Edit filter log

'{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2013}} {{Infobox Politician |honorific-prefix = |name = Gordon Birtwistle |image = Gordon Birtwistle pre-MP at Birmingham 2010.jpg |honorific-suffix = [[Member of Parliament|MP]] |office4 = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] <br> for [[Burnley (UK Parliament constituency)|Burnley]] |majority4 = 1,818 (4.3%) |term_start4 = 6 May 2010 |term_end4 = |predecessor4 = [[Kitty Ussher]] |successor4 = |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1943|09|06|df=yes}}<ref>{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/38423.stm |title=Gordon Birtwistle MP |publisher=BBC |work=BBC Democracy Live |date= |accessdate=25 July 2010}}</ref> |birth_place = [[Oswaldtwistle]], [[Lancashire]], England |nationality = [[United Kingdom|British]] |spouse = |party = [[Liberal Democrats]] |alma_mater = }} '''Gordon Birtwistle''' (born 6 September 1943) is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] [[politician]]. He is the [[Member of Parliament (UK)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for the [[constituency]] of [[Burnley (UK Parliament constituency)|Burnley]], England, from May 2010. He was [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to [[Danny Alexander]], [[Chief Secretary to the Treasury]].<ref>[http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/gordon-birtwistle/38423 Bio at parliament.uk] Acccessed 2010</ref> Birtwistle took Burnley from [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] for the Liberal Democrats in the [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|2010 General Election]], with a 12% swing and 1,818 majority.<ref>''BBC'', 7 May 2010, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/election2010/results/constituency/a80.stm Burnley]</ref> ==Career== Birtwistle started as a craft engineering apprentice in 1958 with [[Howard & Bullough]] who were textile machinery manufacturers in [[Accrington]]. He studied engineering at Accrington College on one day release and two nights a week and achieved two higher nationals, one in mechanical engineering and one in production engineering. At the age of 21 he became a jig and tool draftsman with the same company and stayed there until 1968 when he went to work for [[Lucas Aerospace]] in [[Burnley]] as a machine shop methods engineer. He stayed there until aged 30 when he became a technical representative for Osborne Mushet Tools in [[Sheffield]], who were manufacturers of metal cutting tools. After five years he left to set up his own company called C&G Cutter Grinding Services in [[Blackburn]]. Birtwistle sold this company in the mid 1980s to a large engineering [[PLC]] whom he continued to work for. After four years he set up P&J Engineering Supplies, buying and selling engineering tools. In the late 1990s he bought Stewart Engineering (precision engineers) with a partner. This later folded due to a bad debt in 2002. P&J is still in existence but Gordon retired in 2008 and became an MP in 2010. Before entering [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] he had been [[Burnley (borough)|Burnley]] Council leader since [[Burnley Council election, 2006|2006]], and as a local councillor since 1982. He originally entered politics as a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] councillor in the 1970s. ==Election aims== On election his three main aims were returning the [[Emergency department]] to Burnley General Hospital; bringing new high-value jobs and firms to Burnley; and reinstating direct rail travel between Burnley and [[Manchester]].<ref>[http://www.blackburncitizen.co.uk/news/8159254.print/ Introducing East Lancashire's four new MPs (From Blackburn Citizen)]. Blackburncitizen.co.uk (11 May 2010). Retrieved on 4 February 2013.</ref> He has enjoyed some success with the reinstatement of the Todmorden Curve which would enable a direct rail link between Manchester and Burnley. The 500 metre stretch of track, unused since the 1960s, is on course to be rebuilt by 2013 and it is expected to have trains running direct from Burnley to Manchester from 2014.<ref>[http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/archive/2011/05/17/Burnley+%28burnley%29/9032186.Todmorden_Curve_could_be_running_by_2013/ Todmorden Curve could be running by 2013 (From Lancashire Telegraph)]. Lancashiretelegraph.co.uk (17 May 2011). Retrieved on 4 February 2013.</ref> He has continued to encourage manufacturing jobs and firms to invest in Burnley, hosting a manufacturing summit for the North West region in Burnley in June 2011<ref>[http://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/business-news/business_secretary_vince_cable_outlines_key_to_burnley_s_future_1_3501894 Business Secretary Vince Cable outlines key to Burnley’s future – Business News]. Burnley Express (21 June 2011). Retrieved on 4 February 2013.</ref> and expressing ambitions to hold an exhibition of Burnley's manufacturing strength in 2012.<ref>[http://www.burnleyexpress.net/news/opinion/columnists/gordon_birtwistle_mp_let_s_stage_the_great_exhibition_of_2012_1_3185893 GORDON BIRTWISTLE MP: Let’s stage The Great Exhibition of 2012 – Columnists]. Burnley Express (16 March 2011). Retrieved on 4 February 2013.</ref> He was one of the Liberal Democrat MPs who voted for the increase in [[Tuition fees (UK)|student tuition fees]],<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11964669 BBC News – Tuition fees: How Liberal Democrat MPs voted]. Bbc.co.uk (9 December 2010). Retrieved on 4 February 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/8726330.Burnley_Lib_Dem_MP_decides_to_vote_for_tuition_fee_hike/ Burnley Lib Dem MP decides to vote for tuition fee hike (From Lancashire Telegraph)]. Lancashiretelegraph.co.uk (8 December 2010). Retrieved on 4 February 2013.</ref> citing economic and political necessity. He argued to student audiences in talks given at Burnley educational facilities that the changes were an improvement on the previous system and that many people from Burnley would actually end up paying less under the new arrangement. He opposes equal marriage and voted against the government bill to allow [[same-sex mariage]] in England and Wales. <ref>[http://www.c4em.org.uk/support-for-equal-marriage/ Coalition For Equal Marriage | Support For Equal Marriage]. C4em.org.uk. Retrieved on 4 February 2013.</ref> <ref> [http://m.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/feb/05/gay-marriage-gay-rights]. Retrieved on 6 February 2013. </ref> ==Interests== He is a supporter of [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers Football Club]]. ==References== {{reflist|2}} ==External links== *[http://www.burnleylibdems.org.uk/ Burnley Liberal Democrats] *[http://www.libdems.org.uk/people_detail.aspx?name=Gordon_Birtwistle&pPK=c11f5929-c2a6-494c-b73f-6df8fdbaa520 Profile] at the Liberal Democrats *{{MPLinksUK | parliament = gordon-birtwistle/38423 | hansard = mr-gordon-birtwistle | hansardcurr = 5525 | guardian = 9748/gordon-birtwistle | publicwhip = Gordon_Birtwistle | theywork = gordon_birtwistle | record = Gordon-Birtwistle/Burnley/1343 | bbc = 38423.stm | journalisted = }} {{s-start}} {{s-par|uk}} {{incumbent succession box | title = [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Burnley (UK Parliament constituency)|Burnley]] | start = [[United Kingdom general election, 2010|2010]] | before = [[Kitty Ussher]] }} {{s-end}} {{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> | NAME = Birtwistle, Gordon | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = British politician | DATE OF BIRTH = 6 September 1943 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Oswaldtwistle | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Birtwistle, Gordon}} [[Category:1943 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Members of the United Kingdom Parliament for English constituencies]] [[Category:Liberal Democrat (UK) MPs]] [[Category:UK MPs 2010–]] [[Category:Politics of Burnley]] [[Category:Councillors in Lancashire]]'