About Ian
Hello and welcome to my website.
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My name is Ian Gibson and I am the Member of Parliament for the Norwich North constituency. |
I have been the MP for Norwich North since my election in 1997. I am originally from Scotland and was born in Dumfries on the 26th September 1938 to William and Winifred Gibson. I went to school at Dumfries Academy where I acquired a passion for all things scientific- especially biology. I pursued my passion for science |
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by going on to study at Edinburgh University where I gained a BSC and later on a PhD in genetics.
I started work at the University of East Anglia in 1965 where I served as the Dean of the School of Biological Sciences from 1991 to 1997. I had a fantastic time at UEA. I headed a research team investigating various forms of cancer including leukaemia, breast and prostate cancer. In 2003, the university made me an Honorary Professor.
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As you would have gathered by now, health and education are important issues for me. My first steps into politics were spurred on by the actions of the Conservative government in these sectors. I first stood for Parliament in 1992 because I was appalled by what was happening in the National Health Service and in Higher Education. |
I lost that election by just 266 votes. The slim defeat only made me more determined to enter politics, and in 1997 I tried again and won the Norwich North seat by 9470 votes. I have been re-elected twice since 1997- in 2001 and most recently in May 2005.
| Norwich North has many seriously deprived areas, with many struggling lone parents and unemployed young people. My ambition is to encourage voluntary organisations and direct government money towards restoring pride and ambition to the hundreds of people living in some of the most deprived areas of my constituency. Other parts of my constituency have problems with roads, traffic,
telecommunications masts and the failure of councils to put schools in new housing development areas. |
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My work in Parliament and in Norwich has primarily consisted of advocacy work and pushing the government to take more notice of the role that science plays (and can play) in our nation. My scientific background has meant that I have been involved in numbers of groups and charities in Parliament. You can find out more about the work of these groups by clicking here.
I am happily married with two daughters. One works in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the other in the Shipping Industry in Athens. My hobbies include going to the cinema, reading science books and my passion is football - I’m a Norwich City season ticket holder.
Every rose has a thorn...
During my time in Parliament, I have acquired the reputation of a rebel. I like to believe that this is because I have and will always put people and sound judgement first before political ambition.
Nevertheless, I strongly believe that the Labour Party, more than any other party, empowers ordinary people and provides them with an opportunity to change their lives for the better. Since 1997 the Labour government has brought huge benefits to the people of Britain, including a national minimum wage, low mortgate rates, high employment rates and record levels of literacy and numeracy in schools. We have doubled the overseas aid budget and are now making climate change a top priority.
Although I feel strongly about certain issues and my objections to some policies can be vocal, I vote with the Labour Party over 90% of the time. To find out more about the Labour Party, click here.
You can find out more about the work of an MP and what they can do for you by clicking here for a booklet. To download the booklet in another language. Click here
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