Roger Gale

Biography:

Roger Gale was re-elected MP for North Thanet on May 7th 2015 with 23045 votes, taking 49.0% of the vote.

Roger Gale was born in 1943 and was educated at Southbourne Preparatory School, Hardye’s School, Dorchester and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. He is married to Suzy and has three children. He is a former producer and director of Current Affairs programmes for the BBC, editor of Thames Television’s Teenage Unit, and a freelance radio journalist. He has business experience both in the film industry and in market research.

He contested Birmingham Northfield at a by-election in 1982 and was then elected as the Member of Parliament for North Thanet at the General Election in June 1983, and was re-elected in 1987, 1992, 1997, 2001 & 2005. He has been re-selected to fight the seat on its new boundaries at the next General Election.

Roger was appointed as a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee from 1989 to 1992, and the Televising of the House Select Committee from 1989 to 1991. He was also the Founding Chairman of the All Party Group for the Fund for the Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments.

He has been a member of Parliamentary delegations to Norway (Arctic Warfare Training), Washington, The United Nations, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Cuba, Cyprus, Zambia & Gabon. He was a member of the Council of Europe from 1987 to 1989 and has served as an International Election Observer in Outer Mongolia, South Africa, Mozambique, Ghana and, most recently, in The Gambia, Kenya & Macedonia. He has also (2006) carried out seminar duties in Guyana.

He has specialised knowledge of political broadcasting, media matters, press and PR., animal welfare, defence and criminal justice issues. During his 24 years as a Member of Parliament he has been appointed as a member of a wide range of bill committees.

Roger is a Fellow of the Industry & Parliament Trust, the Parliament & Armed Forces Fellowship and was the first Member of Parliament to participate in the Police Service Parliamentary Scheme with the Metropolitan Police (1995/6). He undertook a Police Post Graduate attachment. He has served as a Special Constable with the British Transport Police and as a PPS to the Minister of State for the Armed Forces between 1992 and 1995. From 2001-2003 he was a Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party.

Roger is President of the Conservative Animal Welfare Group. He is also an Honorary Member of the British Veterinary Association and an honorary life member of The League Against Cruel Sports. He also holds honorary offices within a number of voluntary groups in his constituency, including St John Ambulance & 1st Margate (St John’s) scout troop. He is Chairman of the Try Angle Awards Foundation and of Pathway.

He is a member of the Procedures Select Committee, and is a senior member of the Speaker’s Panel of Chairmen. Since his appointment to the Panel in 1997 he has chaired more than 100 pieces of legislation through their committee stages and he is due to oversee the Banking Bill very shortly. He also, regularly, chairs debates in the Westminster Great Hall.

Roger’s wife, Suzy, who is his full-time Parliamentary Office Director, is President of the East Kent Unit for Breast Screening, Patron of the local Cats Protection branch and the E. Kent Animal Centre. She is a former member of the Council of Management of the Strode Park Foundation for the Disabled. She took over from Roger as Co-Chairman of Conservative Animal Welfare and is the founder and secretary of Animals Worldwide. She sits regularly as a magistrate.

Constituency: North Thanet

Constituency Address: The Old Forge, 215a Canterbury Road, Birchington, CT7 9AH

Constituency Tel: 01843 848588

Date of Birth: 20 August 1943

Email: galerj@parliament.uk

Party: Conservative

Personal Website: www.rogergale.co.uk

Westminster Address: Gale, Esq., MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

Westminster Tel: 0207 219 3000

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/north.thanet.roger.gale