Mark Richard Tami (born 3 October 1962) is a Welsh Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Alyn and Deeside since 2001. He has served as Deputy Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons since 2024.[1]
Mark Tami | |
---|---|
Official portrait, 2020 | |
Government Deputy Chief Whip Treasurer of the Household | |
Assumed office 10 July 2024 | |
Prime Minister | Keir Starmer |
Preceded by | Marcus Jones |
Opposition Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Commons | |
In office 5 September 2023 – 5 July 2024 Serving with Holly Lynch | |
Leader | Keir Starmer |
Preceded by | Lilian Greenwood |
Opposition Pairing Whip | |
In office 11 October 2010 – 5 September 2023 | |
Leader | Ed Miliband Harriet Harman Jeremy Corbyn Keir Starmer |
Preceded by | Position Established |
Member of Parliament for Alyn and Deeside | |
Assumed office 7 June 2001 | |
Preceded by | Barry Jones |
Majority | 8,794 (20.3%) |
Personal details | |
Born | Mark Richard Tami 3 October 1962 Enfield, London, England |
Political party | Labour |
Spouse | Sally Daniels Tami |
Children | 2 |
Residence(s) | Llanfynydd, Flintshire, Wales |
Alma mater | University of Wales, Swansea |
Website | www |
Early life
editBorn in Enfield, north London, Tami was educated at Enfield Grammar School (by then a comprehensive school), and graduated in history at the University of Wales, Swansea. He was previously National Head of Policy of the union Amicus (previously the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union.[2]
Parliamentary career
editTami was first elected as MP for Alyn and Deeside in 2001 with a majority of 9,222, following the decision of the seat's former MP Stephen Barry Jones to step down from Parliament.
Tami was returned again as MP for Alyn and Deeside at the 2005 general election, with a reduced majority. He resigned his post as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Dawn Primarolo on 6 September 2006, due to the refusal by Tony Blair to name a date for stepping down as Prime Minister.[3] He was joined by future Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Tom Watson and fellow Welsh MPs Ian Lucas and Wayne David in resignation.[4]
Tami was promoted by Gordon Brown in July 2007 to a whip.[5] In the 2010 general election, Tami was re-elected for a third time, however with a further reduced majority of 2,919.[6]
Tami was re-elected as MP for Alyn and Deeside on 7 May 2015 at the general election with a slightly increased majority from 2010. In the 2017 general election, Tami was returned with a vastly increased majority of 5,235 votes and a 52.1% share of the vote.[7]
On Thursday 12 December 2019, Tami was the only Labour MP in North Wales not to lose his seat, narrowly beating the Conservative candidate Sanjoy Sen by just 213 votes, falling from a majority of over 5000 in the previous election.[8]
In March 2020, Tami led a cross-party campaign to end the 9-week wait without income for people on Universal Credit when they reach state pension age. After Tami's campaign, the government changed the regulations.[9]
Expenses
editDuring the MPs expenses scandal Tami was one of more than 50 MPs identified by the Daily Telegraph of over-claiming on council tax expenses for their second home. Tami said, "I will go back and calculate the exact level I have over-claimed in error and repay the sum involved".[10] He paid back the full £996.70[11] for council tax on his London home.[12]
Personal life
editHe married Sally Daniels in July 1994 in Bromley and they have two sons. They live in Llanfynydd having lived in Bromley for many years. He is a former member of the TUC General Council and an active member of the Fabian Society.[13]
Tami's eldest son, Max, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2007 at age 9.[14] Max made a full recovery following intensive chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant at Alder Hey Children's Hospital.[15] Tami has repeatedly called for the Government to do more to help cancer patients and their families, including providing appropriate psychological support.[16]
Styles
edit- Mr Mark Richard Tami (3 October 1962 – 7 June 2001)
- Mr Mark Richard Tami MP (7 June 2001 – 23 November 2018)
- The Right Honourable Mark Richard Tami MP (23 November 2018 – present)[17]
References
edit- ^ "Ministerial Appointments". Number 10 Downing Street. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ Profile Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, votetami.marktami.co.uk; accessed 8 May 2015.
- ^ "Seven MPs resign posts over Blair departure". The Independent. 6 September 2006. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "Resignations and threats:the plot to oust the Prime Minister". The Guardian. 7 September 2006. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
- ^ "Rt Hon Mark Tami MP". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Alyn & Deeside". BBC News. Archived from the original on 23 August 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ "Alyn and Deeside remains in Labour hands after impressive election win". Deeside.com.
- ^ "Labour MP Mark Tami on life after the 'red wall' fell". BBC News. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "Universal Credit: Government spends £70m to overturn 'nine-week wait' between benefit and state pension payment". The Independent. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ Watt, Robert Winnett and Holly (19 June 2009). "MPs' expenses: MPs made inflated council tax claims". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ Live, North Wales (1 July 2009). "Labour MP Mark Tami has paid back almost £1,000 he mistakenly claimed for council tax on his designated London Home". northwales. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "MPs' expenses: MPs made inflated council tax claims". Daily Telegraph. 19 June 2009. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
- ^ Profile Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, votetami.marktami.co.uk; accessed 8 May 2015.
- ^ Live, North Wales (20 August 2007). "MP Mark Tami's son fights leukaemia". northwales. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "MP Mark Tami calls on Government to ensure children with cancer not left behind". 10 January 2013. Archived from the original on 13 June 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "Mark Tami MP: When it comes to cancer, survival is only the first battle". PoliticsHome.com. 22 November 2018. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
- ^ "Knighthood conferred and Privy Council Appointments: November 2018". 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
External links
edit- Mark Tami 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