Edward Leigh

Edward Julian Egerton Leigh (born 20 July 1950) is a politician in the United Kingdom. He is Conservative Member of Parliament for Gainsborough in Lincolnshire, and was first elected in 1983. He has served as Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee since 2001.

He was educated at The Oratory School, the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle (a French school in London) and University College, Durham where he read History and was president of the Durham Union Society. Before entering politics, he practised arbitration and criminal law for Goldsmiths Chambers as a member of the Inner Temple. He was a member of Richmond Borough Council and then the Greater London Council from 1974 until 1981. He is the son of Sir Neville Leigh, one-time Clerk to the Privy Council. He is married with six children.

Leigh served as a minister in John Major's government but was sacked in 1993 due to his opposition to the Maastricht Treaty.

Edward Leigh is known for his opposition to abortion, contraception and genetic research and for his anti-gay stance. In 2003, together with Ann Widdecombe he proposed an amendment opposing repeal of Section 28 of the Local Government Act, which banned the promotion of homosexuality. In 2005, just before the General Election, when told that he came bottom of a ranking system based on gay rights, Leigh answered: "I had to giggle as I read the accompanying letter, which informed me that I came last equal with 0% ... I wear it as a badge of honour - the gay vote is not big in Lincolnshire. I was even thinking of mentioning it in my election address." Leigh is also the leader of the socially conservative Cornerstone Group and Vice President of the Catholic Union of Great Britain.

External links

^* Edward Leigh MP's official site
^* Edward Leigh MP's biography at the site of the Conservative Party
^* Public Accounts Committee
^* ePolitix.com - Edward Leigh
^* Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Edward Leigh MP
^* TheyWorkForYou.com - Edward Leigh MP
^* The Public Whip - Edward Leigh MP voting record
^* BBC News - Edward Leigh profile 15 February, 2005

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