Biography
Honorary Alderman, Dr. Brian Iddon MP, BSc, PhD, DSc (Hull), FRSC, CChem.
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Education and Academic Career
Brian Iddon was born in Tarleton on the West Lancashire plain and educated at Tarleton Church of England CP School, Christ Church Boys' School in Southport and at Southport Technical College, before enrolling to study Honours Chemistry at the new University of Hull, where he graduated with a B.Sc. Degree in 1961 and a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry in 1964.
From 1964 to 1966 Brian was on the staff at Durham University.
Then, in 1966, he joined the staff of the Department of
Chemistry and Applied Chemistry at the emerging University of
Salford, where he rose through the ranks to become a Reader in
Organic Chemistry. For 5 years he was a Visiting Professor in
the Department of Chemistry at Liverpool University and is a
member of the External Advisory Board in the School of Chemistry
at the University of Manchester. At monthly intervals for 29
years, Brian presented a popular 90 minute demonstration
lecture, "The Magic of Chemistry", at venues throughout Britain
and across Europe.
In 1981, the University of Hull awarded him the Degree of Doctor
of Science "for his international contributions to heterocyclic
organic chemistry". In July 2003, The Society of Chemical
Industry awarded him Honorary Membership, which is possessed by
only 20 people worldwide at any moment in time, and he received
the President’s Award from The Royal Society of Chemistry in
June 2006 "for outstanding contributions to advancing chemical
science, particularly through his personal commitment to
strengthening interactions between Westminster and the RSC". He
was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of Bolton in July
2005.
Political Career
From 1977 to 1998, Brian served as a Councillor on Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council. He was Vice-Chairman of the Housing Committee (1980-1982) and Chairman of that Committee for ten years (1986-1996). He served as a Governor of several schools and in various other capacities. Bolton elected him an Honorary Alderman for his services to the town in 1998. He was elected to Parliament in 1997 for the Bolton South East Parliamentary seat, with a majority of 21,311, re-elected in 2001, with a majority of 12,871, and again in 2005 with a majority of 11,638.
Parliamentary Interests
Brian's interests in Parliament cover a wide variety of topics
in the Education, Health and Social Services, Housing, Home
Affairs and Science and Technology policy areas. He has grasped
some difficult and controversial subjects, such as the policy on
licit and illicit drugs, euthanasia, legislation surrounding
health products, the Middle East Peace Process and the politics
of Kashmir.
He is Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the
Chemical Industry, Secretary to the Markets Industry Group,
Vice-Chairman to the Hepatology Group, Treasurer of the
All-Party Parliamentary Drugs Misuse Group, Secretary to the
Britain-Palestine Group, Secretary to the All-Party
Parliamentary Group on ALMOs (Arms Length Management
Organisations), Secretary to the Fairs and Show Grounds Group
and a Vice-President of the Parliamentary and Scientific
Committee. He chairs the Editorial/Management Board which
publishes the quarterly Journal "Science in Parliament".
Brian was a Founder Member of the Environmental Audit Select
Committee (1997-2000), then served as a Member of the Science
and Technology Select Committee until it was disbanded in the
Autumn of 2007. He served on its replacement, the Innovation,
Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee, until it was
disbanded in 2009, and is now a Member of the reformed Science
and Technology Select Committee.
He is a Patron of the Catalyst Discovery Centre, a Patron of the
Westminster Diet and Health Forum and, from 2004-2008, was
Chairman of Bolton Technical Innovation Centre (TIC) Ltd, a
unique development promoting science, education and technology
with children. He is a Director of Newton’s Apple Think Tank
Ltd, the UK’s first "science think tank" and is Chairman of Care
NOT Killing Alliance Ltd, an organisation that campaigns against
assisted suicide and euthanasia and which promotes better
palliative care.
Parliamentary Achievements
In the 2002-03 Session of Parliament, Dr Iddon steered a Private
Members' Bill through Parliament, which became The Marine Safety
Act 2003, and he was responsible for the employment rights for
Registration Officers that are contained in The Statistics and
Registration Service Act 2007. In the 2006-2007 Session of
Parliament he introduced a Ten Minute Rule Bill entitled The
Pedlars (Street Trading Regulation) Bill which was reintroduced
in the 2007-2008 Session as a Presentation Bill. The subject is
now under consultation by the Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills, with further Government action expected
next year.
Dr Iddon was granted the first Honorary Membership of the
Society of Registration Officers (SORO) at their Annual
Conference in Leicester, on 9 May 2007, for his campaign to win
employment rights for SORO members. He received the first Ann
Gough Lifetime Achievement Award at the Bolton Diversity Awards
in November 2007, and was presented, in December 2007, with an
“Award for Outstanding Achievement” by the National Association
of British Market Authorities for his work on legislation to
control the activities of pedlars.
In October 2006, Dr Iddon announced his intention to retire at
the next General Election.