Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Nicholas Winterton
Sir Nicholas Raymond Winterton (born March 31, 1938) is an British politician, and Conservative Member of Parliament for Macclesfield. Sir Nicholas undertook his National Service 1957-1959 and was commissioned into the 14/20 Kings Hussars serving in Germany.
He served as a member of the West Midlands Conservative Council from 1967 to 1971 and was a Warwickshire County Councillor representing a coal mining and industrial division in North Warwickshire from 1967-1972. He has been MP for Macclesfield since 1971, when he won a by-election and still retains a huge majority in Macclesfield. Many Maxonians (people from Macclesfield) believe that despite his widely recognised political skills, he has never been promoted to the shadow cabinet due to his reputation of being bold and outspoken.
When dealing with the concerns of his constituents, he prefers to visit their residence rather than call them to his office. It is a much more effective way of 'finding the seat of a problem' as Sir Nicholas quoted.
As well as much praise for his hands-on and outspoken technique, Winterton has received criticism for his right-of-centre voting record in the House of Commons. Opposition to the reduction of the age of consent for homosexual sex to 16 (the same as the heterosexual limit), opposition to the ban of fox hunting and support of Section 28 are examples of issues which leave Winterton in a small minority in the House of Commons, and a comfortable majority in Macclesfield.
He is currently the senior member of the Speaker's Panel of Chairmen, and one of the four members of the Panel who takes sittings in Westminster Hall on a frequent basis with the honorary title of Deputy Speaker. In 2002, he was knighted for his services to Parliament.
Sir Nicholas is married to Ann Winterton, MP for Congleton.
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