Jim Cousins

Jim Cousins

Infobox MP
honorific-prefix =
name = Jim Cousins
honorific-suffix =



constituency_MP = Newcastle upon Tyne Central
parliament =
majority = 3,982 (11.1%)
predecessor = Piers Merchant
successor = Incumbent
term_start = 11 June 1987
term_end =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1944|05|23|df=yes
birth_place = Shepherd's Bush, London
death_date =
death_place =
nationality = British
spouse =
party = Labour
relations =
children =
residence =
alma_mater = New College, Oxford, London School of Economics
occupation =
profession =
religion =


website =
footnotes =

James Mackay Cousins, known as Jim Cousins, (born February 23, 1944, Shepherd's Bush, London) is a politician in the United Kingdom. He is member of Parliament for Newcastle-upon-Tyne Central, and is a member of the ruling Labour Party.

Early life

Cousins was educated at the independent City of London School, New College, Oxford and the LSE. While at Oxford University, Cousins was a leading member of the University's Liberal Society. During the 1960s, he authored a pamphlet rejecting the then "new" Labour of the Harold Wilson era. From 1967-72 he worked in industrial relations and as a research worker in industry. From 1972-82 he was a research worker in Urban Affairs and City Labour Markets. From 1982-7, he was a lecturer at Sunderland Polytechnic.

Parliamentary career

On the party's rebel left, Cousins briefly served on the party's front bench in a foreign affairs portfolio before being stripped of his position along with fellow frontbencher Ann Clwyd in 1995. The pair had been on a fact-finding tour of Kurdistan, at that time being ravaged by Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, and failed to return in time for a crucial Commons vote. As a key ally of the then Shadow Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, Cousins was still hopeful of a ministerial job when Labour won the election in 1997, but his hopes were dashed and instead he became an influential member of the backbench Treasury Select Committee.

Although Cousins has been described as a member of Labour's so-called "awkward squad", his politics and indeed his personality are in reality more complex. He voted against the war in Iraq in 2003 and opposed the introduction of tuition fees in 2004, but on other matters - such as Tony Blair's reforms of the National Health Service, he has remained loyal.

The Liberal Democrats made a determined effort to target Cousins' Newcastle Central constituency in the 2005 general election, having taken control of Newcastle City Council the previous year, and Cousins saw his majority plummet from 11,605 to under 4,000. While unsuccessful in ousting Cousins, this result represented one of the largest swings in the country, possibly attribued to Liberal Democrat candidate Greg Stone's student-oriented campaign which focused on issues such as 2003 invasion of Iraq and Top-up fees.

Personal life

He married Anne Elizabeth. They have a two sons, and a stepson and step daughter.

External links

* [http://www.labour.org.uk/maps/locinfo.phtml?ctid=2257 The Labour Party - Jim Cousins MP] official biography
* [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-1140,00.html Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Jim Cousins MP]
* [http://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/jim_cousins/newcastle_upon_tyne_central TheyWorkForYou.com - Jim Cousins MP]
* [http://jimcousins.blogspot.com Jim Cousins Blog - by an opponent]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/421.stm BBC News - Jim Cousins] profile 30 March, 2006
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/election97/candidates/205.htm BBC Profile compiled for the 1997 General Election]

News items

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2389551.stm Mugged on October 20 2002]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cousins (surname) — Cousins is a surname, and may refer to: Alan William James Cousins Ben Cousins (born 1978), Australian rules footballer Christian and Joseph Cousins Dave Cousins, American archer Dave Cousins, leader of the UK band Strawbs David Cousins DeMarcus… …   Wikipedia

  • Cousins — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Dave Cousins (* 1945), britischer Musiker DeMarcus Cousins (* 1990), amerikanischer Basketballspieler Frank Cousins (1904–1986), britischer Politiker Harold B. Cousins (1916–1992), US amerikanischer… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Cousins Subs — Cousins Submarines Type Private Industry Restaurants Founded Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1972) Headquarters Menomonee Falls, Wi …   Wikipedia

  • Jim Nussle — James Allen „Jim“ Nussle (* 27. Juni 1960 in Des Moines, Iowa) ist ein US amerikanischer Politiker. Zwischen 1991 und 2007 vertrat er den Bundesstaat Iowa im US Repräsentantenhaus. Von 2007 bis 2009 gehörte er als Direktor des Office of… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Jim Leach — James Albert Smith „Jim“ Leach (* 15. Oktober 1942 in Davenport, Iowa) ist ein US amerikanischer Politiker. Zwischen 1977 und 2007 vertrat er den Bundesstaat Iowa im US Repräsentantenhaus. Werdegang Jim Leach besuchte …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Jim Ross Lightfoot — James „Jim“ Ross Lightfoot (* 27. September 1938 in Sioux City, Iowa) ist ein US amerikanischer Politiker. Zwischen 1985 und 1997 vertrat er den Bundesstaat Iowa im US Repräsentantenhaus. Werdegang Jim Lightfoot wuchs auf einer Farm in der Nähe… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Cousins Dalton — Les Cousins Dalton Les Cousins Dalton 12e album de la série Lucky Luke Genre(s) Franco Belge Aventure Scénario Goscinny Dessin Morris Personnages principaux Lucky Luke …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Jim Neal — Infobox Politician name = Jim Neal term start = 6 May 2008 candidate = the U.S. Senate from North Carolina opponent =Kay Hagan and others incumbent =Elizabeth Dole (R) party=Democratic date of birth=birth date and age|1956|11|6 place of… …   Wikipedia

  • Jim Robinson (Neighbours) — Infobox soap character colour = Television colour|Neighbours name = Jim Robinson series=Neighbours address = 26 Ramsay Street first = March 18, 1985 Episode 1 last = April 29, 1993 Episode 1904 cause = death by heart attack nickname = Jim alias …   Wikipedia

  • Jim Younger — Pour les articles homonymes, voir Younger. James Hardin Younger (né le 15 janvier 1848 19 octobre 1902), est un gangster et membre du Gang James Younger. Il est né dans le Missouri en 1848. Il est le neuvième enfant sur quatorze né du couple… …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”