This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2015) |
Martin Philip Caton (born 15 June 1951) is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Gower from 1997 to 2015.
Martin Caton | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Gower | |
| In office 1 May 1997 – 30 March 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Gareth Wardell |
| Succeeded by | Byron Davies |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Martin Philip Caton 15 June 1951 Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England, UK |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Bethan Evans |
| Children | 2 |
Early life and career
editCaton was born in Bishop's Stortford and educated at the Newport Free Grammar School near Saffron Walden, the Norfolk School of Agriculture, and the Aberystwyth College of Further Education. From 1974 he worked for 10 years as a research officer with the Welsh Plant Breeding Station at Aberystwyth before becoming a researcher for the member of the European Parliament David Morris. He was elected as a councillor of the Mumbles Community Council (1986–90) and to the Swansea City Council from 1988 until his election in 1997 to parliament.[citation needed]
Political career
editHe won the safe Labour seat of Gower at the 1997 general election on the retirement of Gareth Wardell. He was elected with a majority of 13,007 and made his maiden speech on 4 June 1997, in which he defended the cockle industry in his constituency.[1]
Caton participated in the rebellion of Labour MPs voting against the government decision to invade Iraq in 2003, and was one of the 88 Labour MPs to vote against replacing the Trident Nuclear Missile System, Caton having been a member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament for years. Within Parliament, he has spent a long time on the Welsh Affairs Select committee and sits with the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs.[2] Martin Caton retired from Parliament at the 2015 General Election.
Personal life
editHe married Bethan Evans in 1996 and they have two daughters.
References
edit- ^ Martin Caton's maiden speech Archived 16 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine, publications.parliament.uk; accessed 8 May 2015.
- ^ Profile Archived 31 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine, l-r-c.org.uk; accessed 8 May 2015.
External links
edit- Martin Caton MP official site
- Martin Caton MP Welsh Labour Party profile
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou