Mike Thornton (politician)
Mike Thornton | |
|---|---|
 Thornton at the Liberal Democrat conference in the Hilton Brighton Metropole, 2013 | |
| Member of Parliament for Eastleigh | |
| In office 28 February 2013 – 30 March 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Chris Huhne |
| Succeeded by | Mims Davies |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Douglas Thornton 1 May 1952 Farnham, Surrey, England |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Spouse | Peta Thornton |
| Children | One daughter |
| Alma mater | Charterhouse School Manchester Metropolitan University |
Michael Douglas Thornton[1] (born 1 May 1952)[2] is a British politician and former Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Eastleigh in Hampshire. He was elected at the Eastleigh by-election held on 28 February 2013, a seat which he lost at the 2015 general election.
Early life[edit]
The son of Sir Peter Eustace Thornton, Thornton grew up in Farnham in Surrey and was educated at Charterhouse School, before reading law at Manchester Polytechnic. He has had a range of jobs, including spells in the United States (his mother is from Tennessee). Thornton spent a significant period of time working in financial services.
He has lived in Bishopstoke, a part of Eastleigh borough, since 1994.[3] He has variously been a Bishopstoke parish councillor,[4] an Eastleigh borough councillor[5] and a Hampshire county councillor,[6] for wards within or containing Bishopstoke.
Parliamentary career[edit]
Following the resignation of the previous Liberal Democrat MP Chris Huhne, Thornton was chosen as their candidate at the 2013 Eastleigh by-election to replace him. This took place on 28 February 2013 and Thornton was declared the winner in the early hours of 1 March.[7]
In Parliament, Thornton joined the European Scrutiny Committee, the Work and Pensions Committee and the Bill committee for HS2,[8] which he argued "would benefit the country as a whole, not just the cities that link to it".[9]
His defeat at the 2015 general election was unexpected.[citation needed] Although he only defended a small numerical majority of 1,771, the Eastleigh constituency was otherwise a stronghold, with the Liberal Democrats holding almost every seat on the council for many years. During the 2013 by-election it had been reported that whilst the local Liberal Democrats commanded a vast database of supporters on the ground that enabled them to get their vote out, the local Tory organisation in the constituency was practically non-existent. Indeed, at the 2013 by-election, the Conservatives had been beaten into third place by UKIP.
References[edit]
- ^ "Eastleigh Parliamentary By-Election 2013 Result". Eastleigh Borough Council. 1 March 2013. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013.
- ^ "Mike Thornton Liberal Democrats". Southern Daily Echo. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Councillors". Bishopstoke Parish Council. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ "Bishopstoke PC profile". Bishopstokepc.hampshire.org.uk. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
- ^ "Profile on Council web site". Eastleigh.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 10 May 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
- ^ "Councillor Mike Thornton". Hampshire County Council. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ Wintour, Patrick; Morris, Steven (1 March 2013). "Lib Dems hold off Ukip surge as Tories drop to third in Eastleigh byelection". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Mike Thornton". Parliament UK. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
- ^ "HS2: Cameron hails 'vital programme' as MPs approve funding". BBC. 31 October 2013. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
