MARSDEN, Gordon

Member for Blackpool South since 1997. Committees: Chair, All Party Estonia and Veterans Group; Co-Chair, Osteoporosis Group; Vice-Chair, Parliamentary Labour Party Culture, Media and Sport Committee; Chair, All-Party Skills Group; Chair, Future of Europe Trust 1999; Treasurer, All-Party Arts and Heritage Group June 1997. Political career: Shadow Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills since 2010; Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government 2010; Chair, Fabian Society; Contested Blackpool South, April 1992. Special political interests: Arts and heritage, education, Eastern Europe and former Soviet Union, disabilities. Profession/Trade: Magazine editor; Open University Lecturer. Education: Harvard University, Kennedy Scholarship; The Warburg Institute; New College, Oxford; University of London; Stockport Grammar School. Author of: Victorian Values: Personalities and Perspective in 19th Century Society (2nd edition,1998); and numerous articles in History Today, Political Quarters, Tribune, The Guardian, New Statesman. Affiliations: Trustee, History Today Ltd, History of Parliament; President, British Resorts and Destination Association. Hobbies: World music, travel, early music, swimming, medieval culture. b. 28 November 1953. Single.