Name Paul Brannen Nationality British Role Member of Parliament | Political party Labour Alma mater University of Leeds | |
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UK election: Paul Brannen MEP
Paul Brannen (born 13 September 1962) is a British Member of the European Parliament for the North East England region for the Labour Party. He was elected in 2014.
Contents
- UK election Paul Brannen MEP
- Paul Brannen asks Phil Hogan about impact of Common Agricultural Policy on fairtrade farmers
- Early life
- Political career and activism
- European Parliament
- References
Paul Brannen asks Phil Hogan about impact of Common Agricultural Policy on fairtrade farmers
Early life
Brannen was brought up in Tyneside, North East England. He attended the University of Leeds, where he studied theology and religious studies. Being involved in student politics, he became President of the Leeds University Union.
Political career and activism
After university, Brannen worked for the Anti-Apartheid Movement, leading the campaign against executions by the apartheid government in South Africa. He famously interrupted a press conference being held by Mike Gatting to announce his plans to lead a rebel cricket tour to South Africa in breach of the international sporting boycott. He later moved to Christian Aid, where he led campaigns on poverty and, more recently, climate change. Brannen served five years as a Councillor on Newcastle City Council. He has twice stood for election as a Member of Parliament; for Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1997, and for Hexham in 2001. He was unsuccessful at both elections having come second.
European Parliament
Brannen stood in the 2014 European Parliament election as a Labour Party candidate for the North East England region. With Labour having won the most votes in the region, he was elected a Member of the European Parliament. On 1 July 2014, he was elected to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.