Ian Lavery Ian Lavery Ian Lavery (born 6 January 1963) is a British Labour Party politician and former trade union leader from Northumberland who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wansbeck since the 2010 general election. Born and raised in Ashington, Lavery began work in the construction industry after leaving school before becoming a mining apprentice. Noted for being the sole apprentice to refuse to work during the miners' strike of 1984-1985, he gradually rose up the ranks of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and was chosen to succeed Arthur Scargill as NUM President in 2002. Once elected to
Chairman of the Labour Party (UK) Chairman of the Labour Party (UK) The Chairman of the Labour Party in the United Kingdom is responsible for party administration, overseeing the General election campaigns of the Labour Party. When the Labour Party are in government, the Chairman is usually a member of the Cabinet holding a sinecure position such as Minister without Portfolio. The position was created by Tony Blair in the aftermath of the 2001 General Election. The position is not to be confused with that of Chair of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party under the Labour Party Constitution. Originally considered a courtesy title,