Andrew Bennett
Member of Parliament
for Denton and Reddish
Stockport North (1974-1983)
In office
28 February 1974 – 11 April 2005
Preceded byIdris Owen
Succeeded byAndrew Gwynne
Shadow Spokesperson for Education
In office
1 January 1983 – 1 January 1988
Personal details
Born (1939-03-09) 9 March 1939
Barton upon Irwell, Lancashire, England
Political partyLabour
SpouseGillian Lawley
Alma materUniversity of Birmingham

Andrew Francis Bennett (born 9 March 1939) is a retired British Labour Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) Stockport North 1974 from 1983, and then for Denton and Reddish from 1983 to 2005.

Early life

Bennett was born in Barton-upon-Irwell. He attended the William Hulme's Grammar School in Whalley Range. He studied at the University of Birmingham gaining a BSocSc (Bachelor of Social Science). A geography teacher from 1960 to 1974, Bennett was elected to Oldham Borough Council in 1964, and served on it until 1974.

Parliamentary career

He contested the Knutsford parliamentary seat in 1970 and was elected to Parliament in February 1974 for the marginal constituency of Stockport North, defeating the Conservative incumbent Idris Owen by just 203 votes. Following boundary changes, he was elected MP for Denton and Reddish in 1983. From 1983 to 1988 he served on the Labour front bench as a shadow Education and Science minister. He was chairman of the House of Commons Committee on Statutory Instruments .

He rebelled against the Labour government on various issues, including the privatisation of National Air Traffic Services.

He retired at the 2005 general election, and the seat was held for Labour by Andrew Gwynne.

Personal life

He married Gillian Lawley in 1961 in Manchester. They have a daughter and two sons.


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