William Etherington was born on 17 July 1941 and is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Sunderland North from 1992 to 2010.
12 Facts About Bill Etherington
1.
2.
Bill Etherington was an apprentice fitter at the Austin and Pickersgill Shipyard in Sunderland for five years from 1957.
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Bill Etherington has been a member of the National Union of Mineworkers since 1963, and from 1983 until his election was a full-time trade union official with them, as general secretary of its Durham Colliery Mechanics' Association affiliate.
4.
Bill Etherington was a full-time official during the UK miners' strike.
5.
Bill Etherington was first elected in the 1992 General Election for Sunderland North, replacing fellow left-winger, Bob Clay.
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Bill Etherington held the seat comfortably with a majority of 17,004 votes, and was re-elected with strong majorities subsequently.
7.
Bill Etherington made his maiden speech on 11 May 1992.
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Bill Etherington confidently beat his Conservative opponents in the 2001 and 2005 general elections.
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Bill Etherington is a left-winger, a member of the Socialist Campaign Group and rebelled against Tony Blair's government.
10.
Bill Etherington has been married to Irene Holton since 1963 and they have two daughters.
11.
Bill Etherington was characterised in parliament by his three-piece suits and strong 'Mackem' accent.
12.
In December 2006, Bill Etherington announced he would be standing down at the end of the 2005 - 2010 Parliament as his constituency was to be abolished.