Mike O'Brien

MINISTER GRILLED

During a pre Christmas visit, students at the North Warwickshire College of Art and Technology have had the chance to grill Government Minister and local MP Mike O'Brien. 

He spent an hour fielding questions to students studying public service on his personal background, what he had done as an MP, his views on immigration, the BNP, The Human Rights Act and plans for Fire service Closure.

Mike O'Brien is currently the Minister of State at the Department of Health but has held a series of ministerial roles including as a Home office Minister Foreign Minister and Energy and Climate Change Minister, as well as being one of the senior Law Officers, the Solicitor General.

Mike told the students about his background, "I grew up in a council house, my Dad was a railway labourer, my Mum a cleaner, I took my A levels at the Tech College.  After graduating I later trained to be a lawyer in Birmingham.  I taught law at a college, before practising as a criminal lawyer. I am now an MP, a QC and a Minister of State.   State education has changed my life."

Asked what he had done as an MP, Mike said, "As a local MP I helped bring jobs to bring the BMW plant to North Warwickshire and fought for both Prologis Park and the Birch Coppice Business Park and their thousands of jobs.  In the 1990's I helped block opencast mining in North Warwickshire.  In Parliament I took through a tough new Crime and Disorder Act, the Freedom of Information Act, a Race Relations Act, the Pensions Act and a new Climate Change Act.  I have just got through new NHS reforms. But it's not just about big issues; personally, I get a lot out of being able to sometimes help constituents with problems when the system has failed for them.  It's all about making a difference."

Students asked repeated questions on immigration and the MP's attitude to the BNP.  Mike said, "I took through the Immigration Act that introduced fines for lorry drivers who bring illegals in.  I also ended the right to work for failed asylum seekers because it attracts young men to come to work. I took a lot of flack on that from liberals who felt I was too tough, but I believe countries have a right to control who comes in. 

"But the BNP are different.  Whatever a person's problem they say immigrants are to blame.  They are unlike any other political party because they don't seek to get every one to join; they exclude Black and Asian people.  They encourage the majority to hate the minority.  My parents were immigrants from Ireland and I despise hate mongers like the BNP.   My Dad built railways, he worked hard, obeyed the law and paid his taxes and he made a bigger contribution to this country than Nick Griffin has ever done.  To be British is to respect others and not to target minorities.   By those criteria it is unBritish to support the BNP."

Mike also told the students that he opposed Fire station closures.

After the meeting Mike said,"They asked tough questions.  And queried every answer.  They got me to talk about myself and my family background and they got more out of me than a Select Committee ever has."