Peter Pike (British politician)

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For the Australian politician, see Peter Pike (Australian politician).

Peter Pike
Member of Parliament
for Burnley
In office
9 June 1983 – 11 April 2005
Preceded byDan Jones
Succeeded byKitty Ussher
Personal details
Born(1937-06-26)26 June 1937
Ware, Hertfordshire, England
Died27 December 2021(2021-12-27) (aged 84)
Burnley, Lancashire
NationalityBritish
Political partyLabour
Spouse(s)
Shelia Bull
​
​
(m. 1962; died 2017)​
ChildrenCarol
Jane
ResidenceBurnley, Lancashire

Peter Leslie Pike (26 June 1937 – 27 December 2021) was a British Labour Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Burnley from June 1983 to April 2005.[1]

Life and career[]

Pike was born on 26 June 1937.[2] He was evacuated to Burnley in Lancashire as a child during the Second World War and decided then that he wanted to be the Member of Parliament for the town. Returning as an adult, he worked in the Mullards Factory, where he swiftly gained a reputation as an effective shop steward, and was also agent for the then Member of Parliament for Burnley, Dan Jones.[3]

He married Shelia Bull in 1962, she died in November 2017 at the age of 83.[4]

He was a front bench spokesperson for Labour in the beginning of the 1990s on rural affairs and then on environment and housing.[5] He was seen as an effective parliamentarian,[6][7] and his committee work included chairing the committee in the House of Commons on regulatory reform from July 2001 to April 2005.[8] He made three visits to South Africa from 1986 to 1990.[9]

He announced his intention in October 2002 to retire as an MP at the next general election.[10] Labour announced in December 2002 they were preparing to choose a woman as his successor.[11] An all women shortlist was created in January 2003 to determine his successor.[12] His youngest daughter Jane was a firm favourite to succeed him, but she did not make the shortlist.[13] Kitty Ussher was chosen as his successor in February 2004.[14]

His role in the Anti Apartheid Movement was praised in Parliament in December 2013 during tributes to former anti apartheid activist and President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela.[15]

He was re elected as chair of Burnley Constituency Labour Party in June 2015. He stood down from this role in January 2016, citing his belief that the party needed a younger and more active chair. Upon his resignation, Pike had held positions within the Labour Party for almost sixty years. He had first arrived in Burnley in 1963.[16][17] He was a strong supporter of Burnley Football Club and served as chair of the Clarets Trust.[18]

He was the driving force behind the establishment of the social enterprise Emmaus Burnley, for which he received a special medal in June 2021.[19] Pike died on 27 December 2021 at the age of 84.[20] He was survived by his two daughters, Carol and Jane.[21] Former Member of Parliament for Pendle, Gordon Prentice, paid tribute to him in his blog shortly afterwards.[22]

References[]

  1. ^ "MPs' expenses scandal - ex-Burnley MP Peter Pike in the clear". Longridge Today. 28 October 2009. Retrieved 15 August 2010.
  2. ^ "Jones, Graham Peter, (born 2 March 1966)". ukwhoswho.com. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  3. ^ "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 19 May 2005 (pt 9)". publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Sheila Pike". www.legacy.com. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Peter Pike". 21 October 2002. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  6. ^ "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 19 May 2005 (pt 9)". publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Peter Pike". bbc.co.uk. 21 October 2002. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  8. ^ "House of Commons". 5 May 2005. Retrieved 10 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ "Ex-MP pays tribute to Nelson Mandela". www.burnleyexpress.net. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  10. ^ "Campbell in spotlight as MPs race for seats". theguardian.com. 23 October 2002. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Woman MP for Burnley?". lancashiretelegraph.co.uk. 23 December 2002. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  12. ^ "Labour reveals short-list of three". lancashiretelegraph.co.uk. 23 January 2004. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  13. ^ "Daughter linked to fill dad's shoes". lancashiretelegraph.co.uk. 15 January 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  14. ^ "Kitty chosen as Pike's successor". lancashiretelegraph.co.uk. 13 February 2004. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  15. ^ "Former Burnley MP Peter Pike praised during tributes to Nelson Mandela". lancashiretelegraph.co.uk. 11 December 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Peter Pike remains chair of Burnley Labour Party". theboltonnews.co.uk. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  17. ^ "Ex-MP to quit as Burnley Labour Party boss". asianimage.co.uk. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  18. ^ "Clarets Trust". 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  19. ^ "Medal awarded to Emmaus Burnley founder Peter Pike". Burnley. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  20. ^ Plunkett, Susan (27 December 2021). "Family announce death of former long serving and well known Burnley MP Peter Pike". Burnley Express. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  21. ^ "Peter Pike, former Labour MP for Burnley, dies aged 84". the Guardian. 27 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  22. ^ "Peter Pike". shrinkslessorsquare.ca. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2022.

External links[]

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Burnley
1983–2005 		Succeeded by
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