Andrew Dismore is the first Labour MP to represent the area since 1945, and the first MP for the new constituency of Hendon, which was created in 1997 following boundary changes. He was first elected in 1997 with a 16.2% swing to Labour from the Conservatives, and a majority of 6,155. Andrew was re-elected in 2001 and 2005.
Work in the House of Commons
Andrew serves on two Select Committees – The Joint Committee on Human Rights, which he chairs; and the Standards and Privileges Committee.
Andrew is also active in a number of Parliamentary Groups.
He is also chair of London Group of Labour MPs;
FBU Parliamentary Group;
BVI All Party Parliamentary Group;
FEPOW All Party Parliamentary Group;
Chinese in Britain All Party Parliamentary Group.
Co Chair of
All Party Wine and Spirit Group.
Vice Chair of
Friends of Cyprus;
Labour Friends of Israel;
Labour Friends of India;
All Party Opera;
All Party Occupational Health & Safety Group;
All Party Olympics Group.
Secretary of
All Party Greece Group.
Vice President of
Arts and Heritage Group
Vice Group & Secretary of
British-Israel Parliamentary Group.
Initiatives taken by Andrew in Parliament include promoting a Private Member's Ten Minute Rule Bill leading to Holocaust Remembrance Day, and amendments to the Access to Justice Bill to reform the legal profession, together with changes to improve the investigation of major accidents. Andrew has also promoted a Bill on corporate manslaughter. He piloted his 10 Minute Rule Bill, the Divorce (Religious Marriages) Act through all its stages in Parliament. This is now law. He is currently promoting two Bills; the Crown Employment (Nationality) Bill, which will bring fairer rules to civil service recruitment; and the Pharmaceutical Labelling Bill which proposes clearer and easier to understand labelling for drugs packaging.
Andrew's particular political interests include social security and health; crime and internationally, Greece, Cyprus, the Middle East, India and Africa.
Background
Born and brought up in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, Andrew's family has been involved in politics since the 1940s. His grandfather, father and mother, were all local town councillors. Andrew's father was Deputy Mayor of Bridlington, and his mother was Mayor.
Andrew attended Bridlington Grammar School, and went on to Warwick University to study law, the first member of his family to go to University. After graduating in 1975, Andrew was awarded an MA from the London School of Economics in 1976 and he has lived and worked in London ever since.
Early Political Background
Andrew has been a Labour Party member since 1974. In 1982, he was elected to Westminster City Council, and from 1990 to 1997 was leader of the Labour Group on the Council.
He was instrumental in exposing local government corruption in Westminster, including the sale of three cemeteries for 15p, the gerrymandering of elections through the “homes for votes” scandal; the favouritism of central government funding to Westminster at the expense of other local councils; and asbestos-ridden tower blocks.
Professional Background
As a solicitor, Andrew specialised in helping victims of accidents and crime. He worked on several high-profile cases including the Zeebrugge ferry disaster and the Kings Cross fire. He helped block the Conservative government's attempts to cut compensation for victims of violent crime.
Membership of other National Organisations
Andrew has wide political interests, being a member of:
- The Co-op Party
- Action for Southern Africa (formerly the Anti Apartheid Movement)
- The Fabian Society
- Arts for Labour
- The Society of Labour Lawyers
- Labour Friends of Israel
- Labour Friends of India
- Labour Friends of Cyprus
Other Interests
Andrew enjoys gardening and watching cricket. He has a keen interest in Greek history and culture and speaks Greek and French to a reasonable conversational level.
