Mark Fisher (politician)

Before leaving university, Fisher had numerous low-paying jobs, including: working in a Cyril Lord carpet factory in Northern Ireland, as a waiter, as a kitchen porter, as a caddie on a golf course, insulating roofs, on a travelling fairground and as a folk singer and guitarist.[1] Following the Labour victory at the 1997 general Election, new prime minister Tony Blair appointed Fisher as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.[2] He rebelled against the government by voting against the party whip on the Competition Act 1998, and was later sacked in Blair's first cabinet reshuffle in 1998, after which Fisher returned to the backbenches.He has served as the Patron for the National Benevolent Fund for the Aged since 1986, and was a member of the BBC General Advisory Council for ten years from 1987.He also served as a council member of the Institute for Policy Studies 1985–95, and was the deputy Pro-Chancellor of Keele University from 1989 until his entry to government in 1997.[8] On 31 October 2006, Fisher was one of 12 Labour MPs to back Plaid Cymru and the Scottish National Party's call for an inquiry into the Iraq War.
The Right HonourableMinister for the ArtsTony BlairVirginia BottomleyAlan HowarthStoke-on-Trent CentralRobert CantTristram HuntWokingLabourNigel FisherAlma materTrinity College, CambridgeLabour PartyConservativeSurbiton7th Earl of LisburneUlster UnionistPatricia FordMichael GryllsBear GryllsTam DalyellEton CollegeEnglish literatureprincipalTattenhallCheshireWestminsterCyril Lordwaitercaddiegolf courseinsulating roofsfairgroundHarry Saltzmanstage playsBasingstokeRoyal Court1979 general electionDavid KnoxStaffordshire County Council1983 general electionTreasurySelect committeeOpposition WhipNeil Kinnock1987 General Election1992 general electionCitizen's CharterDepartment of National HeritagePrivate member's billFreedom of Information Bill1997 general ElectionParliamentary Under-Secretary of StateDepartment for Culture, Media and SportCompetition Act 1998National Benevolent Fund for the AgedInstitute for Policy StudiesKeele UniversitySt Antony's College, OxfordGordon Brownexpenses scandalKit KatToilet Duckface-paintinghydrocephalusPlaid CymruScottish National PartyIraq Warfoundation hospitalsTridentHouse of Commonsdetention without charge policy10p taxBlair administrationIndia FisherCandia McWilliampeerageQatar Museums AuthorityUrsula OwenPenguin BooksRichard RogersThe SentinelBBC News OnlineTribuneSunday TimesHennessy, PetrickThe TelegraphPatrick WintourThe Guardian