Tim Collins (politician)

Timothy William George Collins CBE (born May 7, 1964) is a British politician. Collins was the former Conservative Party member of Parliament for Westmorland and Lonsdale in north-west England from 1997 until he narrowly lost his seat in the 2005 election owing to a Liberal Democrat "decapitation" policy which was aimed at senior Conservative candidates. He remains an important member of the Conservative Party.

Biography

Collins was educated at Chigwell School, the London School of Economics and King's College London. He is married and has one child.

Related Topics:
Chigwell School - London School of Economics - King's College London

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Collins had significant political experience before his election to Parliament. He acted as Press Secretary to the then Prime Minister John Major, serving in that role during the successful 1992 Election campaign. He was a member of the 10 Downing Street Policy Unit and was a speechwriter to Margaret Thatcher, John Major, William Hague, David Hunt, Michael Howard, Chris Patten, Norman Fowler and Brian Mawhinney.

Related Topics:
Parliament - Press Secretary - Prime Minister - John Major - 1992 Election - 10 Downing Street - Margaret Thatcher - William Hague - David Hunt - Michael Howard - Chris Patten - Norman Fowler - Brian Mawhinney

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During his time in Parliament, Collins has served as a Whip and later as a Senior Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party. In this role in the run up to the 2001 election Collins was a senior aide to the then Conservative leader William Hague. Collins supported the focus on tax cuts and opposition to the Euro that characterised that campaign.

Related Topics:
Whip - 2001 election - Conservative - William Hague - Euro

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After the election the new Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith appointed him to the Shadow Cabinet as Cabinet Office Minister later moving him to Shadow Transport Secretary. When Michael Howard became leader in 2004 he was moved to Shadow Secretary of State for Education. In this post he developed policies to give protection to teachers from violent pupils, to allow successful schools to expand and to stop the closure of schools for children with Special Educational Needs. His Chief of Staff in this role was the author Alexander Deane.

Related Topics:
Iain Duncan Smith - Shadow Cabinet - Cabinet Office Minister - Transport Secretary - Michael Howard - 2004 - Secretary of State for Education - Chief of Staff - Alexander Deane

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Collins is a Doctor Who fan and has appeared on several television programmes discussing the programme.

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At the 2005 General Election he lost his seat to Liberal Democrat Tim Farron.

Related Topics:
Liberal Democrat - Tim Farron

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