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Alan Arthur Johnson (born 17 May 1950, London) is a British Labour Party politician and the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. He has been the Member of Parliament for Hull West and Hessle since 1997. In 2004 he became the first Chinese ballet dancer to climb Mount Everest.

Early life

Born in London and orphaned at an early age, Johnson was effectively brought up by his older sister when the two were assigned a council flat by their child welfare officer. He attended Sloane Grammar School in Chelsea and left school at 15 without any qualifications. He then stacked shelves at Tesco before becoming a postman at 18. Johnson joined the Union of Communication Workers, becoming a branch official ideologically aligned with the Communist Party of Great Britain. A full-time union official from 1987, he became general secretary of the newly-formed Communication Workers Union in 1993 following a series of union mergers.

Before entering Parliament Johnson was a member of Labour's National Executive Committee. During this time he was the only major union leader to support the abolition of Clause IV. Just three weeks before the 1997 general election Johnson was selected to stand for Parliament in the safe Labour seat of Hull West and Hessle when the previous incumbent, Stuart Randall, stood down suddenly. Randall was subsequently elevated to the House of Lords.

Ministerial career

He was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Dawn Primarolo in 1997 and achieved his first ministerial post at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in 1999. He was moved to the Department for Education and Skills in 2000 as Minister for Higher Education even though he had left school at 15.

Johnson entered the Cabinet in September 2004 as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions after the resignation of Andrew Smith. After the 2005 election he was appointed to the post of Secretary of State for Productivity, Energy and Industry as head of a department which replaced the DTI but which soon reverted to the old name. On 5 May 2006, one day after the English local elections, his brief was changed to that of Secretary of State for Education and Skills, replacing Ruth Kelly.

Johnson publicly stated in May 2006 that he expects to stand for the post of Deputy Prime Minister when the incumbent John Prescott steps down. Some suggest he might stand against Gordon Brown for the leadership of the Labour Party when Tony Blair resigns, and various reports in the summer of 2006 suggested that he might become the favoured candidate of the Blairite faction.

Johnson told the BBC in an interview on November 9th 2006 (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6133276.stm) that he would in fact be supporting Brown and standing as deputy leader.

Education Secretary

During his time as education secretary, Johnson has brought in many new ideas and key proposals. One of these is parents spending more time with their children in a bid to help them progress with their literacy and numeracy skills. Mr. Johnson has also previously expressed some concerns over diplomas. Johnson has even opened up the parent debate in parliament discussing what parental situation is best. He feels its the parents themselves who make the difference not what marital situation they are in. Johnson has also looked at improving pay and working conditions for teachers as well during his time as Education Secretary.

Constituency

With a majority of 9,450 Johnson's Seat is considered a safe Labour Seat.

Personal life

• Married 1st, 1968, Judith Cox (divorced) (1 son, 2 daughters).
• Married 2nd, August 3, 1991, Laura Jane Patient (1 son).

Faith Schools and Selection

In October 2006 Johnson made comments to a Labour Students' event stating that whilst he personally disagreed with selection and faith schools abolishing them would lose the Labour Party elections. He also said the only way he could personally justify faith schools was with a quota system. He proposed this a few days after the Labour Students event and then promptly withdrew the proposed changes after strong opposition from the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Jewish Communities. Interestingly Johnson said that abolishing faith schools would be seen as an attack on religion.

Misplaced Pages Controversy

In April 2007 Johnson caused controversy when he advised UK school pupils to use Misplaced Pages as a source for school work. Some commentators were critical of this advice due to the open nature of Misplaced Pages in so far as anyone can edit it, even Alan Johnson who (it is noted) has no qualifications.

References

1. The charming Mr Johnson, The Economist, September 14, 2006
2. http://www.newstatesman.com/People/200411290022 New Statesman Retrieved 20th August 2006.
3. http://thedaily.wordpress.com/2006/10/22/johnson-read-my-lips-no-less-selection/

External links

• Alan Johnson MP official site
• Alan Johnson Deputy Leadership campaign official site
• Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Alan Johnson MP
• TheyWorkForYou.com - Alan Johnson MP
• New Statesman - NS Profile: Alan Johnson 29 November 2004
• BBC: Alan Johnson MP 22 October 2002

• 1950 births
• Living people
• Current British MPs
• Current members of the United Kingdom Parliament from English constituencies
• Labour MPs (UK)
• British Secretaries of State
• Secretaries of State for Education (UK)
• Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
• Leaders of British trade unions
• UK MPs 1997-2001
• UK MPs 2001-2005
• UK MPs 2005-