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For the medieval chronicler and artist, see Matthew Paris. Matthew Paris (c 1200 &ndash 1259 was a Benedictine monk English chronicler, artist in Illuminated manuscripts and Cartographer
Matthew Paris

Born Matthew Paris
August 7, 1949 (1949-08-07) (age 58)
Johannesburg,South Africa
Occupation journalist

Matthew Parris (born August 7, 1949 in Johannesburg) is a journalist and former Conservative politician in the United Kingdom. Events 322 BC - Battle of Crannon between Athens and Macedon following the death of Alexander the Great. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Johannesburg ( Pronounced /jō-hān'ĭs-bûrg'/ is the largest city in South Africa. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa A journalist (also called a newspaperman) is a person who practices Journalism, the gathering and dissemination of information about current events trends Events 322 BC - Battle of Crannon between Athens and Macedon following the death of Alexander the Great. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Johannesburg ( Pronounced /jō-hān'ĭs-bûrg'/ is the largest city in South Africa. A journalist (also called a newspaperman) is a person who practices Journalism, the gathering and dissemination of information about current events trends The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. The politics of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland takes place in the framework of a Constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is Head The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

Contents

Early life

Parris is the eldest of six children and grew up in several countries where his British father was working as an electrical engineer (South Africa, Cyprus, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), Swaziland and Jamaica). The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía Rhodesia was the name adopted when the formerly British colony of Southern Rhodesia declared itself independent ( Unilateral Declaration of Independence The Kingdom of Swaziland is a country located in Southern Africa centred at approximately 26o49'S 31o38'E Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. He attended Waterford Kamhlaba School in Swaziland. Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa (UWCSA is one of the twelve international United World Colleges and is located in Mbabane, Swaziland His mother was an actress, teacher and house wife. At the age of 82 she still teaches english to Catalan students.

Matthew at the age of 19 drove across Africa to Europe in a Morris Oxford; the trip was traumatically punctuated when he and the girl he was travelling with were attacked, and he was forced to witness her rape. Morris Oxford is a series of motor car models by the Morris Motor Company of the United Kingdom, from the 1913 "Bullnose" Oxford After obtaining a first class degree in law from Clare College, Cambridge, he studied international relations at Yale University. A First Class Honours degree is an Academic degree awarded to students at Undergraduate and Post-graduate level either by Examination, course Clare College is a college of the University of Cambridge, the second oldest surviving college after Peterhouse. The University of Cambridge (often Cambridge University) located in Cambridge, England, is the second-oldest university in the He was offered a job as a spy, but worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for two years. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO, is the British government department responsible for promoting In 1976 he left this secure career because he did not like its formality, and because he wanted to become a Member of Parliament. A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. He eventually joined the Conservative Research Department and moved on to become correspondence secretary to Margaret Thatcher. The Conservative Research Department ('CRD' is an integral part of the central organisation of the Conservative Party of the United Kingdom. Margaret Hilda Thatcher Baroness Thatcher LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925 He was awarded an RSPCA medal (presented by the prime minister) for jumping into the Thames and rescuing a dog. This article is about the original RSPCA in England and Wales The Thames ( is a major River flowing through southern England.

Parliamentary career

He served as the Conservative MP for the rural parliamentary constituency of West Derbyshire from 1979 until 1986. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. A constituency is any cohesive corporate unit or body bound by shared structures goals or loyalty West Derbyshire is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Competing prospective candidates for the seat included Peter Lilley and Michael Howard, later Conservative leader. Peter Bruce Lilley (born 23 August 1943, Hayes, Kent, England) is a British Conservative Party politician who Michael Howard QC (born 7 July 1941 is a British Politician, a Conservative MP since the 1983 General Election for the constituency of The start of his career was overshadowed by a letter which he had written to a council tenant on behalf of Margaret Thatcher, which became featured in Labour Party election publications. The council house is a form of public or social housing in the United Kingdom. The Labour Party is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Founded at the start of the 20th century it has been since the 1920s the principal party of the As an MP he voiced his support for gay rights. Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender social movements share related goals of social acceptance of Homosexuality, Bisexuality and Transgenderism Lesbian Parris eventually left politics to pursue a career in journalism.

Radio and television work

Parris is now a radio and television presenter and pundit. A presenter, or host (sometimes hostess, in feminine form is a Person or Organization responsible for running an event [1] As an MP he took part in a documentary requiring him to live for a week on state social security payments set by the Conservative government for which he was an MP. Social security primarily refers to a Social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions including poverty old The experiment came to an embarrassing end when he ran out of money for the electricity meter.

Parris left Parliament specifically to take over from Brian Walden as host of ITV's influential Sunday lunchtime current-affairs series Weekend World in 1986. (Alastair Brian Walden (born on 8 July, 1932 in West Bromwich) was a Labour Member of Parliament and is now a journalist and broadcaster Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent Weekend World was a British television political series made by London Weekend Television (LWT and broadcast from 1972 to 1988. The series, broadcast since 1976 with Walden at its helm, ran for two more years under Parris before being cancelled in 1988. Parris was criticised for being "too nice", and being unable to ask the "killer" questions that had made Brian Walden such a popular host.

He presents BBC Radio 4's Great Lives biography series, and has appeared on the comedy news programme Have I Got News For You. Great Lives is BBC Radio 4's biography series Produced in Bristol it is presented by Matthew Parris. Have I Got News for You is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC.

In 2007, Parris presented two damning documentaries for Radio 4 exposing politicians' use of cliché and jargon in "Not My Words, Mr. Speaker. "

Writing and journalism

Parris is a prolific writer and has written many books on politics and travel. In 1991, a compilation of his pieces in The Times appeared, entitled So Far, So Good. Since then there have been further compilations. Scorn, a book he has edited of quotations about curses, jibes and general invective, was published in October 1994.

His success has been as a parliamentary reporter, due to his knowledge and understanding of politicians and ability to express this well. He is regarded as one of the leading critics of Tony Blair, and is thought of by many as one of the most powerful commentators on Fleet Street. Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair (born 6 May 1953 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to Fleet Street is a street in London, England named after the River Fleet. He worked as parliamentary sketch writer for The Times newspaper from 1988 to 2001. The Times is a daily national Newspaper published in the United Kingdom since 1785 when it was known as The Daily Universal Register. His writing has largely concerned current events rather than a historical account of his own time in politics. He has weekly columns in The Times and The Spectator magazine. For other uses see Spectator. The Spectator is a weekly British Magazine first published on 6 July

In 2004 Parris became Writer of the Year in Granada Television's What the Papers Say Awards. Granada Television is the United Kingdom ITV contractor for North West England. What The Papers Say ( 1956 – 2008) is the second longest-running programme on British Television after Panorama In part, this was for reporting on elections in Iraq and Afghanistan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. Afghanistan /æfˈgænɪstæn/ officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan ( Pashto: د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت, His previous accolades include Columnist of the Year in the 1991 and 1993 British Press Awards, and in the What the Papers Say Awards 1992. The British Press Awards is an annual ceremony that celebrates the best of British Journalism. In 1990 he received the London Press Club's Edgar Wallace Outstanding Reporter of the Year Award. Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace ( April 1, 1875 &ndash February 10, 1932) was a prolific British Crime writer, Journalist

Criticism of Tony Blair

Parris has suggested that Tony Blair has a deep flaw in his personality which makes him unsuitable for the role of Prime Minister. Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair (born 6 May 1953 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to This article is about the government position For other uses see Prime Minister (disambiguation. On March 18, 2006 he wrote-

I believe Tony Blair is an out-and-out rascal, terminally untrustworthy and close to being unhinged. Events 37 - The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius ' will and proclaims Caligula emperor Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. I said from the start that there was something wrong in his head, and each passing year convinces me more strongly that this man is a pathological confidence-trickster. To the extent that he even believes what he says, he is delusional. To the extent that he does not, he is an actor whose first invention — himself — has been his only interesting role. [2]

Travel writing

Parris has made several expeditions abroad, including to Mount Kilimanjaro in 1967 and 1989, Zaire in 1973, the Sahara in 1978, and Peru and Bolivia. The Republic of Zaire (pronunciation; République du Zaïre was the name of the present Democratic Republic of the Congo between October 27, 1971 The Sahara (الصحراء الكبرى aṣ-ṣaḥrā´ al-kubra, "The Great Desert" is the world's largest hot Desert and the world's second largest Peru (Perú Piruw Piruw officially the Republic of Peru ( reˈpuβlika del peˈɾu is a country in western South America. The Republic of Bolivia (República de Bolivia) named after Simón Bolívar, is a Landlocked country in central South America. In 1990 he published Inca-Kola, about his travels in Peru.

L'Avenc
L'Avenc

He spent the Antarctic winter of 2000 on the French possession of Grande Terre (also known as Desolation Island, part of the Kerguelen Archipelago in the Indian Ocean) with a few dozen over-winterers, mostly researchers. The Kerguelen Islands (in French: commonly Îles Kerguelen or Archipel de Kerguelen but officially Archipel des Kerguelen or Archipel The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's Oceanic divisions covering about 20% of the water on the Earth 's surface One of them was fatally shot in a tragic accident, an event about which he writes movingly. [3]

In 2005 Parris published A Castle in Spain about his family's project to refurbish a derelict 16th century mansion, L'Avenc, in Catalunya, close to the foothills of the Pyrenees, and make his home there. Catalonia (Cataluña Catalunya Aranese: Catalonha) is an Autonomous Community in the northeast part of Spain. The Pyrenees (Pirineos French: Pyrénées; Catalan: Pirineus; Occitan: Pirenèus; Aragonese: Perinés

2007 cyclists controversy

In his Times article of 27 December 2007, Parris took a strong line against cyclists, beginning his column with "A festive custom we could do worse than foster would be stringing piano wire across country lanes to decapitate cyclists",[4] going on to denounce cyclists on a number of grounds, particularly their alleged propensity for littering. Events 537 - The Hagia Sophia is completed 1512 - The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Decapitation (from Latin, caput, capitis, meaning head or beheading, is the cutting off of the head of a person or animal This came as a shock to many cyclists, including some who had previously been caught by similar wires. Responses in the paper have included letters[5] and a column in reply mentioning, among other things, that litter is often found along all-motor vehicle routes. [6] Comparisons have been made to other issues of incitement and hate speech[7], which have been a controversial issue in the UK in recent years. In English Criminal law, incitement is an anticipatory Common law offence and is the act of persuading encouraging instigating pressuring or threatening Hate speech is a term for speech intended to degrade intimidate or incite violence or prejudicial action against a person or group of people based on their race, Gender Parris, who is openly gay and therefore a member of another potentially targeted minority, opposed the idea of a gay-protecting law in another column. [8]

On 3 January, Parris apologised, "It was meant humorously but so many cyclists have taken it seriously that I plainly misjudged. I am sorry. "[9]

Personal life

Parris announced he was gay in one of his weekly newspaper columns. In the English language, gay is an Adjective that in modern usage refers to Homosexuality. He has stated that he was once beaten up on Clapham Common, which he had habitually visited late at night. Clapham Common is a triangular area of grassland of about 220 acres (0 Gay cruising describes the act of searching about a Public place in pursuit of a partner for sex This left him with a quiet determination to fight for gay rights. Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender social movements share related goals of social acceptance of Homosexuality, Bisexuality and Transgenderism Lesbian In a live interview on Newsnight during the Ron Davies scandal of 1998, he famously told interviewer Jeremy Paxman that there were two gay members of the then current Labour Cabinet, one being Peter Mandelson. Ronald Davies (born 6 August 1946 is a Welsh Politician, former Secretary of State for Wales, former Member of Parliament and former member Jeremy Dixon Paxman (born 11 May 1950) is an English Journalist, Author and Television presenter. Peter Benjamin Mandelson (born 21 October 1953 called "Mandy" by much of the British News media, is a British Labour Politician who is the serving He has stated that there are between thirty and sixty unannounced gay members of the UK parliament. In July 2006, in a list compiled by the Independent on Sunday, Parris was voted the 73rd most influential gay man in the United Kingdom. July 2006 was a month with thirty-one days The following events also occurred during the month The Independent is a British compact Newspaper published by Tony O'Reilly 's Independent News & Media.

In August 2006, Parris entered into a civil partnership with his long-term partner, Julian Glover, a political journalist (not to be confused with the actor of the same name). Julian Wyatt Glover (born March 27 1935) is an English Actor. At the time of their partnership, they had been together for eleven years.

Parris is a keen marathon runner, taking part in the London event several times, with a fastest time of 2:32:57. The marathon is a long-distance foot race with an official distance of 42 The London Marathon is a popular road marathon that has been held each year in London since 1981 usually in April

He owns homes in Spain, Derbyshire, and the Docklands of East London. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. History The area that is now Derbyshire was first visited probably briefly by humans 200000 years ago during the Aveley Interglacial as evidenced by a Middle Docklands is the semi-official name for an area in the east of London, England, comprising parts of several boroughs ( Southwark, Tower Hamlets East London is the name commonly given to the north eastern part of London, England on the north side of the River Thames.


Bibliography

References

  1. ^ "What’s smug and deserves to be decapitated?" [Cyclists. ], The Times
  2. ^ "No more excuses. Just hand in your homework and go, Prime Minister", The Times
  3. ^ Matthew Parris's account of stay on Kergulen in 2000, Times (London)
  4. ^ What’s smug and deserves to be decapitated?, The Times, 27 December 2007
  5. ^ Don’t kill the cure, The Times, 31 December 2007
  6. ^ A joke that will sicken cyclists, The Times, 31 December 2007
  7. ^ quickrelease.tv » Blog Archive » Should we decapitate homosexual columnists?
  8. ^ We gays are not so weedy that we can't take insults, The Times, October 11, 2007
  9. ^ Cycling fury at beheading 'joke', BBC, 3 January 2008

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
James Scott-Hopkins		 Member of Parliament for West Derbyshire
1979–1986		 Succeeded by
Patrick McLoughlin
The Times is a daily national Newspaper published in the United Kingdom since 1785 when it was known as The Daily Universal Register. Events 537 - The Hagia Sophia is completed 1512 - The Spanish Crown issues the Laws of Burgos, governing the Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1138 - A massive earthquake struck Aleppo, Syria. 1531 - Huldrych Zwingli is killed Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common In the United Kingdom the party conference season refers to the period of three weeks in September and October of each year which contains the annual Political party The Kerguelen Islands (in French: commonly Îles Kerguelen or Archipel de Kerguelen but officially Archipel des Kerguelen or Archipel The Open Directory Project ( ODP) also known as dmoz (from directory The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories Sir James Sidney Rawdon Scott-Hopkins ( 29 November 1921 &ndash 11 March 1995) was a British Conservative Party politician A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. West Derbyshire is a Constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Background Callaghan had succeeded Harold Wilson as Labour Prime Minister after the latter's surprise resignation in April 1976 The 1986 Derbyshire West by-election occurred when the sitting Conservative Party Member of Parliament Matthew Parris, took the Chiltern Hundreds and resigned Patrick Allen McLoughlin (born 30 November 1957, Stafford) is a British politician
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