Graham Stringer

Graham Eric Stringer (born 17 February 1950) is a British Labour Party politician who is Member of Parliament (MP) for Blackley and Broughton.

Early life

Stringer attended Christ Church Primary School in Beswick, Manchester, and Moston Brook High School for Boys in Harpurhey, Manchester.

After graduating in Chemistry from the University of Sheffield in 1971, Stringer worked as an analytical chemist.

Stringer became a local councillor in Manchester in 1979, and was Manchester City Council leader from 1984 to 1996. He was also chair of Manchester Airport plc from 1996 to 1997.

Parliamentary career

Stringer was first elected in 1997 taking over the Blackley seat of the retired Kenneth Eastham. He is only the third MP in the constituency since 1964, which has been a "safe" Labour seat since Paul Rose defeated Eric Johnson that year.

Stringer was as a member of the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee until 1999. He then served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Cabinet Office until 2001. After a spell on the back benches and as a government whip, he spent the last six years of the Labour Government as a member of the Transport Select Committee. He campaigned against a proposed Congestion Charge in Greater Manchester.