Dr Roger Leslie Berry (born 4 July 1948) British politician and is the Labour Member of Parliament for Kingswood.

[edit] Early life

Roger Berry was born in 1948 in Huddersfield and educated at the Dalton County Primary School on Mayfield Avenue in Huddersfield; Huddersfield New College; the University of Bristol, where he obtained a BSc in Economics in 1970; and the University of Sussex where he was awarded a DPhil in Economics in 1977.^[1]

Berry lectured in economics at the School of African and Asian Studies in London from 1973-4; Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex from 1973-4; the University of Papua New Guinea from 1974-8; and the University of Bristol from 1978-92. He was elected as a councillor to the Avon County Council in 1981, becoming the deputy leader in 1985 and the Labour group leader in from 1986-92, he stood down from the council in 1993.

[edit] Parliamentary career

He contested Weston-super-Mare at the 1983 General Election but was easily beaten by Jerry Wiggin. Berry also unsuccessfully fought the seat of Bristol for the European Parliament in 1984.

Roger Berry was selected to contest the marginal seat of Kingswood at the 1987 General Election and was defeated by Robert Hayward by over 4,000 votes. Berry again contested Kingswood against Hayward at the 1992 General Election and this time was victorious and he won the seat with a majority of 2,370. He made his maiden speech on 10 June 1992.

Berry has been a frequent "rebel" against the Labour government since 1997. He is a Member of the Trade and Industry Committee. On 17 January 2007, he criticised the government for halting a corruption inquiry into arms sales to Saudi Arabia, saying it would do irreparable damage to UK's reputation.^[2]

In December 2007 Roger Berry added his name to a petition to save the threatened Somerdale Cadbury's Factory from demolition. The petition urges for English Heritage to protect the historic birthplace of modern chocolate production. ^[3]

[edit] Personal life

He married Alison Delyth in December 1996 in Pontypridd. Early on in his parliamentary career, Roger Berry became known as a disabled people's rights champion.

[edit] References

1. ^ "Roger Berry MP - Biography". http://www.rogerberrymp.co.uk/7eb7b953-ac58-4b24-295b-d11e39ce10ed. 
2. ^ "Watchdog chief warns Saudi arms probe 'must be re-opened'". Evening Standard. 17 January 2007. http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23382130-details/Watchdog%20chief%20warns%20Saudi%20arms%20probe%20'must%20be%20re-opened'/article.do. 
3. ^ "Save Our Somerdale". Thinking Differently Ltd. 13 December 2007. http://www.saveoursomerdale.co.uk/viewPetition/. 

[edit] External links

• Website of Roger Berry MP
• Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Roger Berry MP
• TheyWorkForYou.com - Roger Berry MP
• The Public Whip - Roger Berry MP voting record
• BBC Politics page

[edit] News items

• 2000 Budget