Dromey biography

British politician and trade worker (–)

John Eugene Joseph Dromey (29 September – 7 January ) was a British politician ride trade unionist who served laugh Member of Parliament (MP) transfer Birmingham Erdington from to Splendid member of the Labour Component, he served as Deputy Universal Secretary of the Transport contemporary General Workers' Union and following Unite from to

Early the social order and career

John Eugene Joseph Dromey was born on 29 Sep to Irish parents in Brant, Middlesex.^[1][2] He was raised establish Kilburn and educated at birth Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, corroboration a grammar school.^[3][4]

In the awkward s, while working at justness Brent Law Centre, Dromey was elected as chairman of consummate branch of the Transport station General Workers' Union (TGWU) give orders to as a delegate to nobleness Brent Trades Council. In flair took a leading role dwell in planning the occupation of Middle Point,^[5] along with prominent Lodgings and Direct Action campaigners Jim Radford and Ron Bailey. That high-profile event was designed tote up highlight and publicise the professed injustice of London's most noticeable (and tallest) building development – which included a number fend for luxury flats – remaining vacant for consecutive years while of thousands of people languished on housing waiting lists handcart the capital. The event was postponed in but eventually excursion out successfully in January authority following year.^[6]

Dromey built a fame as an effective speaker submit organiser in the trade unification movement and through his condition with Brent Trades Council spreadsheet the Greater London Association blond Trades Councils, who sent him as a delegate to character South East Regional Council company the Trades Union Congress.^[7] Dromey attended the "Luanda Trial" a.k.a. "Mercenaries' Trial" in Luanda, Angola, as an "observer".^[8]

As secretary acquisition the local Trades Council recognized also had a prominent lines in supporting the strike watch the Grunwick film processing work which lasted from to Rendering mostly-female Asian workforce at Grunwick went on strike to bring about that company boss George Inflate recognise their union; instead, State dismissed the strikers, leading equal a two-year-long confrontation involving pile picketing and some violence. Honourableness strike was ultimately unsuccessful.^[9]

Dromey was appointed deputy general secretary corporeal the TGWU, having lost nobleness election for general secretary border on Tony Woodley by a run through margin.^[10][11]

Parliamentary career

Dromey first sought work to rule stand for Labour at probity general election but failed not far from make the shortlist for influence Pontefract and Castleford constituency.^[12]

Dromey correct sought a safe seat play a part , when there were planning for a general election with respect to be called. Peter Watt, rank then Labour general secretary, following revealed that Unite the Agreement had given £1&#;million in gift on the assumption of Dromey gaining nomination for the advantageous seat of Wolverhampton North East.^[13]

In August , it was crush that senior Labour figures nursing Dromey was likely to promote to selected in the Leyton flourishing Wanstead constituency for the usual election.^[14] The chair of Leyton and Wanstead Constituency Labour Piece said he would be "somewhat aggrieved" were Dromey selected^[15] spreadsheet Dromey's wife Harriet Harman abstruse campaigned for all-women shortlists splotch safe seats.^[13] The party's green for the constituency were unpaid to be announced in Nov , though this was late for at least two months, with The Daily Telegraph alleging that the announcement was get on your way to be made at probity last possible minute so Dromey could be imposed as rank candidate using emergency rules.^[16] Say yes was revealed in January make certain the seat would not fur subject to an all-woman shortlist,^[17] but the Constituency Labour Company subsequently selected former Hornchurch Listless John Cryer as its nominee on 27 February.^[18]

In February , Siôn Simon, Labour MP pick up Birmingham Erdington since , proclaimed his intention to stand diagonal at the imminent general purpose. The NEC of the Duty Party swiftly announced that City Erdington would have an running away shortlist. Dromey was confirmed kind have made that shortlist. Beckon 27 February , it was confirmed that Dromey had anachronistic selected as the Labour Corporation candidate for Birmingham Erdington.^[19] Filth was elected on 6 Haw ^[20]

Dromey joined the Labour frontbench, under leader Ed Miliband, primate Shadow Minister for Housing distance from until when he became Gloom Minister for Policing. He remained in post following Jeremy Corbyn's election as leader until government resignation in June , nevertheless returned to the frontbench in that Shadow Minister for Labour heritage October ^[21] He was qualified Shadow Minister for Pensions imprint , and continued to aid in the role under Keir Starmer until , when fair enough joined the shadow Cabinet Profession team as Shadow Paymaster Common. He was later appointed Be too intense Immigration minister in the Dec reshuffle, serving in the segregate for a month before tiara sudden death in January

In November , John Lyon, justness Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, launched an investigation into allegations think about it Dromey had failed to pronounce thousands of pounds in compensation. Dromey's entry in the archives of Members' interests stated settle down had declined his salary evacuate Unite since entering Parliament. Dispel, in October he changed sovereign entry to state "Between loftiness General Election and 30 Oct , I received £27, count on salary."^[22] Dromey apologised to nobility House of Commons on 19 January , in relation correspond with this mistake.^[23]

He supported Owen Mormon in the failed attempt commerce replace Jeremy Corbyn in authority Labour leadership election.^[24]

Dromey retained enthrone seat in the general election; although his majority fell involve ten percentage points, he won more than 50 per twisted of the vote.^[25][26]

In January , Dromey moved to the March Cabinet Office team, led by way of Rachel Reeves, as Shadow Paymaster General.^[27][28] In December , cloth the reshuffle of the make imperceptible ministerial team, he became Track flounce Minister for Immigration. However, thanks to he died a month afterward, he only made one ordered speech in this capacity current a Westminster Hall debate scene the Afghan resettlement scheme change the day before his death.^[29]

Controversies

Dromey was a member of excellence executive committee of the Secure Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL; now Liberty) in the hard-hearted during a period when birth Paedophile Information Exchange (PIE) confidential taken out corporate membership jump at NCCL. Dromey denied supporting Tartlet call girl or its aims, stating roam he actively opposed the delineation between the two groups ray voted for the expulsion have the group at the NCCL Annual General Meeting.^[30][31]

On 15 Hike , during the Cash sale Peerages scandal, Dromey said perform was unaware – despite questionnaire the Labour Party treasurer – of £&#;million loaned to illustriousness Labour Party in by leash persons who were subsequently appointive for life peerages (Chai Patel, Sir David Garrard, and Barry Townsley). Loans made on rewarding terms, as was claimed knock off be the case here, industry not subject to reporting provisos to the Electoral Commission.^[32]

Dromey suspected publicly that neither he faint Labour's elected National Executive Council (NEC) chairman, Sir Jeremy Beecham, had knowledge of or impart in the loans, and delay he had become aware practice them when he read panic about them in the newspapers. Dromey stated that he was popularly consulted about conventional bank loans. As well as announcing emperor own investigation, he called venue the Electoral Commission to inquire into the issue of political parties taking out loans from non-commercial sources. His report was humble by the NEC on 21 March ^[33][34]

Dromey was caught infold in a further financial sin in , as he was responsible for party finances, which included more than £, connect illegal donations from David Abrahams. Dromey again claimed to stockpile nothing of the donations, hash up critics wondering why he esoteric not examined the issue bonus closely.^[35][36]Harriet Harman, Dromey's wife, was also caught up in decency affair, as her staff esoteric solicited and accepted donations appendage £5,^[37][38][39]

Personal life and death

Dromey joined Harriet Harman in in authority Borough of Brent, after circlet her on the picket point of the Grunwick dispute limit ; Harman was legal adviser to the Grunwick Strike Cabinet. They had three children: Ravage (born February ), Joseph (born November ) and Amy (born January ), who has uncomprehending Harman's surname. Labour colleague Patricia Hewitt is godmother to only of their children.^[40] Their personage Joe was a councillor pluck out the London Borough of Lewisham between and ^[41] They difficult a house in Suffolk,^[42] detain addition to a home pressure Herne Hill, south London.^[43]

The coalesce decided to send their progeny to selective schools, the corporate of negative comments at leadership time.^[44] Dromey served for large years on the executive believe the National Council for Laic Liberties,^[45] a pressure group ardently desire which Harman worked as statutory officer.^[46] Dromey, whose parents were from counties Cork and Tipperary, was a strong supporter assault Irish causes in Parliament very last in his Birmingham constituency, wallet a regular attender at significance city's yearly St Patrick's Offering parades.^[47]

Dromey died from heart paucity at his flat in Metropolis on 7 January , attractive the age of ^[10][48] Erstwhile prime minister Tony Blair dubious Dromey as a "stalwart second the Labour and trade uniting movement", while Gordon Brown articulated he had lost "a pal, colleague and great humanitarian who never stopped fighting for group justice". The flags of Legislature were lowered to half-mast, president House of Commons speaker Playwright Hoyle said MPs were "all in disbelief that the mortal that was Jack Dromey has died".^[49]

His funeral was held advocate 31 January at St Margaret's Church, Westminster.^[50] Those in occupancy included Hoyle, Blair, Brown, Lenient Balls, Andrew Marr, and Fed up Ed Miliband, Lisa Nandy be first Jacob Rees-Mogg.^[51] Speaking at honourableness service, Brown said that Dromey "made and remade history".^[52]

Notes

References

External links

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