Keith Taylor (British politician)

Keith Taylor
MEP
Principal Speaker of the Green Party
In office
6 August 2004 – 24 November 2006
Preceded by Mike Woodin
Succeeded by Derek Wall
Member of the European Parliament
for South East England
Assumed office
6 May 2010
Preceded by Caroline Lucas
Brighton and Hove Councillor for St. Peters and North Laine Ward
In office
6 May 1999 – 6 May 2010
Succeeded by Lizzie Deane
Personal details
Born (1953-08-01) 1 August 1953
Rochford, Essex
Nationality British
Political party Green Party
Website www.keithtaylormep.org.uk

Keith Richard Taylor (born 1 August 1953 in Southend, Essex) is a senior Green Party politician. Taylor was one of the two Principal Speakers of the party from August 2004 [1] to November 2006.[2] Taylor gained prominence for being at the time the Green Party's most successful parliamentary candidate ever in the UK, after winning 22% of the vote in the Brighton Pavilion constituency at the 2005 General Election.[3] After the 2010 General Election Taylor was appointed to the European Parliament for the South East of England.

Early career

Before becoming a Green Party activist, Taylor lived in Brighton and owned a local business. Taylor "took to community activism opposing an inappropriate local development", leading him to join the Green Party.[3] Taylor was a participant in the campaign by BUDD, opposing the development now called the New England Quarter adjacent to Brighton railway station.[4]

Green Party councillor and parliamentary candidate

In 1999, Taylor was elected as a councillor on Brighton and Hove City Council, representing the St. Peters and North Laine ward. He became Convenor (the local group's name for its leader) of the Green group of councillors on the City Council.[5] During his time as a councillor Taylor was a member of the Policy & Resources Committee, the Adult Social Care & Health Committee, the Housing Committee, the Joint Commissioning Board, the Shoreham Airport Joint Committee, the Housing Decision Procedures Scrutiny Panel and the Licensing & Regulatory Functions Sub-Committee.[6]

Taylor stood in 2001 and 2005 as the parliamentary candidate for the Green Party in the Brighton Pavilion constituency. Taylor received 9.3% in 2001 and 21.9% of the vote in 2005.[5]

In August 2004, Taylor was appointed as a replacement for Mike Woodin as the Green Party's Male Principal Speaker alongside Caroline Lucas.[1] The Guardian stated that Taylor "defies the stereotype of Green politicians as earnest or bookish academics".[7] Taylor was confirmed in the post after a by-elected in November 2005, beating Derek Wall by 851 votes to 803; again, serving alongside Lucas.[2] In November 2006, Taylor lost re-election to Wall by 767 votes to 705.[2]

In 2007, Taylor faced Lucas to be the Green Party's parliamentary candidate for the Brighton Pavilion constituency 2010 general election. Taylor, on announcing his campaign, said, "This will be the third time I've contested this seat. I inherited a 2.6% vote for the Greens and have built that up to 22%. Next time, if I am selected again Brighton voters will make history in electing me the country's first Green MP". Lucas, in a letter to local party members, said that she had been invited to stand by several local members and described it as "the most difficult decision of my life" because of her "personal and family commitments" and her "loyalty and commitment to Keith Taylor, who is a person and a politician for whom I have great admiration and respect".[8]

Member of European Parliament

On 18 July 2007, it was announced that Lucas had been selected ahead of Taylor by the Brighton Green Party. Lucas won with 55% of the party ballot against Taylor's 45%. Taylor congratulated Lucas and pledged his support for her campaign.[9]

On 5 May 2010 Lucas was elected as Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion and upon doing so was required to resign as the MEP for the South East of England. Taylor being second on the Green Party list[10] was appointed as Lucas' replacement to serve out the remainder of the term until 2014. Taylor was also required to resign as a local councillor under European Parliament rules on dual mandates.[11] Taylor was reelected as MEP for the South East region in the 2014 Euro election, with 9.05% of the vote.[12]

Taylor is an early signatory of the International Simultaneous Policy (SIMPOL) which seeks to end the usual deadlock in tackling global issues. Taylor became a signatory of SIMPOL in May 2009.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 Green Party Website Press Release 6 August 2004 - Greens appoint new figurehead
  2. 1 2 3 Green Party Website Press Release 24 November 2006 - Siân Berry and Dr. Derek Wall elected as Principal Speakers
  3. 1 2 Cllr. Keith Taylor's Green Party Website Biography
  4. ↑ archive referring to BUDD under heading 'Sainsburys'.
  5. 1 2 Cllr. Keith Taylor's Brighton and Hove Green Party Website Biography
  6. ↑ Cllr. Keith Taylor's Brighton and Hove City Council Biography
  7. ↑ Greens name new figurehead
  8. ↑ Brighton Argus Article 14 June 2007 - Greens Battle to Be the First MP
  9. ↑ Brighton Argus Article 18 July 2007 - Greens Pick MEP Lucas to Run for MP
  10. ↑ http://southeast.greenparty.org.uk/region/southeast/euro-elections2009.html
  11. ↑ http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1226134
  12. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/eu-regions/E15000008
  13. ↑ List_of_all_pledged_candidates.pdf
Political offices
Preceded by
Mike Woodin		 Principal Speaker of the Green Party of England and Wales
2004–2006 		Succeeded by
Derek Wall
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