Michael Clapham

I was elected to represent Barnsley West and Penistone in parliament on 9th of April 1992 with a 14,504 majority. In the general election on 1st of May 1997 my majority increased by 5.3% to 17,267.

I was born in Barnsley into a fiercely Labour family and have lived there most of my life. I consider I know the area and the people as well as understanding the culture of the community. Yvonne, my wife comes from the small town of Wombwell that is on the east side of the borough. My daughter and son are grown up and my beautiful grand daughter was born on the 4th of August 1997.

I left school at the age of 15 years without any formal qualifications to begin work at Dodworth Colliery. I was involved in the colliery NUM branch from my early teens. From beginning work, if not from birth, I was and still am a socialist. Whilst working on the coal face I did my 'O' and 'A' levels at Barnsley College in the evenings. I studied for an external London University degree, full time, at Leeds Poly. After graduation I did a Post Graduate Certificate of Education at Leeds University. Later I studied, part time, for my Master of Philosophy degree at Bradford University.

After leaving full time college I taught Trade Union Studies in the Adult Studies Unit at Whitehall College of Further Education, Castleford. I was teaching, full time, for about three years. I left to become the Deputy Head of Compensation for the NUM Yorkshire Area. In 1983 I moved to the NUM HQ to become the Unions Head of Industrial Relations.

I joined the Labour Party again in 1979 and have been an active member since. I held positions in the party at both branch and constituency level. Also I was an officer of the Barnsley Anti Nazi League and CND. In addition, I was National Secretary of Miners Against the Nazis.