Speaker of the House of Commons](/source/Speaker_of_the_House_of_Commons_(United_Kingdom)), and later branded the election system "a farce" when interviewed by [BBC One](/source/BBC_One).{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6060942.election-farce-blasted-mps/|title=Election 'farce' blasted by MPs|website=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=24 October 2000|access-date=21 June 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2000/oct/17/parliament.uk|title=Speaker candidates issue electoral statements|website=theguardian.com|date=17 October 2000|access-date=21 June 2022}} He also said that neither ministers nor the chairman of the [Parliamentary Labour Party](/source/Parliamentary_Labour_Party) should get involved in the election.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/speaker-stitch-up-accusation-6mnxh5mq9sw|title=Speaker stitch up accusation|website=[The Times](/source/The_Times)|date=20 October 2000|access-date=21 June 2022}} Prentice was angrily told off by [Tony Blair](/source/Tony_Blair) in October 2004, when he asked during [Prime Minister's Questions](/source/Prime_Minister's_Questions) if there had been any single act of renewal in the Labour Party within the ten years Blair had been the [party leader](/source/Leader_of_the_Labour_Party_(UK)). He had previously been warned by the party in 1996 when he criticised Blair's performance as [opposition leader](/source/Leader_of_the_Opposition_(United_Kingdom)).{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/5812458.prentice-attacks-blair-qt/|title=Prentice attacks Blair on QT|newspaper=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=28 October 2004|access-date=30 May 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6202327.shut-else-threat-prentice/|title='Shut up or else' threat to Prentice|newspaper=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=3 July 1996|access-date=30 May 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6202471.prentice-joins-mp-atack-blair/|title=Prentice joins MP {{as written|ata|ck [sic}} on Blair|newspaper=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=1 July 1996|access-date=30 May 2022}} He then subsequently pledged his support for Blair the following week.{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/6201774.mp-prentice-pledges-support/|title=MP Prentice pledges support|newspaper=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=11 July 1996|access-date=30 May 2022}} In 2005, Prentice was appointed to parliament's [Public Administration Committee](/source/Public_Administration_Committee). Two years later, he called for tax-exiled peers to be removed from the [House of Lords](/source/House_of_Lords).{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/nov/09/lords.uk |title=MP calls for tax-exile peers to be removed from Lords|website=theguardian.com|date=9 November 2007|access-date=9 June 2022}} In March 2006, Prentice spoke out against the proposed merger of [Lancashire Constabulary](/source/Lancashire_Constabulary) with [Cumbria Constabulary](/source/Cumbria_Constabulary). He later welcomed the merger being called off, saying it wasn’t appropriate for taxpayers in Lancashire to pay higher tax bills than those living in Cumbria.{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/700168.police-feel-force-isnt/|title=Police feel Force isn't with them|newspaper=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=3 March 2006|access-date=26 June 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/833547.police-force-merger-scrapped/|title=Police force merger scrapped|newspaper=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=14 July 2006|access-date=26 June 2022}} He called for "merger rethink" in the [House of Commons](/source/House_of_Commons_of_the_United_Kingdom) shortly before the plans were announced.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4774235.stm|title=MP calls for force merger rethink|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=15 May 2006|access-date=26 June 2022}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/4689306.stm|title=Force merger to cost county more|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=7 February 2006|access-date=26 June 2022}} Prentice was one of the few Labour MPs not to endorse [Gordon Brown](/source/Gordon_Brown) for the [2007 Labour Leadership](/source/2007_Labour_Party_leadership_election_(UK)), nominating left-winger [John McDonnell](/source/John_McDonnell) for the role instead.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/may/16/labourleadership.labour2|title=Who's backing John McDonnell?|website=theguardian.com|date=16 May 2007|access-date=20 April 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/local-news/hayes-mp-denies-plot-oust-6016041|title=Hayes MP Denies Plot To Oust Brown|website=mylondon.news|date=16 September 2008|access-date=13 October 2021}} The following year, he became the second MP (after [Graham Stringer](/source/Graham_Stringer)) to call for Brown to resign, remarking that "the prime minister needs different sets of skills from a Chancellor of the Exchequer".{{cite news|url=http://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/prentice-calls-on-gordon-brown-to-step-down-1-1685027|title=Prentice calls on Gordon Brown to step down|newspaper=Burnley Express|date=28 July 2008|access-date=7 March 2017|archive-date=8 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170308133526/http://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/prentice-calls-on-gordon-brown-to-step-down-1-1685027|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/prentice-gordon-must-go-985206|title=Prentice: Gordon Must Go|website=dailyrecord.co.uk|date=28 July 2008|access-date=13 October 2021}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7528513.stm|title=Brown should quit, says Labour MP|website=news.bbc.co.uk|date=28 July 2008|access-date=13 October 2021}} After allegations involving [Sophie, Countess of Wessex](/source/Sophie%2C_Countess_of_Wessex) in April 2001, Prentice stated his belief that members of the [British royal family](/source/British_royal_family) should register their financial and business interests, like MPs. He also claimed he was "shocked by revelations" involving her.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1269978.stm|title=MPs call for royal business register|newspaper=news.bbc.co.uk|date=11 April 2001|access-date=27 August 2020}} Prentice lost his seat at the 2010 [election](/source/2010_United_Kingdom_general_election) and announced he would not stand at the [next election](/source/2015_United_Kingdom_general_election), stating he was now a private citizen.{{cite news |url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/8174875.Prentice__I_won_t_stand_in_Pendle_at_next_election/|title=Prentice: I won't stand in Pendle at next election |newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph |date=20 May 2010 |access-date=30 March 2017}} ==Expenses scandal== In December 2009, Prentice was criticised for claiming £2,262 for items bought at [John Lewis](/source/John_Lewis_%26_Partners), including £749 for a [television](/source/television), £649 for a [fridge-freezer](/source/fridge-freezer) and other amounts for various items of furniture. Prentice also claimed mortgage payments that amounted to £19,564 in 2004–05, £20,211 in 2005–06, £21,806 in 2006–07, £20,313 in 2007–08 and £19,508 in 2008–09.{{cite news|title=Jellied eels and John Lewis bills: a flavour of how they claimed|publisher=The Sunday Telegraph|date=2009|page=24}} Following the scandal, Prentice did not claim anything for the first quarter of 2009–10.{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/4789802.expenses-pendle-mp-gordon-prentice-claims-19-000/|last1=Moseley|first1=Tom|title=Expenses: Pendle MP Gordon Prentice claims £19,000|newspaper=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=11 December 2009|access-date=10 August 2022}} Prentice was among 625 other MPs at the time who received letters regarding the scandal, and paid back £2,620 to the [House of Commons](/source/House_of_Commons_of_the_United_Kingdom) due to new, retrospective rules for expenses created by an external auditor. The auditor stressed that their findings carried no implication or innuendo about the conduct or motive of MPs.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/oct/12/gordon-brown-repay-mps-expenses|title=Gordon Brown ordered to repay £12,000 of expenses|website=theguardian.com|date=12 October 2009|access-date=23 October 2022}} ==Personal life== Prentice married [Bridget Prentice](/source/Bridget_Prentice) (née Corr), later also an MP for [Lewisham East](/source/Lewisham_East_(UK_Parliament_constituency)), whom he had met while at university. The couple divorced in 2000 after being separated for three years.{{cite news |title=Vote 2001 {{!}} Candidates|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/candidates/candidates/4/45304.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=2001|access-date=27 August 2018}} Prentice subsequently married Heather Halliday in 2011.{{cite news|url = https://paulflynnmp.typepad.com/my_weblog/2011/09/gordon-prentice-marries-heather-halliday.html|title = Gordon Prentice and Heather Halliday marry|work=Paul Flynn MP|last=Flynn|first=Paul|author-link=Paul Flynn (British politician)|date=10 September 2011|access-date=6 June 2022}} Prentice revealed in July 2008 how he had become a victim of [credit card fraud](/source/credit_card_fraud) two months earlier in [Yorkshire](/source/Yorkshire), and how he lost £3,500 after his card was copied with the use of a "[skimming](/source/Skimming_(fraud))" device.{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/3198521.pendle-mp-loses-thousands-credit-card-fraud/|title=Pendle MP loses thousands in credit card fraud|newspaper=lancashiretelegraph.co.uk|date=8 July 2008|access-date=13 September 2020}} Soon after losing his seat in 2010, Prentice described the moment in 1998 when he was "nearly killed" by a man wielding a [sledgehammer](/source/sledgehammer).{{cite news |url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/8174877.Ex_Pendle_MP_Gordon_Prentice__I_thought_I_was_going_to_die/|title=Ex-Pendle MP Gordon Prentice: I thought I was going to die|newspaper=[Lancashire Telegraph](/source/Lancashire_Telegraph)|date=20 May 2010 |access-date=30 March 2017}} Following his election defeat, Prentice moved to [Newmarket, Ontario](/source/Newmarket%2C_Ontario), Canada.{{cite news|url=http://yorkregion.com/news-story/4296530-people-not-officials-should-shape-town-newmarket-blogger/|title=People, not officials, should shape town: Newmarket blogger|website=www.yorkregion.com|date=2 January 2014|access-date=13 September 2020}} He ran for [Deputy Mayor of Newmarket](/source/List_of_mayors_of_Newmarket%2C_Ontario) in 2022.{{cite news|url=https://www.newmarkettoday.ca/2022-municipal-election-news/candidate-questionnaire-gordon-prentice-deputy-mayor-5870431|title=CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE: Gordon Prentice, deputy mayor|author=NewmarketToday Staff|website=newmarkettoday.ca|date=26 September 2022|access-date=4 December 2022}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20010517121922/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-4253,00.html Ask Aristotle: Gordon Prentice MP], Guardian Unlimited Politics * [https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/gordon_prentice/pendle Gordon Prentice MP], TheyWorkForYou.com * [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/453.stm BBC Politics page] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20080926084809/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/453.stm |date=26 September 2008 }} * [https://www.shrinkslessorsquare.ca/ Prentice's blog on Newmarket politics] {{s-start}} {{s-par|uk}} {{succession box | title = [Member of Parliament](/source/Member_of_Parliament_(United_Kingdom)) for [Pendle](/source/Pendle_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) | years = [1992](/source/1992_United_Kingdom_general_election) – [2010](/source/2010_United_Kingdom_general_election) | before = [John Lee](/source/John_Lee%2C_Baron_Lee_of_Trafford) | after = [Andrew Stephenson](/source/Andrew_Stephenson) }} {{s-end}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Prentice, Gordon}} Category:1951 births Category:Alumni of the University of Glasgow Category:Labour Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Category:Councillors in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Category:Leaders of local authorities in London Category:Living people Category:People educated at George Heriot's School Category:People from Newmarket, Ontario Category:Politicians from Edinburgh Category:Scottish bloggers Category:Scottish emigrants to Canada Category:Scottish republicans Category:UK MPs 1992–1997 Category:UK MPs 1997–2001 Category:UK MPs 2001–2005 Category:UK MPs 2005–2010 Category:Labour Party (UK) councillors Category:Spouses of British politicians --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Gordon Prentice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Prentice) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Prentice?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.