Tom Clarke (politician)

The Right Honourable Tom Clarke CBE JP KSG
Minister of State for Film and Tourism
In office 4 May 1997 – 29 July 1998
Leader	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Nick Hawkins
Succeeded by	Janet Anderson
Shadow Minister for Disabled People
In office 19 October 1995 – 4 May 1997
Leader	Tony Blair
Preceded by	Barry Sheerman (1994)
Succeeded by	Angela Browning
Shadow Minister for Overseas Development
In office 21 October 1993 – 12 October 1994
Leader	John Smith Margaret Beckett (Acting) Tony Blair
Preceded by	Michael Meacher
Succeeded by	Joan Lestor
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
In office 18 July 1992 – 12 October 1993
Leader	John Smith
Preceded by	Donald Dewar
Succeeded by	George Robertson
Member of Parliament for Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill Coatbridge and Chryston (1997–2005) Monklands West (1983–1997) Coatbridge and Airdrie (1982–1983)
In office 24 June 1982 – 30 March 2015
Preceded by	James Dempsey
Succeeded by	Phil Boswell
Personal details
Born	(1941-01-10) 10 January 1941 (age 76) Coatbridge, United Kingdom
Political party	Labour
Alma mater	Scottish College of Commerce
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Thomas Clarke, CBE, JP, KSG (born 10 January 1941) is a British Labour Party politician who was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1982 until 2015, representing Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill from 2005 until losing his seat to Philip Boswell of the SNP in the May 2015 general election.

Clarke was born in Coatbridge and was educated at All Saints Primary School in Airdrie and St Columba High School in Coatbridge, followed by the Scottish College of Commerce in Glasgow. His brother, Tony, later become a councilor for North Lanarkshire Council.

Clarke has long been a strong supporter of British film making and was an Assistant Director of the Scottish Council for Education Technology and was also the President of the British Amateur Cinematographers Central Council in 1971. He then became a Deputy Director of the Scottish Film Council and was the organiser of the Scottish International Amateur Film Festival in 1971.

In 1973 Clarke submitted his short film, "Give Us a Goal" to the amateur section of the Cannes Film Festival. He is a member of the GMB and British Film Institute as well as being the chairman of The Citizens Trust.

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