Andrew Bennett | |
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Member of Parliament for Denton and Reddish (1974-1983) |
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In office 1 March 1974 – 11 April 2005 |
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Preceded by | Idris Owen |
Succeeded by | Andrew Gwynne |
Personal details | |
Born |
Barton-upon-Irwell |
9 March 1939
Nationality | British |
Political party | Labour |
Spouse(s) | Gillian Lawley |
Andrew Francis Bennett (born 9 March 1939) is a British Labour Party politician, who was a member of Parliament from 1974 to 2005.
Bennett was born in Barton-upon-Irwell. He attended the William Hulme's Grammar School in Whalley Range. He studied at the University of Birmingham gaining a BSocSc (Bachelor of Social Science). A geography teacher from 1960–74, Bennett was elected to Oldham Borough Council in 1964, and served on it until 1974.
He contested the Knutsford parliamentary seat in 1970 and was elected to Parliament in February 1974 for the marginal constituency of , defeating the Conservative incumbent Idris Owen by just 203 votes. Following boundary changes, he was elected MP for Denton and Reddish in 1983. From 1983 to 1988 he served on the Labour front bench as a shadow Education and Science minister. He was chairman of the House of Commons Committee on Statutory Instruments .
He rebelled against the Labour government on various issues, including the privatisation of National Air Traffic Services.
He retired at the 2005 general election, and the seat was held for Labour by Andrew Gwynne.
He married Gillian Lawley in 1961 in Manchester. They have two sons and a daughter.