David Jamieson (British politician)

Early life and career

Born in Solihull, England, he was educated at Tudor Grange Grammar school, and later at St. Peter's College, Saltley, Birmingham.

Before becoming an MP, he was a teacher at Riland Bedford School and later a head of Mathematics at Crown Hills Community College between 1970 and 1981, before becoming the senior vice principal of the John Kitto Community College in Plymouth (1981–1992).

Member of Parliament

Jamieson was elected to the County Borough of Solihull Council for the Lyndon Ward at a by-election in July 1970 having been an unsuccessful candidate in the elections in May of that year. He stood for the same Ward in 1973 when elections for the new Metropolitan Borough of Solihull was established but the 3 Conservative candidates were all narrowly elected. Jamieson first stood for Parliament, unsuccessfully, for Birmingham Hall Green in February 1974, losing to Conservative incumbent Reginald Eyre by 21,036 votes (43.5%) to 27,280 (56.5%). He was then the Labour Party candidate for Plymouth Drake in 1987, gaining 9,451 votes (24%) and coming third, behind SDP–Liberal Alliance candidate David Astor and the incumbent Conservative MP, Janet Fookes.

He then stood for Plymouth Devonport in the 1992 general election and was successful, defeating Conservative candidate Keith Simpson by 24,953 votes (48.7%) to 17,541 votes (34.3%).

After the Lyme Bay canoeing tragedy, in which four Southway Community College pupils died on a canoeing expedition with the St Albans Challenge Centre in Lyme Bay, Dorset in 1993, he guided a private member's bill through the House of Commons which became the Activity Centres (Young Persons Safety) Act 1995.

He was re-elected in 1997 with 31,629 votes (60.9%) and was appointed a government whip. After being re-elected in 2001 with 24,322 votes (58.3%), he was appointed the Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Department for Transport, with responsibility for shipping, rail and aviation. He remained there until leaving office on 14 May 2005.

He chose to step down at the 2005 general election, saying that he had achieved all he set out to and likened his departure to a chapter in a book coming to a natural end. He also felt that the Mackay Vision would be best served by a new MP taking it forward. He was succeeded by Labour candidate Alison Seabeck.

After leaving the House of Commons, Jamieson worked as a consultant for Golden Arrow Communications, which represents transport companies such as Hutchinson Ports, National Express and GNER.

Local councillor

Jamieson was elected to Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council on 7 May 2010 representing the Kingshurst & Fordbridge ward in the north of the Borough, and was promoted to hold the Cabinet portfolio for Transport and Highways following the formation of a Liberal Democrat-Labour coalition administration on the authority on 25 May 2010.

He subsequently became leader of the Labour group on the council, but in the May 2014 elections, he lost his seat to UK Independence Party candidate Debbie Evans. He polled 713 votes to her 1,022. Speaking to the Solihull Observer, he said, "I will now enjoy retirement. I have already retired once but this time I mean it. Before I stood in this election I said that this would be the last time I stand."

Police and Crime Commissioner

In June 2014 he indicated he was a candidate for the vacancy of West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner and on 14 July 2014 the selection panel chose him as the official Labour Party candidate. The vacancy was caused by the death of the incumbent, Bob Jones, formerly a Labour councillor from Wolverhampton.

The election was held on 21 August 2014 and Jamieson was declared the winner with 50.8% of the vote. Shortly afterwards, he was sworn in and confirmed that Yvonne Mosquito, the Acting PCC, and Jones' deputy, would be his deputy.

His first pledge after being elected was to find the money to reactivate all of the West Midlands' speed cameras and he said that his top priorities were recruiting more police officers, improving neighbourhood policing and reducing the number of fatalities and injuries on the region's roads.

Jamieson was re-elected in 2016. After narrowly avoiding victory with 49.8% of the vote in the first round, he won 63.3% in the second round against the Conservative candidate.