1. Sir Roger James Gale was born on 20 August 1943 and is a British Conservative Party politician who has served as Member of Parliament for Herne Bay and Sandwich, previously North Thanet, since 1983.
20 Facts About Roger Gale
1. 2.
Roger Gale had a career in journalism and broadcasting from 1964, around the same time as he joined the Conservative Party, until 1983.
3.
Roger Gale was a prominent and vocal critic of Boris Johnson during his leadership of the Conservative Party.
4.
Roger Gale is the oldest MP elected in the 2024 general election.
5.
Roger Gale was educated at Southbourne Preparatory School and the Thomas Hardye's School in Dorchester.
6.
Roger Gale completed his education at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1963.
7.
From August 1964 to January 1965, Gale worked as a radio DJ for Radio Caroline North.
8.
Roger Gale worked as a programme director at Radio Scotland from 1965; personal assistant to the general manager of Universal Films from 1971 to 1972; freelance reporter at BBC Radio London from 1972 to 1973; producer at BBC Radio 1 and then at BBC Radio 4 from 1973 to 1976; became director of BBC Children's Television in 1976 until 1979; then senior producer of children's television and later of special projects at Thames TV from 1979 to 1983.
9.
Roger Gale made his maiden speech in the House of Commons on 30 June 1983.
10.
Roger Gale was a vice chairman of the Conservative Party under the leadership of Iain Duncan Smith from 2001 to 2003 with responsibility for presentation.
11.
In July 2008, Roger Gale said that capital punishment was a solution to fatal knife stabbings.
12.
Roger Gale was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 EU membership referendum.
13.
Roger Gale was one of three of the group who was recommended for a one-day suspension by the committee.
14.
Roger Gale later revealed he had submitted a letter of no-confidence in Johnson's leadership to the 1922 Committee.
15.
Roger Gale said he had changed his mind on challenging Johnson's leadership following the invasion.
16.
Roger Gale said, "we should not seek to destabilise the government of the United Kingdom".
17.
In December 2022 Roger Gale was appointed as temporary Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons in order to cover for the illness of a colleague, Eleanor Laing.
18.
Roger Gale was knighted in the 2012 New Year Honours for public and political services.
19.
In February 2016, Roger Gale was nominated for a "Grassroots Diplomat" award for his involvement in the campaign to save and reopen Manston Airport, which is in his constituency.
20.
Roger Gale has been married three times: firstly to Wendy Bowman in 1964, secondly to Susan Linda Sampson in 1971, with whom he has a daughter; thirdly to Susan Gabrielle Marks, with whom he has two sons.