Alan Meale.html

Alan Meale MP

Member of Parliament for Mansfield
Incumbent
Assumed office 11 June 1987
Preceded by	Don Concannon
Majority	11,365 (29.7%)

Born	31 July 1949 (1949-07-31) (age 59) Bishop Auckland
Nationality	British
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Diana Gilhespy
Alma mater	Ruskin College

Joseph Alan Meale (born 31 July 1949, Bishop Auckland) is a politician in the United Kingdom. He is Labour Member of Parliament for Mansfield, and was first elected in 1987.

1 Early life
2 Parliamentary career
3 Personal life
4 External links
- 4.1 News items

Early life

He went to St Joseph RC School in Bishop Auckland. He has studied at Durham University, Ruskin College and Sheffield Hallam University.

He started out as a seaman in the Merchant Navy, then from 1977-80 was National Employment Development Officer of NACRO. From 1980-4, he was assistant to the General Secretary of ASLEF. He had previously been an officer of the Socialist Campaign Group. From 1984-7, he was a political researcher for MPs including Dennis Skinner and Tony Benn.

Parliamentary career

He was PPS to John Prescott from 1994-9. He has visited Cyprus on many occasions, which have been funded by the Cypriot businessman, Tony Kleanthous, who is the Chairman of Barnet F.C.. A 1998 Sunday Times article questioned his involvement in the planning enquiry in for a £14m new stadium for Barnet FC on green belt land. Meale claimed his interest was purely for a footballing interest. The stadium is still facing planning difficulties.

He has been head of the parliamentary British-Cyprus group (APPG).

Personal life

He married Diana Gilhespy on March 10 1983. They have a son and daughter.

External links

News items

Tony Kleanthous in October 1998

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