Tom Levitt
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Tom Levitt MP
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Member of Parliament
for High Peak |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1 May 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Hendry |
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| Majority | 735 (1.5%) |
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| Born | 10 April 1954 Crewe, Cheshire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Teresa Levitt |
| Alma mater | Lancaster University |
| Profession | Teacher |
| Website | http://www.tomlevitt.org.uk/ |
Tom Levitt (born 10 April 1954, Crewe, Cheshire) is a British politician, and Labour member of Parliament for High Peak.
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[edit] Early life
Although born in Crewe in 1954, Levitt grew up in Leek, Staffordshire. He was one of the first intake of boys when a girls' grammar school became comprehensive Westwood High[1]. He is a Biology graduate from Lancaster University and has a teaching qualification from Oxford University.
[edit] Profession
Levitt taught in comprehensive schools and also in further education. He is the author of a textbook on intertidal ecology.
As a consultant on disabled access to services and information (1993–97), Levitt wrote three books: Sound Policies, Sound Practice and Clear Access. These deal with the way local authorities provide services for people with hearing and visual impairments. Levitt also worked as a successful Deaf Awareness trainer.
[edit] Political career
Levitt was first elected to the House of Commons at the 1997 general election after 14 years service at all levels of local government, including Derbyshire County Council. He was for a year a vice chair of Education. He was also a member of the management committee of High Peak Citizens Advice Bureau. As one of the few MPs with a qualification in British Sign Language, Levitt was an elected Trustee of the Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) from 1998 to 2003. He has chaired the Community Development Foundation since 2004.
From 1997 to 2003 Levitt was on the Standards & Privileges Committee, responsible for monitoring standards of MPs’ professional conduct. In 2004 he sat on the Scrutiny Committee for the Draft Disability Bill.
Following his election he has held various junior positions. He was Parliamentary Private Secretary to Barbara Roche MP (1999–2003), first in the Home Office and then in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Following this he was the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for International Development, from 2003–2007. He has been a member of the Work and Pensions Committee since 2007 and assistant to the Regional Minister for the East Midlands.
Levitt is known to be in favour of the Longdendale Bypass, which would run through the north of his constituency.
He was the 8th highest spending MP in 2006–07 with expenses of over £160,000[2].
[edit] Personal life
Levitt has lived in Buxton since 1991. He is married to Teresa Levitt and the couple have 3 grown-up children. He is a keen cricket fan, enjoys skiing and swims regularly. He also enjoys going to the theatre and walking.
[edit] External links
- Tom Levitt official site
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Tom Levitt MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Tom Levitt MP
- - website about Tom Levitt's expenses
[edit] References
- ^ Guardian.co.uk http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/parliament/0,,-3099,00.html
- ^ Buxton Advertiser http://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news?articleid=3432565
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Charles Hendry |
Member of Parliament for High Peak 1997 – present |
Incumbent |
