Tony’s career in elected public office began in local government, standing for election in Trafford’s Longford ward in 1976 and 1978. His breakthrough came in 1979 when he won the Clifford ward—the same day Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister. By 1984, he had risen to Deputy Leader of the Labour Group.
His Parliamentary career began in 1983, representing Stretford, a constituency previously held by Winston Churchill Jr. In his maiden speech, he highlighted the challenges facing his constituency, notably 40% unemployment in Moss Side. Following boundary changes, he was elected as MP for Manchester Central in 1997, a role he held until becoming Greater Manchester’s first Police and Crime Commissioner in 2012.
During his first stint in Parliament, Tony held several key roles. He chaired both the Parliamentary Labour Party (2006–2012) and the Trade Union Group of Labour MPs (2002–2012), as well as serving in a range of shadow ministerial positions, including Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (2018–2020).
When Labour took office in 1997, Tony Blair appointed him minister of state at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with responsibility for Africa, the Balkans and Latin America. He lost this post in a reshuffle in the summer of 1999, following criticism by the Commons’ foreign affairs select committee of Britain’s role in the provision of arms during the Sierra Leone civil war. An independent Inquiry later exonerated Tony of any wrongdoing.
Throughout his career, Tony remained a steadfast advocate for his beliefs, even when it meant challenging party leadership. Though aligned with the centre-left, he was never afraid to take a stand on matters of principle. He notably opposed key policies of the Blair government, including the Iraq War, detention without trial, student tuition fees, and the renewal of the Trident nuclear program. Under Gordon Brown’s leadership, he also resisted the decision to abandon plans for a “super casino” in East Manchester, arguing it would have created much-needed jobs in the area.
He was always a diligent MP, introducing many private members’ bills to draw attention to issues he felt strongly about. These included an attempt to ban foreign ownership of the British media; to introduce direct elections to health authorities; to establish a regional assembly in the north-west of England; to allow random road breath-testing; and to reform the leasehold system.
“Tony was a genuinely nice man. I still remember him canoeing on the Thames when we were fighting for a statutory base for the youth service, and being cheered to the rafters of Westminster Central Hall by 2,000 young people when he left the lobby to go and propose his Ten Minute Rule Bill. Heady days for a youth worker like me! He was always supportive of me on my long journey to Westminster, and always supportive when I was eventually elected.”
Julie Hilling, MP for Bolton West (2010–2015)
Tony Lloyd 