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{{Short description|British Labour politician}}
{{Short description|British Labour politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}{{Infobox officeholder
⚫
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Mike Amesbury
| name = Mike Amesbury
| honorific-suffix = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]]
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Official portrait of Mike Amesbury MP crop 2.jpg
| image = Official portrait of Mike Amesbury MP crop 2.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2020
| caption = Official portrait, 2020
| parliament1 = United Kingdom
⚫
| office = [[Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities|Shadow Minister for Local Government]]
| leader = [[Keir Starmer]]
| constituency_MP1 = [[Runcorn and Helsby]]
| predecessor = [[Jeff Smith (British politician)|Jeff Smith]]
| prior_term1 = [[Weaver Vale]] (2017-2024)
| successor = [[Sarah Owen]]
| term_start1 = 8 June 2017
| term_start = 4 December 2021
| term_end1 =
| term_end = 30 June 2022
| majority1 = 14,696 (34.8%)
⚫
| predecessor1 = [[Graham Evans]]
⚫
| office1 = [[Department for Communities and Local Government|Shadow Minister for Housing]]{{efn|Housing and Planning (2020–21)}}
{{collapsed infobox section begin
⚫
| leader1 = [[Keir Starmer]]
| predecessor1 = [[Sarah Jones (politician)|Sarah Jones]]
| last = yes
| Shadow portfolios
⚫
| term_start1 = 9 April 2020
| term_end1 = 4 December 2021
| titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey}}
⚫
{{Infobox officeholder
| successor1 = [[Matthew Pennycook]]
| office2 = [[Official Opposition frontbench|Shadow Minister for Employment]]
| embed = yes
| term_start2 = 10 July 2018
| subterm = 2023–2024
| suboffice = [[Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities|Building Safety and Homelessness]]
⚫
| term_end2 = 9 April 2020
| leader2 = [[Jeremy Corbyn]]
| subterm1 = 2021–2022
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| suboffice1 = [[Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities|Local Government]]
⚫
| predecessor2 = [[Margaret Greenwood]]
| successor2 = [[Seema Malhotra]]
| subterm2 = 2020–2021
⚫
| suboffice2 = [[Department for Communities and Local Government|Housing]]
⚫
| office3 = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] <br /> for [[Weaver Vale (UK Parliament constituency)|Weaver Vale]]
| parliament3 =
| subterm3 = 2018–2020
| term_start3 = 8 June 2017
| suboffice3 = [[Department for Work and Pensions|Employment]]
{{collapsed infobox section end}}}}
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| majority3 = 562 (1.1%)
| predecessor3 = [[Graham Evans]]
| office2 = Member of [[Manchester City Council]]<br>for [[Fallowfield]]
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| term_start2 = 4 May 2006
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| term_end2 = June 2017
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| predecessor2 = John-Paul Wilkins
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| successor2 = Ali Ilyas
| birth_name = Michael Lee Amesbury
| birth_name = Michael Lee Amesbury
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1969|5|7}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1969|5|7}}
| birth_place = [[Wythenshawe]], [[Manchester]], England
| birth_place = [[Wythenshawe]], [[Manchester]], England
| alma_mater = [[Bradford University]]<br>[[University of Central England]]
| death_date =
| alma_mater = [[Bradford University]]<br />[[University of Central England]]
| party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| death_place =
| website = {{URL|mikeamesbury.org}}
| party = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]
| website = {{Official website|https://www.mikeamesbury.org/}}
| footnotes = {{Collapsible list
|titlestyle = background:lavender;text-align:center;
|title = Other offices
|bullets = on
| 2008–12: Executive Member for Culture and Leisure on [[Manchester City Council]]
| 2006–17: Member of Manchester City Council for [[Fallowfield]]
}}
}}
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'''Michael Lee Amesbury''' (born 7 May 1969) is a British [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] politician who has served as the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Runcorn and Helsby (UK Parliament constituency)|Runcorn and Helsby]] and its predecessor constituency [[Weaver Vale (UK Parliament constituency)|Weaver Vale]] since [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017]]. He has served as Shadow Minister for Building Safety and Homelessness since 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet our Shadow Cabinet |url=https://labour.org.uk/people/shadow-cabinet/ |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=The Labour Party |language=en}}</ref> He previously served as Shadow Minister for Employment from 2018 to 2020, Shadow Minister for Housing from 2020 to 2021 and Shadow Minister for Local Government from 2021 to 2022.
}}
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'''Michael Lee Amesbury''' (born 7 May 1969) is a British politician serving as [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[Weaver Vale (UK Parliament constituency)|Weaver Vale]] since 2017. A member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], he was Shadow Minister for Local Government until 2022. He previously served as Shadow Minister for Employment from 2018 to 2020 and Shadow Minister for Housing from 2020 to 2021.


==Early life and career==
==Education==
Amesbury was born on 7 May 1969 in [[Wythenshawe]], [[Manchester]].<ref>{{London Gazette
Michael Amesbury was born on 7 May 1969 in [[Wythenshawe]].<ref>{{London Gazette
| issue = 61961
| issue = 61961
| date = 19 June 2017
| date = 19 June 2017
| page = 11780
| page = 11780
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://myparliament.info/Member/4667|title=Mike Amesbury MP|website=myparliament.info|publisher=MyParliament|access-date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916053050/http://myparliament.info/Member/4667|archive-date=16 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://talk-politics.com/2017/10/07/interview-with-mike-amesbury-mp/|title=Interview with Mike Amesbury MP|date=2017-10-07|work=TalkPolitics|access-date=2018-10-25|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717125017/https://talk-politics.com/2017/10/07/interview-with-mike-amesbury-mp/|archive-date=2018-07-17|url-status=live}}</ref> He was educated at Ilkley College and the [[University of Central England]].<ref>{{Who's Who | surname = Amesbury| othernames = Mike| id = U289509| volume = 2018 | edition = February 2018 online | accessed = 14 February 2018 }}</ref>
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://myparliament.info/Member/4667|title=Mike Amesbury MP|website=myparliament.info|publisher=MyParliament|access-date=15 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916053050/http://myparliament.info/Member/4667|archive-date=16 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://talk-politics.com/2017/10/07/interview-with-mike-amesbury-mp/|title=Interview with Mike Amesbury MP|date=2017-10-07|work=TalkPolitics|access-date=2018-10-25|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717125017/https://talk-politics.com/2017/10/07/interview-with-mike-amesbury-mp/|archive-date=2018-07-17|url-status=live}}</ref> He was educated at Ilkley College and the [[University of Central England]].<ref>{{Who's Who | title=Amesbury, Mike| id = U289509| volume = 2018 | edition = February 2018 online | access-date = 14 February 2018 }}</ref>


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A careers advisor by trade, Amesbury previously worked as a manager with the Connexions careers advice service. He also worked as Senior Parliamentary Advisor to [[Angela Rayner]] while she was [[Shadow Secretary of State for Education]], and as political advisor and stakeholder manager on [[Andy Burnham]]'s successful campaign to become [[Mayor of Greater Manchester]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/info/20016/combined_authority/183/the_mayor_of_greater_manchester/1 |title=The Mayor &#124; the Mayor of Greater Manchester &#124; GMCA |access-date=2019-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717125052/https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/info/20016/combined_authority/183/the_mayor_of_greater_manchester/1 |archive-date=2018-07-17 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was a director of City South Manchester Housing Trust, an award-winning social enterprise providing affordable housing in the [[Fallowfield]], [[Hulme]], [[Moss Side]] and [[Whalley Range, Manchester|Whalley Range]] areas of south [[Manchester]]. He also served as a policy advisor to Tameside Council.
==Career==
⚫
A careers advisor by trade, Amesbury previously worked as a manager with the Connexions careers advice service. He also worked as Senior Parliamentary Advisor to Shadow Education Secretary [[Angela Rayner]] and as political advisor and stakeholder manager on [[Andy Burnham|Andy Burnham's]] successful campaign to become [[Mayor of Greater Manchester]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/info/20016/combined_authority/183/the_mayor_of_greater_manchester/1 |title=The Mayor &#124; the Mayor of Greater Manchester &#124; GMCA |access-date=2019-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717125052/https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/info/20016/combined_authority/183/the_mayor_of_greater_manchester/1 |archive-date=2018-07-17 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was a director of City South Manchester Housing Trust, an award-winning social enterprise providing affordable housing in the Fallowfield, Hulme, Moss Side and Whalley Range areas of south Manchester. He also served as a policy advisor to Tameside Council.


==Political career==
==Political career==
Amesbury joined the Labour Party as a 17-year-old after moving with his family to Yorkshire, where he says he was politicised by the impact on local families of [[Margaret Thatcher|Margaret Thatcher's]] political policies and the subsequent miners' strike.<ref name="auto"/>
Amesbury joined the Labour Party as a 17-year-old after moving with his family to [[Yorkshire]], where he says he was politicised by the impact on local families of [[Margaret Thatcher]]'s political policies and the subsequent [[1984–1985 United Kingdom miners' strike|miners' strike]].<ref name="auto"/>


He served as a Regional Officer and Fundraising and Events Manager for Labour and was later elected to the party's National Policy Forum (NPF)—the policy making arm of The Labour Party.
He served as a Regional Officer and Fundraising and Events Manager for Labour and was later elected to the party's National Policy Forum (NPF), the policymaking arm of the Labour Party.


Amesbury was elected to [[Manchester City Council]] representing [[Fallowfield|Fallowfield Ward]] in [[2006 Manchester City Council election|2006]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Election results - Local elections 2006 {{!}} Manchester City Council|url=https://www.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/224190/local_elections_2006/category/1410/2006|access-date=2021-01-05|website=www.manchester.gov.uk}}</ref> defeating the incumbent [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]], and subsequently winning re-election in [[2010 Manchester City Council election|2010]] and [[2014 Manchester City Council election|2014]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Election results - Local elections 2010 {{!}} Manchester City Council|url=https://www.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/224186/local_elections_2010/category/1392/local_elections|access-date=2021-01-05|website=www.manchester.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Election results - Local elections 2014 {{!}} Manchester City Council|url=https://www.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/224178/local_elections_2014/category/1392/local_elections|access-date=2021-01-05|website=www.manchester.gov.uk}}</ref> Rising to the position of Executive Member for Culture and Leisure from 2008 to 2012, he helped bring the [[National Football Museum]] to the city.<ref>{{Cite web|last=News|first=Manchester Evening|date=2011-09-21|title=Mather & Co scores with National Football Museum contract|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/markets/mather--co-scores-with-national-871274|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Manchester Evening News|language=en}}</ref> He stood down following his election to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], triggering a by-election in his ward in July 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fallowfield By Election 27 July 2017 {{!}} Fallowfield By Election 27 July 2017 {{!}} Manchester City Council|url=https://secure.manchester.gov.uk/info/362/elections_and_voting/7536/fallowfield_by_election_27_july_2017|access-date=2021-01-05|website=secure.manchester.gov.uk}}</ref>
Amesbury was elected to [[Manchester City Council]] representing Fallowfield Ward in [[2006 Manchester City Council election|2006]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Election results - Local elections 2006 {{!}} Manchester City Council|url=https://www.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/224190/local_elections_2006/category/1410/2006|access-date=2021-01-05|website=www.manchester.gov.uk}}</ref> defeating the incumbent [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]], and subsequently winning re-election in [[2010 Manchester City Council election|2010]] and [[2014 Manchester City Council election|2014]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Election results - Local elections 2010 {{!}} Manchester City Council|url=https://www.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/224186/local_elections_2010/category/1392/local_elections|access-date=2021-01-05|website=www.manchester.gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Election results - Local elections 2014 {{!}} Manchester City Council|url=https://www.manchester.gov.uk/directory_record/224178/local_elections_2014/category/1392/local_elections|access-date=2021-01-05|website=www.manchester.gov.uk}}</ref> Rising to the position of Executive Member for Culture and Leisure from 2008 to 2012, he helped bring the [[National Football Museum]] to the city.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-09-21|title=Mather & Co scores with National Football Museum contract|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/markets/mather--co-scores-with-national-871274|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Manchester Evening News|language=en}}</ref> He stood down following his election to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], triggering a by-election in his ward in July 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fallowfield By Election 27 July 2017 {{!}} Fallowfield By Election 27 July 2017 {{!}} Manchester City Council|url=https://secure.manchester.gov.uk/info/362/elections_and_voting/7536/fallowfield_by_election_27_july_2017|access-date=2021-01-05|website=secure.manchester.gov.uk}}</ref>


He campaigned for 'remain' in the [[2016 EU membership referendum]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=McDougall |first=John |date=12 November 2019 |title=Here's the Labour candidate's policies for Weaver Vale |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/general-election-2019-weaver-vale-17246448 |access-date=25 April 2020 |work=[[Chester Chronicle]]}}</ref>
Amesbury gained the [[Weaver Vale (UK Parliament constituency)|Weaver Vale]] constituency from the Conservative incumbent [[Graham Evans]] in the [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]] on a swing of 4.3%.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-40213304 BBC News: Election results 2017: Labour gains Weaver Vale, Warrington South and Crewe and Nantwich] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008170348/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-40213304|date=2018-10-08}} (accessed 9 June 2017)</ref> He was named Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Shadow Department for Work and Pensions team in January 2018, and in July of the same year was promoted to Shadow Employment Minister.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/15834030.Mike_Amesbury_promoted_to_Labour__39_s_Shadow_team/|title=Mike Amesbury promoted to Labour's Shadow team|website=Northwich Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-10-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717155423/http://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/15834030.Mike_Amesbury_promoted_to_Labour__39_s_Shadow_team/|archive-date=2018-07-17|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://labour.org.uk/press/appointments-labours-frontbench/|title=Appointments to Labour's frontbench – The Labour Party|work=The Labour Party|access-date=2018-10-25|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717124955/https://labour.org.uk/press/appointments-labours-frontbench/|archive-date=2018-07-17|url-status=live}}</ref>


== Parliamentary career ==
He is a member of the [[UNISON]] and [[GMB (trade union)|GMB]] trade unions. He campaigned for 'remain' in the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 EU membership referendum]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/general-election-2019-weaver-vale-17246448|title=Here's the Labour candidate's policies for Weaver Vale|last=McDougall|first=John|date=12 November 2019|work=[[Chester Chronicle]]|access-date=25 April 2020}}</ref>
At the snap [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], Amesbury was elected to Parliament as MP for [[Weaver Vale (UK Parliament constituency)|Weaver Vale]] with 51.5% of the vote and a majority of 3,928.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-40213304 BBC News: Election results 2017: Labour gains Weaver Vale, Warrington South and Crewe and Nantwich] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008170348/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-40213304|date=2018-10-08}} (accessed 9 June 2017)</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Weaver Vale parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14001024 |work=BBC News}}</ref>


In October 2017, Amesbury stated that he supports the eventual implementation of [[proportional representation]] at elections and [[Reform of the House of Lords|reform]] of the [[House of Lords]] to make its membership mainly elected.<ref name="auto" />
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In 2019, Amesbury apologised for having shared an antisemitic caricature on [[Facebook]] in 2013, stating “I apologise unreservedly for this terrible error. I genuinely don’t recall sharing this image and I’m mortified that I did so. This appalling image image contains an antisemitic caricature and a reference to the ‘[[illuminati]]’ conspiracy theory. I would never have intentionally shared [[Anti-Semitic trope|antisemitic tropes]] and I am sincerely sorry that I did.”<ref>{{cite news|author= Sugarman, Daniel |title=Labour Shadow Minister Mike Amesbury apologises for sharing 'antisemitic caricature' – after denying he had|work= [[The Jewish Chronicle]]|date= 13 March 2019|url= https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/labour-shadow-minister-mike-amesbury-apologises-after-sharing-antisemitic-caricature-1.481386|access-date = 13 April 2020}}</ref>


He was named Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Shadow Department for Work and Pensions team in January 2018, and in July of the same year was promoted to Shadow
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Amesbury was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning in the April 2020 reshuffle following Keir Starmer's election as Labour leader.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mike Amesbury given shadow ministerial role by new Labour leader|url=https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/18378081.mike-amesbury-given-shadow-ministerial-role-new-labour-leader-kier-starmer/|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Northwich Guardian|language=en}}</ref> In the subsequent May 2021 reshuffle, his brief was reduced to the Shadow Minister for Housing, with [[Ruth Cadbury]] receiving the planning portfolio.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rodgers|first=Sienna|title=Reshuffle: Keir Starmer's new Labour frontbench in full|url=https://labourlist.org/2021/05/reshuffle-keir-starmers-new-labour-frontbench-in-full/|access-date=2021-05-15|website=LabourList|language=en-GB}}</ref>


⚫
In March 2019, Amesbury apologised for having shared an [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]] caricature on [[Facebook]] in 2013, stating “I apologise unreservedly for this terrible error. I genuinely don’t recall sharing this image and I’m mortified that I did so. This appalling image image contains an antisemitic caricature and a reference to the ‘[[illuminati]]’ conspiracy theory. I would never have intentionally shared [[antisemitic trope]]s and I am sincerely sorry that I did”.<ref>{{cite news|author= Sugarman, Daniel |title=Labour Shadow Minister Mike Amesbury apologises for sharing 'antisemitic caricature' – after denying he had|work= [[The Jewish Chronicle]]|date= 13 March 2019|url= https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/labour-shadow-minister-mike-amesbury-apologises-after-sharing-antisemitic-caricature-1.481386|access-date = 13 April 2020}}</ref>
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In March 2020, Amesbury put forward a [[Private member's bill]] on education for a second reading. The Bill is seeking to reduce the cost of school uniforms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-03-13/debates/5B43E213-2C7C-44F7-85BD-C275A27F8B14/Education(GuidanceAboutCostsOfSchoolUniforms)Billhighlight=mike+amesbury|title=Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill - Friday 13 March 2020 - Hansard - UK Parliament|website=hansard.parliament.uk}}</ref> In April 2021, the bill became law after it made it through final reading in the [[House of Lords]] and received [[Royal assent]] the following day.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Scott |title=Northwich MP explains the purpose of his school uniform bill |url=https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/19268320.northwich-mp-explains-purpose-school-uniform-bill/ |access-date=19 May 2021 |work=Northwich Guardian |date=30 April 2021}}</ref>


At the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], Amesbury was re-elected as MP for Weaver Vale with a decreased vote share of 44.9% and a decreased majority of 562.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement of Persons Nominated 2019 |url=https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/your-council/voting-and-elections/election-2019/documents/2019ge-nop.pdf}}</ref>
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In 2020, Amesbury became one of four vice-chairs of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Whistleblowing which has been subject to criticism by some campaigners on whistleblowing law reform.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Meet the team|url=https://www.appgwhistleblowing.co.uk/members|access-date=2020-07-09|website=APPG Whistleblowing|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=http://thewhistler.org/home.html|access-date=2020-07-09|website=The Whistler|language=en}}</ref>


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In March 2020, Amesbury put forward a [[private member's bill]] on education for a second reading. The Bill is seeking to reduce the cost of school uniforms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill - Friday 13 March 2020 - Hansard - UK Parliament |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-03-13/debates/5B43E213-2C7C-44F7-85BD-C275A27F8B14/Education(GuidanceAboutCostsOfSchoolUniforms)Billhighlight=mike+amesbury |website=hansard.parliament.uk}}</ref> In April 2021, the bill became law after it made it through final reading in the [[House of Lords]] and received [[royal assent]] the following day.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Scott |date=30 April 2021 |title=Northwich MP explains the purpose of his school uniform bill |url=https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/19268320.northwich-mp-explains-purpose-school-uniform-bill/ |access-date=19 May 2021 |work=Northwich Guardian}}</ref>
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==Personal life==
Amesbury is married and has a son.<ref name="auto"/> He is a [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] fan and his interests include [[rugby league]] and [[indie music]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.talkpolitics.org.uk/blog/2017/10/07/interview-with-mike-amesbury-mp|title=Interviewing Mike Amesbury MP|work=TalkPolitics|access-date=2018-10-25|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717124907/https://www.talkpolitics.org.uk/blog/2017/10/07/interview-with-mike-amesbury-mp|archive-date=2018-07-17|url-status=live}}</ref>


⚫
Amesbury was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning in the April 2020 reshuffle following [[Keir Starmer]]'s [[2020 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|election]] as [[Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Labour leader]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mike Amesbury given shadow ministerial role by new Labour leader|url=https://www.northwichguardian.co.uk/news/18378081.mike-amesbury-given-shadow-ministerial-role-new-labour-leader-kier-starmer/|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Northwich Guardian|date=14 April 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In the subsequent May 2021 reshuffle, his brief was reduced to the Shadow Minister for Housing, with [[Ruth Cadbury]] receiving the planning portfolio.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rodgers|first=Sienna|title=Reshuffle: Keir Starmer's new Labour frontbench in full|url=https://labourlist.org/2021/05/reshuffle-keir-starmers-new-labour-frontbench-in-full/|access-date=2021-05-15|website=LabourList|date=14 May 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Notes==

{{notelist}}
⚫
In July 2020, Amesbury became one of four vice-chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Whistleblowing, which some campaigners have criticised on whistleblowing law reform.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Meet the team|url=https://www.appgwhistleblowing.co.uk/members|access-date=2020-07-09|website=APPG Whistleblowing|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=http://thewhistler.org/home.html|access-date=2020-07-09|website=The Whistler|language=en}}</ref>

Prior to the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], Amesbury's constituency of Weaver Vale was abolished, with the majority of it becoming part of the new [[Runcorn and Helsby (UK Parliament constituency)|Runcorn and Helsby]] seat. In January 2024, Amesbury was selected as the Labour candidate for Runcorn and Helsby at the 2024 general election.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MP to stand in unified new Runcorn seat at next election |date=28 June 2023 |url=https://www.runcornandwidnesworld.co.uk/news/23620330.mp-stand-unified-new-runcorn-seat-next-election/ |access-date=24 January 2024 |publisher=Runcorn & Widnes World}}</ref>

⚫
==Personal life==
Amesbury is married and has a son.<ref name="auto"/> He is a [[Manchester United]] fan and his interests include [[rugby league]] and [[indie music]].<ref name="auto"/>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
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*{{UK MP links |parliament=mike-amesbury/4667 |publicwhip=Mike_Amesbury |theywork=mike_amesbury}}
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|title=[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br /> for for [[Weaver Vale (UK Parliament constituency)|Weaver Vale]]
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br /> for [[Runcorn and Helsby (UK Parliament constituency)|Runcorn and Helsby]]|years=[[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]–present}}
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Latest revision as of 00:59, 17 July 2024

Mike Amesbury
Official portrait, 2020
Member of Parliament
for Runcorn and Helsby
Weaver Vale (2017-2024)
Assumed office
8 June 2017
Preceded byGraham Evans
Shadow portfolios
2023–2024Building Safety and Homelessness
2021–2022Local Government
2020–2021Housing
2018–2020Employment
Majority14,696 (34.8%)
Member of Manchester City Council
for Fallowfield
In office
4 May 2006 – June 2017
Preceded byJohn-Paul Wilkins
Succeeded byAli Ilyas
Personal details
Born
Michael Lee Amesbury

(1969-05-07) 7 May 1969 (age 55)
Wythenshawe, Manchester, England
Political partyLabour
Alma materBradford University
University of Central England
Websitemikeamesbury.org

Michael Lee Amesbury (born 7 May 1969) is a British Labour politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Runcorn and Helsby and its predecessor constituency Weaver Vale since 2017. He has served as Shadow Minister for Building Safety and Homelessness since 2023.[1] He previously served as Shadow Minister for Employment from 2018 to 2020, Shadow Minister for Housing from 2020 to 2021 and Shadow Minister for Local Government from 2021 to 2022.

Early life and career

[edit]

Michael Amesbury was born on 7 May 1969 in Wythenshawe.[2][3][4] He was educated at Ilkley College and the University of Central England.[5]

A careers advisor by trade, Amesbury previously worked as a manager with the Connexions careers advice service. He also worked as Senior Parliamentary Advisor to Angela Rayner while she was Shadow Secretary of State for Education, and as political advisor and stakeholder manager on Andy Burnham's successful campaign to become Mayor of Greater Manchester.[6] He was a director of City South Manchester Housing Trust, an award-winning social enterprise providing affordable housing in the Fallowfield, Hulme, Moss Side and Whalley Range areas of south Manchester. He also served as a policy advisor to Tameside Council.

Political career

[edit]

Amesbury joined the Labour Party as a 17-year-old after moving with his family to Yorkshire, where he says he was politicised by the impact on local families of Margaret Thatcher's political policies and the subsequent miners' strike.[4]

He served as a Regional Officer and Fundraising and Events Manager for Labour and was later elected to the party's National Policy Forum (NPF), the policymaking arm of the Labour Party.

Amesbury was elected to Manchester City Council representing Fallowfield Ward in 2006,[7] defeating the incumbent Liberal Democrat, and subsequently winning re-election in 2010 and 2014.[8][9] Rising to the position of Executive Member for Culture and Leisure from 2008 to 2012, he helped bring the National Football Museum to the city.[10] He stood down following his election to the House of Commons, triggering a by-election in his ward in July 2017.[11]

He campaigned for 'remain' in the 2016 EU membership referendum.[12]

Parliamentary career

[edit]

At the snap 2017 general election, Amesbury was elected to Parliament as MP for Weaver Vale with 51.5% of the vote and a majority of 3,928.[13][14]

In October 2017, Amesbury stated that he supports the eventual implementation of proportional representation at elections and reform of the House of Lords to make its membership mainly elected.[4]

He was named Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Shadow Department for Work and Pensions team in January 2018, and in July of the same year was promoted to Shadow

In March 2019, Amesbury apologised for having shared an antisemitic caricature on Facebook in 2013, stating “I apologise unreservedly for this terrible error. I genuinely don’t recall sharing this image and I’m mortified that I did so. This appalling image image contains an antisemitic caricature and a reference to the ‘illuminati’ conspiracy theory. I would never have intentionally shared antisemitic tropes and I am sincerely sorry that I did”.[15]

At the 2019 general election, Amesbury was re-elected as MP for Weaver Vale with a decreased vote share of 44.9% and a decreased majority of 562.[16]

In March 2020, Amesbury put forward a private member's bill on education for a second reading. The Bill is seeking to reduce the cost of school uniforms.[17] In April 2021, the bill became law after it made it through final reading in the House of Lords and received royal assent the following day.[18]

Amesbury was appointed as the Shadow Minister for Housing and Planning in the April 2020 reshuffle following Keir Starmer's election as Labour leader.[19] In the subsequent May 2021 reshuffle, his brief was reduced to the Shadow Minister for Housing, with Ruth Cadbury receiving the planning portfolio.[20]

In July 2020, Amesbury became one of four vice-chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Whistleblowing, which some campaigners have criticised on whistleblowing law reform.[21][22]

Prior to the 2024 general election, Amesbury's constituency of Weaver Vale was abolished, with the majority of it becoming part of the new Runcorn and Helsby seat. In January 2024, Amesbury was selected as the Labour candidate for Runcorn and Helsby at the 2024 general election.[23]

Personal life

[edit]

Amesbury is married and has a son.[4] He is a Manchester United fan and his interests include rugby league and indie music.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Meet our Shadow Cabinet". The Labour Party. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  2. ^ "No. 61961". The London Gazette. 19 June 2017. p. 11780.
  3. ^ "Mike Amesbury MP". myparliament.info. MyParliament. Archived from the original on 16 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Interview with Mike Amesbury MP". TalkPolitics. 7 October 2017. Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  5. ^ "Amesbury, Mike". Who's Who. Vol. 2018 (February 2018 online ed.). A & C Black. Retrieved 14 February 2018. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  6. ^ "The Mayor | the Mayor of Greater Manchester | GMCA". Archived from the original on 17 July 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Election results - Local elections 2006 | Manchester City Council". www.manchester.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Election results - Local elections 2010 | Manchester City Council". www.manchester.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Election results - Local elections 2014 | Manchester City Council". www.manchester.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Mather & Co scores with National Football Museum contract". Manchester Evening News. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Fallowfield By Election 27 July 2017 | Fallowfield By Election 27 July 2017 | Manchester City Council". secure.manchester.gov.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  12. ^ McDougall, John (12 November 2019). "Here's the Labour candidate's policies for Weaver Vale". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  13. ^ BBC News: Election results 2017: Labour gains Weaver Vale, Warrington South and Crewe and Nantwich Archived 2018-10-08 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 9 June 2017)
  14. ^ "Weaver Vale parliamentary constituency". BBC News.
  15. ^ Sugarman, Daniel (13 March 2019). "Labour Shadow Minister Mike Amesbury apologises for sharing 'antisemitic caricature' – after denying he had". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  16. ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated 2019" (PDF).
  17. ^ "Education (Guidance about Costs of School Uniforms) Bill - Friday 13 March 2020 - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk.
  18. ^ Murphy, Scott (30 April 2021). "Northwich MP explains the purpose of his school uniform bill". Northwich Guardian. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Mike Amesbury given shadow ministerial role by new Labour leader". Northwich Guardian. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  20. ^ Rodgers, Sienna (14 May 2021). "Reshuffle: Keir Starmer's new Labour frontbench in full". LabourList. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Meet the team". APPG Whistleblowing. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  22. ^ "Home". The Whistler. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  23. ^ "MP to stand in unified new Runcorn seat at next election". Runcorn & Widnes World. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mike Amesbury.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for for Weaver Vale
2017–2024 		Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament
for Runcorn and Helsby
2024–present 		Incumbent
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