Dennis Skinner
Birthday: 1932-02-11 Place of Birth: Clay Cross, Derbyshire, UK
Synopsis
Dennis Edward Skinner is a British former politician who served as Member of Parliament for Bolsover from 1970 to 2019. He is a member of the Labour Party. Known for his left-wing views and acerbic wit, he belonged to the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs.
Acting
The Big Meeting
Every second Saturday in July, since 1871, the city of Durham has been taken over by miners, trade-unions and the general public for one of the biggest annual gatherings in Europe, the Durham Miners' Gala - known locally as "The Big Meeting".
Nature of the Beast
In an era of PR and spin, Dennis Skinner is a thrillingly authentic political figure: fearsome, principled, and uncompromising, he has been sticking up for the interests of the people of his constituency in Bolsover since 1970. An ex-miner, he was represented his community through the industrial action of the 1970s, the closure of the mines, and the slow drift to the ‘centre-ground’ within Labour politics. Famous for his sharp wit and unyielding style, Skinner has remained true to his roots, fighting for the disadvantaged and often getting himself into trouble in Parliament. The story of both a towering figure, and the fortunes of progressive politics in Britain over the last half-century.
