26 Facts About Ken Hind

Ken Hind was born on 15 September 1949, and educated at Woodhouse Grove School and the University of Leeds, where he was Editor of the student newspaper, Union News, Treasurer and Chairman of the Entertainments Committee and later President of the Student Union.

Ken Hind helped to drive the merger of the University and Polytechnic newspapers to create Leeds Student.

Ken Hind graduated in Law, with an LLB degree, in 1971 and then qualified as a barrister at Gray's Inn in 1973.

Ken Hind served his pupillage under John Hampton at Park Square Chambers in Leeds where he became a tenant until elected to Parliament in 1983.

In 2007 Ken Hind left to join Oriel Chambers and in 2013 set up one of the first internet sets of chambers, Newton Chambers.

Ken Hind defended in Triad Moss Side and Salford gang cases.

Ken Hind made his maiden speech in parliament on 4 November 1983.

Ken Hind was Secretary of the Society of Conservative Lawyers Committee and Secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group of MPs.

In 1986 Ken Hind was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister responsible for Defence Procurement, David Trefgarne where he monitored Labour's policy on nuclear disarmament.

In 1987 after the general election, Ken Hind was appointed PPS to the Minister for Small Businesses John Cope in the Department of Employment and was involved in the creation of Training and Enterprise Councils, trade union and employment legislation and abolition of the National Dock Labour Scheme.

Ken Hind rebelled against the Government over sentencing policy in 1988, stating that sentences should be able to be appealed if the prosecution on behalf of the victims believed they were too light.

Ken Hind strongly supporting Margaret Thatcher's proposal to enter the Single Market and the government's privatisation programme.

In 1988 Ken Hind became PPS to the Minister for Minister of State for Security and Finance at the Northern Ireland Office, then John Cope and between 1989 and 1992 then PPS to Peter Brooke, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Under the Anglo-Irish Agreement Ken Hind was Chairman of the Joint Anglo-Irish Committee on Environment and Education and a member of the Joint Anglo- Irish Agreement Parliamentary Committee.

In February 1988, Ken Hind presented a Private Member's Bill to control embryo research and invited along with a Parliamentary British delegation to an audience with the Pope.

Ken Hind was MP candidates friend in 1990 to Colette Jones Northern Ireland Conservative in the Upper Bann By-election, the first contested by the Conservatives since 1945 and the first time since the "Equal Citizenship" campaign had sought to get the major UK parties to organise in the province.

Ken Hind took part in a discussion on the Granada TV programme Upfront on so called Acid House parties arguing in favour of bringing them under the existing licensing legislation.

In 1992 Ken Hind was appointed by Norman Fowler Norman Fowler, Baron Fowler then Chairman of the Conservative Party to organise and lead a team of barristers and solicitors to represent the Conservative Party in public enquiries into Parliamentary Boundaries.

In 2019 Ken Hind was appointed as an independent Chairman of the Football Association Safeguarding Appeals Panel and a trustee of the Primrose Community Nature Trust.

Ken Hind was a 3 term councillor, representing the Dilworth ward of Ribble Valley Borough Council for the Conservative Party.

Ken Hind was the Leader of Ribble Valley Borough Council until December 2018 when he resigned.

Ken Hind said the site is a 'fine example' to others across the country.

Ken Hind believed that ultimately the inability of Planning Authorities to appeal the decisions of Planning Inspectors was what was responsible for the Ribble Valley being "under siege" from developers.

Ken Hind encouraged the Town Council to create a Neighbourhood Plan which was successfully approved in 2018 and supported and pressed through the Council preservation of the Longridge recreation ground by deed in trust, to preserve this communal space for future generations.

Ken Hind pressed with other councillors with Lancashire County Council for the preservation of the Longridge youth centre in Berry Lane which now remains open and improvement of youth services in the town.

Ken Hind was awarded the CBE Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's 1995 New Year Honours List for political service.