Evan Leslie Harris (born 21 October 1965) is a British
Liberal Democrat politician. He was the
Member of Parliament (MP) for
Oxford West and Abingdon from 1997 to 2010, losing his seat in the
2010 general election by 176 votes to
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
Nicola Blackwood
Nicola Claire Blackwood, Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford (born 16 October 1979) is a British politician of the Conservative Party. Baroness Blackwood was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Oxford West and Abingdon from 2010 to 2017. She has al ...
.
Since 2011 he has been the joint executive director of
Hacked Off, the campaign for an accountable press.
Early life and career
Evan Harris was born on 21 October 1965 in
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...
,
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire was one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the riding was an administrative county named County of York, West Riding. The Lord Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire, lieu ...
, the son of South African Jewish parents (his father was a medical professor). He was brought up in
Liverpool
Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...
, where he had a state education at the
Liverpool Blue Coat School
The Liverpool Blue Coat School is a grammar school in Liverpool, England. It was founded in 1708 by Bryan Blundell and the Reverend Robert Styth as the Liverpool Blue Coat Hospital and was for many years a boarding school, boys' boarding school ...
.
In 1984 he won a scholarship to the independent
Harvard-Westlake School
Harvard-Westlake School is an independent, co-educational university preparatory day school in Los Angeles, California, with about 1,600 students in grades seven through twelve. The school has two campuses: the middle school campus in Holmby ...
in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, California, and later won a scholarship to attend
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College ( ) is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is located in the centre of Oxford, at the intersection of Broad Street, Oxford, Broad Street and Parks Road ...
, where he was awarded a
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts (abbreviated B.A., BA, A.B. or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is the holder of a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the liberal arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts deg ...
degree in
physiology
Physiology (; ) is the science, scientific study of function (biology), functions and mechanism (biology), mechanisms in a life, living system. As a branches of science, subdiscipline of biology, physiology focuses on how organisms, organ syst ...
and a
diploma
A diploma is a document awarded by an educational institution (such as a college or university) testifying the recipient has graduated by successfully completing their courses of studies. Historically, it has also referred to a charter or offi ...
in
medical sociology
Medical sociology is the sociological analysis of health, Illness, differential access to medical resources, the social organization of medicine, Health Care Delivery, the production of medical knowledge, selection of methods, the study of action ...
. He completed his education at the
Oxford Medical School, where he graduated
BM BCh and qualified as a
physician
A physician, medical practitioner (British English), medical doctor, or simply doctor is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the Medical education, study, Med ...
in 1991.
Harris began his career at the
Royal Liverpool University Hospital
Royal Liverpool University Hospital (RLUH) is a major teaching and research hospital located in the city of Liverpool, England. It is the largest and busiest hospital in Merseyside and Cheshire.
A major redevelopment of the hospital began in 20 ...
in 1991 as a Pre-Registration House Officer (junior doctor). A year later, he moved to the
John Radcliffe Hospital
John Radcliffe Hospital (informally known as the JR or the John Radcliffe) is a large tertiary teaching hospital in Oxford, England. It forms part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is named after John Radcliffe (physician) ...
,
Oxford
Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town.
The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...
, specialising in acute medicine and surgery.
In 1994 Harris moved to
Oxfordshire Health Authority, becoming an honorary
specialist registrar
A specialty registrar (StR), previously known as and still commonly referred to as a specialist registrar (SpR), is a doctor, public health practitioner or dentist who is working as part of a specialty training programme in the UK. This is known ...
in
public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the de ...
and working on issues to do with NHS staffing and training.
Harris held the position of local
British Medical Association
The British Medical Association (BMA) is a registered trade union and professional body for physician, doctors in the United Kingdom. It does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The BMA ...
representative and negotiator from 1992 to 1994, following which he was elected to the
BMA's National Council.
Harris is a
humanist
Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential, and agency of human beings, whom it considers the starting point for serious moral and philosophical inquiry.
The meaning of the term "humanism" ha ...
, and a patron of
Humanists UK
Humanists UK, known from 1967 until May 2017 as the British Humanist Association (BHA), is a charitable organisation which promotes secular humanism and aims to represent Irreligion in the United Kingdom, non-religious people in the UK throug ...
. He was also a vice-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, before being unseated at the 2010 general election. In addition, he is an honorary associate of the
National Secular Society
The National Secular Society (NSS) is a British campaigning organisation that promotes secularism and the separation of church and state. It holds that no one should gain advantage or disadvantage because of their religion or lack of it. The Soc ...
, and the Patron of the
Oxford Secular Society.
Harris lists his interests as football, bridge and chess.
Political career
Election to Parliament
He was first elected to the
House of Commons
The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...
at the
1997 General Election for
Oxford West and Abingdon. The seat had previously been held by
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
John Patten, a former Cabinet minister. Harris gained the seat for the Liberal Democrats with a majority of 6,285, making his
maiden speech
A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.
Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country. In many Westminster system governments, there is a convention th ...
on 21 May 1997, and remained the MP there until 2010.
Promotion to the frontbench
In parliament, he was made a
frontbench spokesman on Health in 1997 by
Paddy Ashdown
Jeremy John Durham Ashdown, Baron Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon (27 February 194122 December 2018), better known as Paddy Ashdown, was a British politician and diplomat who served as Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 1988 to 1999. Internation ...
. Following the election of
Charles Kennedy
Charles Peter Kennedy (25 November 19591 June 2015) was a British politician who served as Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 1999 to 2006, and was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ross, Skye and Lochaber from 1983 to 2015.
Kennedy wa ...
as party leader in 1999, Harris became spokesman on Higher Education and Women's issues. He was promoted to the
Liberal Democrat shadow cabinet following the
2001 general election as Shadow
Secretary of State for Health
The secretary of state for health and social care, also referred to as the health secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, responsible for the work of the Department of Health and Social Care. The in ...
, but stood down in 2003 to care for his girlfriend Liz O'Hara who had been diagnosed with terminal
glioblastoma multiforme
Glioblastoma, previously known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is the most aggressive and most common type of cancer that originates in the brain, and has a very poor prognosis for survival. Initial signs and symptoms of glioblastoma are nons ...
. Following the
2005 general election, Harris returned to the frontbench team as spokesman on Science, a position he held until his defeat in the
2010 general election.
Harris was a member of the
education and employment select committee between 1999 and 2001. He was then a member of the select committees for science and technology between 2003 and 2010, and for
human rights
Human rights are universally recognized Morality, moral principles or Social norm, norms that establish standards of human behavior and are often protected by both Municipal law, national and international laws. These rights are considered ...
between 2005 and 2010.
Evan Harris is a member of the centre-left
Beveridge Group within the Liberal Democrats, and was Honorary President of the Liberal Democrats Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender equality organisation (
LGBT+ Liberal Democrats
LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and other individuals. The group i ...
) from 2000 to 2012.
In parliament, he served on many party groups, including the kidney group (as chairman); mental health; science; refugees; equality; and AIDS group.
Expenses
Harris was initially alleged to have profited from the sale of his second home by ''The Daily Telegraph'' during the expenses scandal. However, following Harris's response, the ''Telegraph'' withdrew its allegations. Sir
Thomas Legg, the auditor brought in by the
House of Commons
The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...
, wrote to Harris to say that there were no problems with his expenses.
Campaigns
Harris is pro-choice on abortion, and supports the right of mentally competent, terminally ill people to take their own lives under certain circumstances. This has led to criticism from pro-life and Church leaders, such as George Pitcher.
Harris has also spoken in support of medical research involving animals, including that carried out at
Oxford University
The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the second-oldest continuously operating u ...
. Notably, he joined
Pro-Test's Oxford march in February 2008. This led animal rights activist
Keith Mann to stand against Harris in the
2010 general election, during which he referred to Harris as "Dr Death".
Harris is a vocal backer of reform of
defamation
Defamation is a communication that injures a third party's reputation and causes a legally redressable injury. The precise legal definition of defamation varies from country to country. It is not necessarily restricted to making assertions ...
laws in the United Kingdom. He notably supported
Simon Singh
Simon Lehna Singh, (born 19 September 1964) is a British popular science author and theoretical and particle physicist. His written works include ''Fermat's Last Theorem'' (in the United States titled ''Fermat's Enigma: The Epic Quest to Solve ...
in his libel case against the
British Chiropractic Association, saying "For every Simon Singh who wins there are hundreds of writers who never dare publish or who give up their legal battle because they cannot risk the cost of losing. That is why all the political parties must be held to their promises take action
o reform defamation law. In 2009, Evan Harris was awarded (with
Lord Avebury) the
National Secular Society
The National Secular Society (NSS) is a British campaigning organisation that promotes secularism and the separation of church and state. It holds that no one should gain advantage or disadvantage because of their religion or lack of it. The Soc ...
's
Secularist of the Year Award in recognition of his role in the abolition of the common law offence of
blasphemous libel
Blasphemous libel was originally an offence under the common law of England. Today, it is an offence under the common law of Northern Ireland, but has been abolished in England and Wales, and repealed in Canada and New Zealand. It is a form of ...
.
Defeat in 2010 general election
In the 2010 general election, Harris was defeated by the Conservative candidate
Nicola Blackwood
Nicola Claire Blackwood, Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford (born 16 October 1979) is a British politician of the Conservative Party. Baroness Blackwood was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Oxford West and Abingdon from 2010 to 2017. She has al ...
. Harris received 23,730 votes to Blackwood's 23,906 – a margin of 176 votes.
This equated to a 6.9% swing from the Liberal Democrats to the Conservatives. Several political commentators commented that this was one of the most surprising results of the general election – given Harris' high-profile position as a shadow minister and the size of his existing majority.
Pre-election campaign
For a number of years before the 2010 general election Harris' views on various social and theological matters had led to criticism within certain parts of the media. Christian conservatives criticised Harris, including
Damian Thompson and
Cristina Odone.
In the final weeks of the 2010 campaign, leaflets were distributed by
Keith Mann, a candidate for the Animal Protection Party, attacking Harris as 'Dr Death', and criticising him for his support for animal testing, abortion, secularisation, and other issues. Further leaflets were distributed by the unaffiliated Reverend
Lynda Rose, also referring to Harris as 'Dr Death', and criticising him for his secularism, support for abortion, embryo research and assisted suicide.
In contrast to these criticisms, Harris received support from a number of humanist and atheist figures, including
Ben Goldacre
Ben Michael Goldacre (born 20 May 1974) is a British physician, academic and science writer. He is the first Bennett Professor of Evidence-Based Medicine and director of the Bennett Institute for Applied Data Science at the University of Oxford ...
,
Simon Singh
Simon Lehna Singh, (born 19 September 1964) is a British popular science author and theoretical and particle physicist. His written works include ''Fermat's Last Theorem'' (in the United States titled ''Fermat's Enigma: The Epic Quest to Solve ...
and
Dave Gorman
David James Gorman (born 2 March 1971) is an English comedian, presenter, and writer.
Gorman began his career writing for comedy series such as '' The Mrs Merton Show'' (1993–1998) and ''The Fast Show'' (1994–1997), and later garnered a ...
.
Stephen Fry
Sir Stephen John Fry (born 24 August 1957) is an English actor, broadcaster, comedian, director, narrator and writer. He came to prominence as a member of the comic act Fry and Laurie alongside Hugh Laurie, with the two starring in ''A Bit of ...
added his support, saying of Harris: "
arris isby far and away the most persuasive and impressive parliamentarian in the cause of good and open science and enquiry that we have had in the past decade. He has been central to mould-breaking and inspirational multiparty cooperation in issues of scientific concern since 1997."
Boundary changes
Before the
2010 general election, Harris's seat of
Oxford West and Abingdon had its boundaries changed, moving the central Oxford wards of
Carfax and
Holywell
Holywell may refer to:
England
* Holywell, Bedfordshire
* Holywell, Cambridgeshire
* Holywell, Cornwall
* Holywell, Dorset
* Holywell, Eastbourne, East Sussex
* Holywell, Gloucestershire, a List of United Kingdom locations: Ho-Hoo#Hol, location in ...
, composed primarily of students of the
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...
, to the
Oxford East
Oxford East is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the UK Parliament since 2017 by Anneliese Dodds of the Labour Party.
Created in 1983, the constituency covers the eastern and southern parts of Oxford in Oxfordshire. It bor ...
constituency. In return the constituency gained a ward each from
Wantage
Wantage () is a historic market town and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the Vale of White Horse, Oxfordshire, England. Although within the boundaries of the Historic counties of England, historic county of Berkshire, it has been a ...
and
Witney
Witney is a market town on the River Windrush in West Oxfordshire in the county of Oxfordshire, England. It is west of Oxford.
History
The Toponymy, place-name "Witney" is derived from the Old English for "Witta's island". The earliest kno ...
. These changes reduced Harris' notional majority from 7683 to 5525 votes, or 11.3%.
Reactions to election defeat
Responses to the election result varied. Harris' defeat was lamented by a number of commentators as a 'loss for science'.
However, Harris' defeat was also celebrated by some conservative Christians, including
Christian Concern For Our Nation,
and
George Pitcher who described it as "the best result of the election".
Richard Dawkins
Richard Dawkins (born 26 March 1941) is a British evolutionary biology, evolutionary biologist, zoologist, science communicator and author. He is an Oxford fellow, emeritus fellow of New College, Oxford, and was Simonyi Professor for the Publ ...
, posting on his site,
wondered whether the religious criticisms of Harris had "caused Evan Harris to lose votes" or "gain them", noting that the answer to this would reflect the true extent of secular thought in Britain. Post-election analysis in the ''
Oxford Mail
''Oxford Mail'' is a daily tabloid newspaper in Oxford, England, owned by Newsquest. It is published six days a week. It is a sister paper to the weekly tabloid ''The Oxford Times''.
History
The ''Oxford Mail'' was founded in 1928 by MP Fra ...
'' suggested that Harris' strident secular opinions appeared to have "alienated a sufficiently large percentage of the electorate to lose what was considered a relatively safe seat for the Liberal Democrats". It detailed that while the Liberal Democrats had nationally gained a 1% swing in their favour, in the Oxford West constituency there had been a 6.9% swing away from the party to the Conservatives. Although 2001 census figures show that Oxford had the 10th highest proportion of people in England and Wales who listed themselves as having no religion, the census also showed that 76.1% of those surveyed did not class themselves as having no religion.
Career after 2010 general election defeat
From August 2010 Harris has been writing a blog on science policy for ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
''. On 18 September 2010, Harris had an article published on ''The Guardian'' website called 'A secularist manifesto'. This was in turn critiqued by Jonathan Chaplin, who wrote that 'the manifesto contains troubling elements, which serve to undermine his professed support for the right to manifest religious belief.'
On 17 November 2010, Harris was elected as one of the three vice-chairs on the Liberal Democrats' Federal Policy Committee.
References
External links
*
Column archiveat ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
''
*
*
Hacked Off http://hackinginquiry.org/key-people/
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Evan
Living people
1965 births
20th-century English medical doctors
Alumni of Wadham College, Oxford
British critics of religions
English humanists
English people of South African-Jewish descent
English LGBTQ rights activists
Harvard-Westlake School alumni
LGBTQ people from Yorkshire
Liberal Democrats (UK) MPs for English constituencies
Medical doctors from Liverpool
People educated at Liverpool Blue Coat School
Politicians from Liverpool
Politicians from Sheffield
UK MPs 1997–2001
UK MPs 2001–2005
UK MPs 2005–2010