Austin Mitchell is a Labour MP for Great Grimsby.
An ex university lecturer and experienced television presenter/ reporter, Austin Mitchell was elected the Labour MP for Grimsby in 1977.
Born 19, September 1934 in Yorkshire, Austin is the eleventh oldest MP.
A lively backbencher, he is consistenly fierce in his opposition to the European Union, supporting calls for a referendum on the UK's continued membership of the EU. Austin also defends fisherman and as an MP fond of his publicity stunts changed his name in 2002 by deed poll to Austin Haddock to promote the struggling fish industry.
Once found to the right of the party, Austin is now a member of the Old Labour left. Austin had been an Opposition Spokesman on Trade and Industry for two years but was dropped in 1989 by Neil Kinnock when he took a TV presenting job.
A strong advocate of electoral reform, he is fiercely critical of New Labour Spin and has been increasingly critical of the government. He holds many positions of office notably as Chair of the Council Housing Group which is dedicated to stopping the privatisation of council housing and is the chairman of the all-party Fisheries group.
Mitchell who has been credited in securing the televising of the Commons is married to his second wife, Linda McDougall who is a television director and journalist.
