Frank Gordon Dobson was a British Labour Party politician.
19 Facts About Frank Dobson
2.
Frank Dobson then studied economics at the London School of Economics, gaining a BSc in 1962.
3.
Frank Dobson worked at the headquarters of the Central Electricity Generating Board from 1962 to 1970 and for the Electricity Council from 1970 to 1975.
4.
At the 1979 general election, Frank Dobson was elected as MP for Holborn and St Pancras South.
5.
Frank Dobson voted for Tony Benn for Labour Deputy Leader in 1981, but thereafter became disillusioned and chose to align with what he called the "sane left".
6.
Frank Dobson's liking for dirty jokes and conviviality won him many friends.
7.
Frank Dobson once remarked of Hazel Blears, who is 4'10" in height, "The good thing about global warming is that Hazel Blears will be the first to go when the water rises.
8.
Frank Dobson faced interference from civil servants, who would claim that prime minister Tony Blair raised the issue of further private sector involvement in meetings with Dobson, which Dobson said to them "just wasn't true".
9.
Frank Dobson had his hands tied by the decision to stick within spending limits set by the previous Conservative government.
10.
Frank Dobson was instrumental, working with Tessa Jowell, in establishing Sure Start, which aimed to improve childcare, early education and health care for families with children.
11.
Frank Dobson finished in third place behind the Conservative candidate Steven Norris, and just ahead of the Liberal Democrat candidate Susan Kramer.
12.
Frank Dobson was re-elected as an MP at the 2001 and 2005 general elections, albeit with reduced majorities.
13.
In 2000, Frank Dobson was named "Beard 2000" by the Beard Liberation Front, amid controversy over his claim that Labour spin doctors had told him to shave off his prize-winning beard for the upcoming elections for Mayor of London.
14.
Frank Dobson said he had told them to "Stick it up their wicket".
15.
Frank Dobson was the subject of controversy for living in a council flat while receiving a six-figure minister's salary.
16.
Frank Dobson continued to live there, despite owning a large property in Yorkshire.
17.
Frank Dobson attacked Alan Milburn for making a "terrible mess" of the NHS.
18.
Frank Dobson was criticised for hypocrisy after he spoke against Post Office closures, then voted for such closures in Parliament.
19.
Frank Dobson supported the Speaker in allowing a warrant-less search of the offices of Conservative MP Damian Green.