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.