Constituency : Ribble Valley 1991-92
Michael provided further evidence of the Liberal Democrats' revival by taking Ribble Valley from the Tories in a by-election fought squarely on the poll tax issue.
Michael was born in Preston . He was educated at St Joseph's College Blackpool and Preston Catholic College. He began work as an engineering apprentice, moved into local government then worked in the family newsagents. In 1970 he became a teacher and after a number of positions joined Lancashire County Council's School Support Team dealing with disruptive behaviour. He became a union officer for the NASUWT in 1984. He was initially a Conservative councillor on Ribble Valley Borough Council but switched to the SDP in 1981. He was SDP candidate in 1983 and 1987 coming second on both occasions.
Michael was told by Dennis Skinner, "Don't take your coat off, you'll not be stopping" when he entered Parliament. He broke with tradition by mentioning the poll tax in his supposedly uncontroversial maiden speech. He took up Catholic causes while in Parliament but later converted to Anglicanism.
Michael was defeated by Nigel Evans in 1992 and thereafter his record has been one of consistent electoral failure. He fought Ribble Valley again in 1997 and 2001 falling further behind each time. He initially worked as a supply teacher but eventually resumed work as a behavioural schools consultant. He switched his political attentions to Rossendale and contested the Rossendale and Darwen seat in 2005 coming third. He failed in numerous attempts to get elected as a local councillor.
Michael is also active in the Mashed Youth Project.
He is now 73.
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