Rob Marris

Early life and career

The son of Dr. Charles Marris and Margaret Marris JP, he was born in Wolverhampton and partially educated at Warstones Primary School, before attending Birchfield Preparatory School and St. Edward's School in Oxford. He then moved to Canada and spent some time as a lumberjack, before obtaining a double first in History and Sociology from the University of British Columbia. He then completed a master's degree, working as a truck driver whilst finishing his thesis. Having decided he wanted a career in law in the UK and not being eligible for a UK grant, he spent 3 years driving trolleybuses, followed by a period as a forest fire fighter during which time he joined Greenpeace, newly founded in Vancouver, becoming world member no. 204. He was also a member of the New Democratic Party, Canada's counterpart to the Labour Party as members of the Socialist International. He served his articles of clerkship in Wolverhampton and went to work for Thompsons solicitors, whose work he says is 90% Trade Union related, until he was elected to Parliament.

First terms (2001–10)

First elected at the 2001 general election, on 8 July 2007, he became PPS to Shaun Woodward, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

In July 2008, Marris received the "Backbencher of the Year" award from The House, the magazine of the House of Commons and the Lords. Marris has spoken in a "well above average" number of parliamentary debates and has a "well above average" voting record.

Marris emerged well from the May 2009 political scandal of MPs expenses disclosures being listed as a "saint", with minimal claims for second home. However, he was defeated in the 2010 general election by Paul Uppal of the Conservative Party.

Return (2015–17)

In May 2013, Marris was selected as the Labour Party's Parliamentary candidate for Wolverhampton South West in the 2015 General Election. The seat was once held by the Conservative Enoch Powell, known for his April 1968 "rivers of blood" speech in which he opposed immigration. In the run-up to the 2015 election, both Marris, his main opponent, Paul Uppal and even UKIP agreed that immigration was no longer a key issue. Marris expressed concern about zero-hour contracts, foodbanks and workers earnings below living wages and whilst Uppal highlighted the improvement in community relations.

In 2015, Marris introduced the Assisted dying Bill, based on Lord Falconer of Thoroton's earlier proposals in the House of Lords. The bill was praised by Philip Collins, a leader writer for The Times as "a sophisticated and humane attempt" to clarify the law before the courts do so and which unlike religion "will actually ease suffering." Archbishop Welby's subsequent objections were described as "histrionic" and lacking any religious reason. According to Linda Woodhead, professor of sociology of religion at Lancaster University, 70 per cent of religious people wanted the law changed. The bill was rejected by 330 to 118.

He was appointed a shadow Treasury Minister by Jeremy Corbyn in September 2015. Among scores of colleagues, he resigned on 30 June 2016. A marginal at the 2015 general election, Marris regained Wolverhampton South West with a majority of 801 votes, he stood down at the 2017 general election

Outside Parliament

In June 2008, Marris was cautioned after causing damage, which he said was unintentional, to a van which was impeding his access to a bus stop. He is Honorary President of the Wolves on Wheels Cycle Campaign.