Tony McNulty | |
|---|---|
 McNulty in 2004 | |
| Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform | |
| In office 3 October 2008 – 5 June 2009 | |
| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Stephen Timms |
| Succeeded by | Jim Knight |
| Minister for London | |
| In office 3 October 2008 – 5 June 2009 | |
| Prime Minister | Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Tessa Jowell |
| Succeeded by | Tessa Jowell |
| In office 12 March 2003 – 13 June 2003 | |
| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Nick Raynsford |
| Succeeded by | Keith Hill |
| Minister of State for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing | |
| In office 5 May 2006 – 3 October 2008 | |
| Prime Minister | Tony Blair Gordon Brown |
| Preceded by | Hazel Blears |
| Succeeded by | Vernon Coaker |
| Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality | |
| In office 6 May 2005 – 5 May 2006 | |
| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Des Browne |
| Succeeded by | Liam Byrne |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport | |
| In office 29 May 2002 – 10 September 2004 | |
| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Sally Keeble |
| Succeeded by | Charlotte Atkins |
| Lord Commissioner of the Treasury | |
| In office 12 June 2001 – 29 May 2002 | |
| Prime Minister | Tony Blair |
| Preceded by | Jane Kennedy(1999) |
| Succeeded by | Phil Woolas |
| Member of Parliament forHarrow East | |
| In office 1 May 1997 – 12 April 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Hugh Dykes |
| Succeeded by | Bob Blackman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1958-11-03)3 November 1958 (age 67) |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse(s) | (divorced) |
| Alma mater | University of Liverpool Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University |
Anthony James McNulty (born 3 November 1958) is a retired British politician who was theLabour Member of Parliament (MP) forHarrow East from1997 to2010. During his ministerial career, which began in 2003, he wasMinister for London and laterMinister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform at theDepartment for Work and Pensions. He resigned his position on 5 June 2009 after allegations in the press regarding his expenses.
His father migrated to England fromCounty Donegal, Ireland.[1]
McNulty was educated at theSalvatorian College, Wealdstone and atStanmore Sixth Form College. He graduated from theUniversity of Liverpool with aBA in Political Theory and Institutions and anMA in Political Science fromVirginia Tech in the United States.[2] Before becoming an MP, he was leader of the Labour group on Harrow council and a senior lecturer inOrganisational Behaviour, at theUniversity of North London from 1983–97. In 1986, he was elected to Harrow Council for Stanmore South ward.[3]
McNulty was an unsuccessful Labour candidate forHarrow East in the1992 general election, but was elected as the constituency's MP in theMay 1997 general election. He served as a Whip from 1999 to 2002, following a period as Parliamentary Private Secretary toDavid Blunkett. McNulty was then appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with responsibility for neighbourhood renewal, housing and planning. He was moved to theDepartment for Transport in June 2003 as Parliamentary Under Secretary with responsibility for aviation, local transport, and London, and was promoted to Minister of State with responsibility for Rail and London in September 2004.[4][5]
McNulty moved to theHome Office on 9 May 2005 as Minister of State for Immigration, following thegeneral election reshuffle. In May 2006 hisHome Office portfolio changed to responsibility over the policing and crime, security and counter-terrorism.[6] In July 2007, he became aPrivy Councillor. InGordon Brown's reshuffle on 3 October 2008, McNulty moved to becomeMinister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform at theDepartment for Work and Pensions andMinister for London, and was permitted to attend cabinet meetings until his resignation on 5 June 2009. During his period as Minister, McNulty was concerned with benefit fraud suggesting that "we are absolutely determined to stop benefit thieves stealing from the British taxpayer. Our commitment extends beyond the borders of the UK. Even in sunny Spain, we're closing in on benefit fraud".[7]
In 2009, McNulty was one of many MPs who were involved in a political scandal following thedisclosure of expenses of Members of the United Kingdom Parliament. In March 2009, he admitted claiming expenses on a second home, occupied by his parents, which was 8 miles away from his primary residence, after details appeared inThe Mail on Sunday.[8] McNulty said that the claim was appropriate, but he ceased claiming the allowances.[citation needed] He was asked to apologise to the House of Commons and repay £13,837,[9] which he did.[10]
In an article headlined "Tony McNulty, Benefit Cheat",Alex Massie in a blog forThe Spectator contrasted the statements made by McNulty regarding benefit cheats with his own claims for expenses.[11] On 18 May 2007, McNulty was one of the 98 MPs who voted in favour of exempting parliamentarians from the application of theFreedom of Information Act 2000.[12]
On 5 June 2009, after the revelations in the expenses scandal, McNulty resigned from the government.[13] At the2010 general election, McNulty lost toBob Blackman of theConservative Party.[10]
In September 2002, McNulty marriedChristine Gilbert,Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools for Ofsted, in Hammersmith and Fulham. Gilbert was headmistress ofWhitmore High School for eight years, starting when she was 32. It was the second marriage for both. McNulty had first married in 1994 to Gillian Travers, who later stood as a Labour candidate forRuislip-Northwood in 2001.[citation needed]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forHarrow East 1997–2010 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded byas Minister of State for Immigrstion, Citizenship and Counterterrorism | Minister of State for Immigration, Citizenship and Nationality | Succeeded byas Minister of State for Borders and Immigration |
| New creation | Minister of State for Security, Counterterrorism, Crime and Policing 2006–2008 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform 2008–2009 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister for London 2008–2009 | Succeeded by |
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| Asylum and immigration 1999–2002 | | |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration, citizenship and counter-terrorism 2002–2005 | ||
| Immigration, citizenship and nationality 2005–2006 | ||
| Borders and immigration 2006–2010 | ||
| Immigration 2010–2023 | ||
| Legal migration and delivery 2023–2024 | ||
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