David Winnick

Born: 26/06/33, .

Divorced, one son.

Education: Secondary, and Diploma in Social Administration (LSE).

When out of Parliament worked for a voluntary organisation.

Councillor: 1959-66.

Candidate for Harwich, 1964.

First entered Parliament as MP for Croydon South from 1966-70.

MP for North since 1979.

Main political interests:
Housing, civil liberties and anti-discriminatory legislation, foreign affairs, and of course matters pertaining to my constituency.

Active in the House of Commons for tighter, more informative Register of Members' Interests; constantly argued during the Tory years for help to pensioners with winter fuel bills, and was pleased that the Labour government gave such assistance from the time it was elected.

A member of the home affairs select committee since 1997, argued for and fully supported a declaration of freemason membership by all those involved in the judiciary process and the police. In 2005 I wrote an amendment to the report on identity cards, and which opposed their introduction. I continue to be an active and senior member of this committee in all the inquiries undertaken.

Campaigned for a free TV licence for pensioners since introducing a Private Member's Bill in January 1987, which was defeated by the Tories. The Labour government brought in such a scheme for the 75s and over; I would obviously like to see that extended to other pensioners.

4 July 2001 - At prime minister's questions, criticised any change in incacity benefit which would adversely affect those who are severely disabled.

16 July 2001 - Argued against the government's intention not to reappoint the previous chairs of the foreign affairs and transport select committees. The Government's proposals were defeated in the House.

A constant supporter in the Commons for a ban on hunting with dogs, and used every opportunity, with other like-minded Labour colleagues, to pressure the Government to provide adequate time for the legislation to be carried. Urged with others that the Parliament Act should be used in view of the Lords' strenuous opposition; this was in fact done since otherwise there was no way the law could be brought in.

From 1997-2005 Co-Chair of British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body; a member of the Body from its inception in 1990.

On 7 February 2001, at prime minister's questions, attacked the newly-elected prime minister of , , who as defence minister at the time was widely and strongly criticised, including in , for allegedly having indirect responsibility for the massacre of Palestinians in the refugee camps in in September 1982. The actual killings were carried out by a Lebanese Christian paramilitary sect. I have continued to sharply criticize Israeli military policy in the occupied territories, and I have constantly argued for a sovereign and viable Palestinian state which will take in all the post-1967 territories; such a state would exist alongside . I am totally opposed to suicide bombings in or anywhere else.

Fully supported military action by the Allies in Kosovo to stop the ethnic cleansing and killings by the Serb paramilitaries.

On 6^th February 2006 I had an urgent question in the Commons in which I denounced those extremist Islamic demonstrators in who had shouted slogans which I described as outright incitement to murder. I said that such behaviour must never again occur on British soil.