John Anderson Cunningham

John Anderson Cunningham, Baron Cunningham of Felling, was born on 4th August 1939 in Durham. He is a British politician and from 1983 to 2005 he was the Labour Member of Parliament for Copeland. Cunningham served in the Cabinet of Tony Blair. In 2005 he was created a Life Peer, and he was created Baron Cunningham of Felling, in the County of Tyne and Wear.

Political Career

Cunningham joined the Shadow Cabinet in 1983, and ran the Labour Party's general election campaign in 1992. In 1997 he became Secretary of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. He was moved in 1998 to Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. One year later, he retired from the Cabinet. He stood down from parliament at the 2005 general election.

Since 2006 he has been Chairman or member of a number of committees such as Conventions Joint Committee, Science and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Higher Education in STEM Subjects. He is currently member of the EU Subcommittee on Agriculture, Fisheries, Environment and Energy.

Education

He studied at Bede College of Durham University, receiving a BSc in Chemistry in 1962, and a PhD in 1967. He stayed at the university to become a research fellow, whilst working as an officer for the General and Municipal Workers' Union.

External Links

http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-cunningham-of-felling/496