Tom Copley

Tom Copley
AM
Tom Copley AM in North Finchley, 2012
Member of the London Assembly
as the 8th Additional Member
Assumed office
4 May 2012
Preceded by Dee Doocey
Personal details
Born (1985-05-11) 11 May 1985
Stockport, Greater Manchester,
United Kingdom
Nationality British
Political party Labour
Residence Catford, London
Alma mater University of Nottingham
Occupation Politician
Website www.tomcopley.com

Tom Copley (born 11 May 1985) is a British Labour Party politician, and a member of the London Assembly.

Background

Copley studied at Bishop Wordsworth's School in Salisbury, before going on to study Politics at the University of Nottingham.[1] Copley is gay.[2]

Career

Prior to his election as a London Assembly Member, Copley worked for Searchlight, the anti-racist and anti-fascist organisation.[1] He has also worked as the local organiser and agent for the Labour Party in Camden and on Ken Livingstone's successful campaign to be selected as Labour's candidate for the 2012 London mayoral election.[3]

Copley was Chair of London Young Labour from 2008 to 2009 and sat as London representative on the Young Labour National Committee from 2008 to 2011.

In 2010, he stood for election to Camden Council in Haverstock ward.[4]

He was placed fourth on Labour's assembly list for the 2012 London Assembly election[5] and was elected as a London-wide assembly member in May 2012 [6] after Labour received 41.1% of the vote.[7] He is the youngest person ever to be elected to the London Assembly.

Copley is Deputy Chair of the Assembly's Housing Committee, and also sits on the Planning and Transport committees.[8] In 2013 he undertook a rapporteurship into the challenges facing small theatres in London.[9] This resulted in the Centre Stage report.

Following his election to the London Assembly, he was made a patron of LGBT Labour.[10] He is on the boards of the New Diorama Theatre in Camden and the humanist charity Humanists UK, formerly the British Humanist Association.[11][12]

As well as the Labour party, Copley is also a member of the Co-operative party and the Fabian Society.[1]

Campaigns and activities

Copley repeatedly challenged Mayor of London Boris Johnson over housing issues in London.[13] He has called for the introduction of a German model of rent regulation to be introduced to regulate rents in the private rented sector.[14]

In January 2013 he called for an investigation into allegations of blacklisting on the Crossrail project, claiming the practice was "almost endemic" in the construction industry.[15]

In 2016, he led a successful motion for the London Assembly to oppose the Prime Minister's plans to reinstate 100% religiously selective schools, citing evidence that this would harm London's community cohesion and discriminate against poorer families.[16]

He is a republican and a member of Republic, the campaign for an elected head of state.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "About Me". Tom Copley. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  2. ↑ http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2013/09/27/london-assembly-member-tom-copley-tesco-gay-best-friend-inflatable-doll-reinforces-stereotypes/
  3. ↑ Osley, Richard (2011-03-03). "Dismore claims he is Ken's man… but what about Tom?". Richard Osley. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  4. ↑ "Haverstock — Camden elections 2010". .camden.gov.uk. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  5. ↑ Ferguson, Mark (2011-07-13). "Labour announces London Assembly candidates". Labourlist.org. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  6. ↑ "Labour watch Boris win again but score big consolation prizes". Camden New Journal. 2012-05-05. Retrieved 2012-05-25.
  7. ↑ Final Results. 2012 GLA Elections. londonelects.org.uk
  8. ↑ "Tom Copley". Greater London Authority. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  9. ↑ "London's Small Theatres". Greater London Authority. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  10. ↑ Patrons. lgbtlabour.org.uk
  11. ↑ "NDT Board Members". New Diorama Theatre.
  12. ↑ "Trustees". British Humanist Association.
  13. ↑ "Tom Copley – YouTube". Tom Copley. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  14. ↑ "Mayor answers to London". The London Assembly. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  15. ↑ "Labour politicians: 'We need to know there are no shady practices'". West End Extra. 2013-01-18. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
  16. ↑ "London Assembly vote pits them against Number 10 plans for more religious selection in state schools". Humanists UK. 2 November 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2017.


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