Gerry Bermingham

Gerald Edward Bermingham (20 August 1940 – 2 August 2023) was a British politician and barrister who was a Labour Member of Parliament for St Helens South from 1983 until 2001.[2]

Gerry Bermingham
Member of Parliament
for St Helens South
In office
9 June 1983 – 14 May 2001
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byShaun Woodward
Personal details
Born
Gerald Edward Bermingham

(1940-08-20)20 August 1940
Dublin, Ireland
Died2 August 2023(2023-08-02) (aged 82)
Birmingham, England
NationalityBritish
Political partyLabour
SpouseJilly Foster[1]
Alma materUniversity of Sheffield
ProfessionBarrister

Bermingham was born 20 August 1940 in Dublin, Ireland, and educated at Cotton College, Wellingborough Grammar School and Sheffield University, where he obtained a degree in law. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1967, and was called to the Bar (Gray's Inn) in 1985. He was a Sheffield City councillor from 1975 to 1979. He contested South East Derbyshire in 1979, but was defeated by the incumbent Conservative Peter Rost.

In 1994, he was one of six Labour MPs who voted against any reduction in the age of consent for homosexuals, even to 18 (at the time, the age of consent was 21).[3]

On his retirement, he was succeeded by Shaun Woodward, a Conservative defector, who swapped his old seat of Witney to represent the ultra-safe St Helens South.[4]

Bermingham died in Birmingham on 2 August 2023, at the age of 82.[5]

Bermingham continued to practise from No 5 Chambers, a Birmingham barristers' chambers, in the field of criminal law.

References
  1. "Councillor Jilly plans to tie knot with MP Bermingham". Birmingham Post. 18 May 1998. Retrieved 11 August 2023 – via The Free Library.
  2. "Safe seat 'stitch-up'". BBC News Online. 13 May 2001. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
  3. Mckie, David (23 February 1994). "Four in 10 Conservatives opposed change". The Guardian.
  4. "'I'm Labour man now' - Woodward". BBC News Online. 14 May 2001. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
  5. Jackson, Carl (10 August 2023). "Tributes to legendary lawyer and former MP Gerry Bermingham who has died aged 82". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 10 August 2023.


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