Peter Skinner: Difference between revisions
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==Member of the European Parliament== |
==Member of the European Parliament== |
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In 1994, Skinner was elected to the [[European Parliament]] as the [[Member of the European Parliament]] (MEP) for [[Kent West (European Parliament constituency)|Kent West]], a political constituency within England. In 1999, he was elected again to the European Parliament, as an MEP for the [[South East England (European Parliament constituency)|South East of England Region]].<ref name=PSMEP/> He was re-elected in 2004 and 2009, before standing down at the [[European Parliament election |
In 1994, Skinner was elected to the [[European Parliament]] as the [[Member of the European Parliament]] (MEP) for [[Kent West (European Parliament constituency)|Kent West]], a political constituency within England. In 1999, he was elected again to the European Parliament, as an MEP for the [[South East England (European Parliament constituency)|South East of England Region]].<ref name=PSMEP/> He was re-elected in 2004 and 2009, before standing down at the [[2014 European Parliament election in the United Kingdom|2014 European Parliament election]]. He was succeeded by [[Anneliese Dodds]]. |
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==Expenses fraud and conviction== |
==Expenses fraud and conviction== |
Revision as of 08:44, 8 June 2019
Peter Skinner | |
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Member of the European Parliament for South East England | |
In office 10 June 1999 – 2 July 2014 | |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Anneliese Dodds |
Member of the European Parliament for Kent West | |
In office 9 June 1994 – 10 June 1999 | |
Preceded by | Ben Patterson |
Succeeded by | Position abolished |
Personal details | |
Born | Oxford, England | 1 June 1959
Political party | Labour |
Residence | United Kingdom |
Alma mater | University of Bradford University of Warwick University of Greenwich |
Profession | Politician |
Peter William Skinner (born 1 June 1959 in Oxford) is a former Member of the European Parliament for the Labour Party for South East England. He was a member of the European Parliament from 1994 until 2014, representing the Kent West constituency and then from 1999 South East England, after the reforms in European Elections created multi-member constituencies based on British regions. On 31 March 2016, Skinner was found guilty of fraudulently claiming expenses whilst an MEP,[1] and subsequently jailed for 4 years.[2]
Early life
Peter Skinner was born in Oxford on 1 June 1959. Educated at St. Josephs R.C. Secondary Modern School in Orpington, Kent, he attended Bradford University between 1979 and 1982 where he attained a BSc in Economics and Politics. Between 1986-7 he undertook a post-graduate course in Industrial Relations at the University of Warwick, and in 1991 completed a post-graduate Diploma in Education at Coventry University. Skinner has also gained a professional qualification in Management from the University of Greenwich.[3]
Professional career
Skinner was a press consultant and latterly a lecturer in Economics and Business at North West Kent College of Technology and University of Greenwich before being elected to the European Parliament.[3]
Member of the European Parliament
In 1994, Skinner was elected to the European Parliament as the Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for Kent West, a political constituency within England. In 1999, he was elected again to the European Parliament, as an MEP for the South East of England Region.[3] He was re-elected in 2004 and 2009, before standing down at the 2014 European Parliament election. He was succeeded by Anneliese Dodds.
Expenses fraud and conviction
In 2015, Skinner was charged with: two counts of making a false instrument; one count of fraud; and one count of false accounting between 2004 and 2009. In his subsequent trial at Southwark Crown Court, the jury heard that he had claimed almost £500,000 for support staff over a five-year period. In evidence, it was alleged that Skinner had made payments of £10,000 a month to his wife from December 2007 until July 2009, which entitled him to claim secretarial or parliamentary assistance allowance. It is also alleged that he created a fake letter, for a payment of £5000 for work conducted by his father. In his defence, Skinner claimed he had been confused over the rules, and blamed a lack of information given to him by the European Parliament. On 31 March 2016, Skinner was found guilty of: one count of making a false instrument; one count of fraud; and one count of false accounting.[1] Warned that he would face a prison sentence, on 29 April 2016 he was jailed for 4 years.[2]
Footnotes
- ^ a b https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35934342
- ^ a b "Ex-MEP Peter Skinner jailed for expenses fraud". BBC News. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- ^ a b c "Peter Skinner MEP - Biography".
External links
- Official website
- European Parliament website entry
- http://www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/financialsvcs_dem/skinner_-_mep.pdf
- Use dmy dates from October 2010
- 1959 births
- Living people
- Alumni of the University of Bradford
- Alumni of the University of Warwick
- Alumni of the University of Greenwich
- Labour Party (UK) politicians
- Members of the European Parliament for English constituencies
- Labour Party (UK) MEPs
- MEPs for the United Kingdom 1999–2004
- MEPs for the United Kingdom 2004–2009
- MEPs for the United Kingdom 2009–2014
- People from Oxford
- English fraudsters
- English prisoners and detainees
- British politicians convicted of crimes