A brief biography                                                      

I’d like to introduce myself to you and tell you something about my background and what inspired me to stand as your Labour MP.

Born in 1948, I’ve lived in Leeds all my life. I was brought up on the Gipton estate in east Leeds, with my brother Terence (until recently a headmaster in Leeds). My mother was a school secretary – it was partly her influence that led me to become a teacher - and my father was a tailor at Montague Burtons. 

My parents Winnie and  Tommy Burgon

Terence and I were very fortunate in having parents who set such store by education and strongly encouraged us both to achieve as much as we could. As well as being life-long Labour supporters my parents were always very connected with the community. My dad, Tommy, a professional boxer in his youth, trained young lads in the Montague Burtons Boxing Club, and locally was president of the Gipton Working Men's Club.  He was very interested in politics and encouraged me to read widely.  I attribute my social and political awareness very much to my parents influence. 

                            Me (on the left) with brother Terence

 Education                                                                                                            

I went to St Charles RC Junior School and then St Michael’s College Leeds.  It was when I passed the 11+ that I really became conscious of class. Getting off the bus in the Gipton back from school, I stuck out like a sore thumb in my Grammar School uniform and although it was obligatory to wear a school cap at all times, I used to take it off when I got off the bus in the Gipton.  I began to deplore structures that inherently deny opportunity to people and this is one of the reasons education is now a key priority of mine; I want all our children to have the best possible education – in excellent schools served by committed teachers.  

Job History                                                                                

I had various jobs when I left school, including working on a building site, until training as a teacher at City of Leeds and Carnegie College. I then went on to teach History (a subject I love) at Foxwood High School in east Leeds for 16 years.

After-school football match in my (very) early teaching days at Foxwood  !

 It's great to bump into ex-pupils from Foxwood - which happens quite often when I'm out and about in the constituency.  But it's also quite a shock to find them grown up with kids of their own!

I left teaching in 1987 to become a policy advisor to Wakefield Council.  I did this job for 8 years and gained experience which turned out to be vital to my work as an MP, i.e. reducing complex issues to their fundamentals and then communicating these to a wide range of people.

Representing Elmet  as Labour MP                                   

The constituency of Elmet was set up in 1983 and I acted as agent in that first election.  It was that experience, witnessing the campaigning from the inside, that led me to believe I had something to offer the community and that I could be a good candidate for the area. Elmet was seen as a hopelessly un-winnable seat for the Labour party.  In its previous incarnation as (largely) Barkston Ash, it didn’t even become Labour in the 1945 landslide election.  But I strongly believed that with proper commitment and organization the seat could be won.   Selected as candidate in the 1987 and 1992 general elections, I put in a huge amount of work and with the support of the campaign team, steadily reduced the Conservative majority.  Our determination finally paid off when I was elected as Labour MP for Elmet in 1997 – a triumph for Labour in recording the biggest ever majority this seat has so far seen.  

When I’m not working!                                                                            

 I’ve lived in the constituency for over 20 years – first in Swillington Common then Thorner.  A few years ago my partner Kathryn and I settled in Allerton Bywater.  My daughter Maria goes to Brigshaw School. Luckily for me, given an MPs erratic lifestyle, Kathryn is also involved in politics – she works for another West Yorkshire Labour MP.

 We’re both big fans of the countryside and go walking regularly in our area. When we have time to go further afield we do longer hikes in the Lake District, a region I’ve always loved.

   Keeping in touch !

But my lifelong interests have been history and football – both as participator and spectator.  As a Leeds United supporter, I’ve shared in their ups and downs since the 1950s and one of the great things about being a teacher was the opportunity to run school football teams. I also coached the West Yorkshire Under 19s.

As for history, I read very widely on British and European history but my real passion is the American Civil War and a highlight of recent years has been visits to the battlefields in Virginia U.S.A. In the last year I have also become extremely interested in the left wing politics of Latin America. I have made a trip to Cuba and also hope to visit Venezuela. 

Trade union membership                                                         

 Alongside my involvement with the Labour Party, I’ve been committed to the trade union movement all my working life.  People are stronger and less vulnerable when they work together and trade unions have helped to improve both people’s living standards and working conditions. I was made an honorary member of the NUM after working closely with miners and their families in the constituency during the 1984 – 85 strike. I was a member of the NUT for 16 years, and on leaving teaching joined the GMB.