Misplaced Pages

David Bellotti: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 14:32, 15 April 2005 editJdforresterBot (talk | contribs)13,077 editsm Robot-assisted disambiguation: UK_general_election,_1992← Previous edit Latest revision as of 13:49, 11 July 2024 edit undoCitation bot (talk | contribs)Bots5,406,219 edits Altered template type. Added work. Removed parameters. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Abductive | Category:Alumni of the University of Sussex | #UCB_Category 130/689 
(163 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|British politician}}
'''David Bellotti''' is a politician and former CEO of ]
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = David Bellotti
|image =
|office = ] <br /> for ]
|term_start = 18 October 1990
|term_end = 16 March 1992
|majority =
|predecessor = ]
|successor = ]
|birth_name= David Frank Bellotti
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1943|08|13|df=yes}}
|birth_place =
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2015|6|10|1943|08|13}}
|death_place =
|nationality = ]
|spouse = Shelia Jones (m. 1965) <br /> Jennifer Compson (m.1973) <br /> Jo Brown (m. 1996)
|party = ]
|otherparty = ]
|relations =
|children = 3 sons, 2 daughters
|residence =
|alma_mater =
|occupation =
|profession =
|religion =
|signature =
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
'''David Frank Bellotti''' (13 August 1943 – 10 June 2015) was a British ] politician who was ] (MP) for the ] from 1990 to 1992.<ref>{{Rayment-hc|e|1|date=March 2012}}</ref>


He was the first Liberal Democrat politician to win a parliamentary election, following the formation of the party through the merger of the ] and the ]. He was also the most recent UK ] to successfully take a seat from an opposing party following the assassination of the incumbent politician.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-34997255|title=The ex-MPs who died in 2015 - part one|work=BBC News |date=26 December 2015|accessdate=30 July 2020}}</ref>
David Bellotti hit the headlines in ] when he won the parliamentary seat of ] for the ] in a by-election following the murder of ] MP by the ].


==Early life==
⚫ Two years later Bellotti was defeated in the ] in which ]'s ] was unexpectedly re-elected.
Bellotti attended ] and then went on to complete diplomas in youth service and counselling. He studied part-time at the ], gaining a MA in education policy.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11675446/David-Bellotti-Liberal-Democrat-MP-obituary.html|title=David Bellotti, Liberal Democrat MP - obituary|date=15 June 2015|accessdate=30 July 2020|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>


==Political career==
David Bellotti returned to local government regaining a seat on the council. He then became CEO of Brighton and Hove Albion FC, a position which gained him much local notoriety due to his involvement in the sale of the club's ground.
Bellotti first contested the ] seat at the ], subsequently fighting ] in the 1983 and 1987 general elections under the ] banner. He then won the parliamentary seat of Eastbourne for the Liberal Democrats in the ] following the assassination of ] MP ] by the ] (IRA). He became the first person to be elected as a Liberal Democrat MP after the party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the Liberal Party and the SDP. Bellotti's win was both unexpected and controversial, with Conservative MP ] noting: "Bellotti is the innocent beneficiary of murder. I suspect as last night as the Liberal Democrats were toasting their success, in its hideouts the IRA were doing the same thing".<ref>''The Guardian'', 20 October 1990</ref> After Bellotti's win, future by-elections resulting from assassinations of MPs saw most parties decline to contest the seat.{{citation needed|date=April 2019}} The shock defeat contributed to the end of ]'s premiership in November 1990 as Conservative MPs worried if they could hold their seats at a general election if she remained prime minister.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Seldon |first1=Anthony |author2=Daniel Collings |title=Britain under Thatcher |date=2014 |publisher=Routledge |pages=60}}</ref>


⚫ Two years later Bellotti was defeated by ] in the ] in which ]'s Conservative government was re-elected.
After leaving Albion and losing his council seat Bellotti moved to ] and became election agent for ] MP. In May ] David Bellotti was elected councillor for Lyncombe ward on ] council.


He subsequently unsuccessfully contested the ] constituency in the ] to the ].
]

]
Bellotti returned to local government, regaining a seat on ] and was elected chairman of Sussex ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/animal-trade-attacked-by-police-chairman-1566704.|title=Animal trade attacked by police chairman |author=Danny Penman |date=6 January 1995|work=] |accessdate=11 June 2015}}</ref> He then became CEO of ], a position in which he controversially took part in the sale of the indebted football club's stadium after their articles of association had been changed, allowing for profit to be made on the sale of the ]. This change was however reversed on the insistence of the Football Association, preventing directors from taking out more than they had invested. Bellotti became reviled by Brighton fans and left the area shortly afterwards.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/brighton-rocked-by-civil-war-1360809.html |title=Brighton rocked by civil war |author=Greg Wood |date=29 October 1996 |work=] |accessdate=14 December 2009}}</ref>

After leaving the football club and losing his council seat Bellotti moved to ] and became election agent for ] MP. In May 2003 David Bellotti was elected councillor for Lyncombe ward on ] council and was re-elected in 2007 and 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bathlibdems.org.uk/pages/lyncombe.html|title=Lyncombe|publisher=Bath Liberal Democrats|accessdate=14 December 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101013225316/http://www.bathlibdems.org.uk/pages/lyncombe.html|archivedate=13 October 2010}}</ref> He was appointed as chairman of the council for 2008/9<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathNES/media/press+releases/2009/communityliving/Council+hosts+unique+Fairtrade+visit+for+Fairtrade+Fortnight.htm |title=Council hosts unique Fairtrade visit for Fairtrade Fortnight |author= |date=2009-02-16 |publisher=Bath and North East Somerset Council |accessdate=14 December 2009}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> and was the council's cabinet member for resources for four years. He died on 10 June 2015, aged 71.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.libdemvoice.org/former-mp-and-councillor-david-bellotti-dies-at-72-46358.html|title=Former MP and Councillor David Bellotti dies at 72.|publisher=|access-date=11 June 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304171132/http://www.libdemvoice.org/former-mp-and-councillor-david-bellotti-dies-at-72-46358.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Bellotti married three times. His first wife was Shelia Jones, whom he married in 1965, and they had a son and a daughter. He then married Jennifer Compson in 1973, with the couple having a son. His third wife was Jo Brown whom he married in 1996, and with whom he had a son and daughter.<ref name="auto"/>

== See also ==
*]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-david-bellotti | David Bellotti }}

{{S-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{succession box
| title = ] for ]
| years = ]–]
| before = ]
| after = ]
}}
{{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bellotti, David Frank}}
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 13:49, 11 July 2024

British politician

David Bellotti
Member of Parliament
for Eastbourne
In office
18 October 1990 – 16 March 1992
Preceded byIan Gow
Succeeded byNigel Waterson
Personal details
BornDavid Frank Bellotti
(1943-08-13)13 August 1943
Died10 June 2015(2015-06-10) (aged 71)
NationalityBritish
Political partyLiberal Democrats
Other political
affiliations		Liberal
Spouse(s)Shelia Jones (m. 1965)
Jennifer Compson (m.1973)
Jo Brown (m. 1996)
Children3 sons, 2 daughters

David Frank Bellotti (13 August 1943 – 10 June 2015) was a British Liberal Democrat politician who was Member of Parliament (MP) for the Eastbourne constituency from 1990 to 1992.

He was the first Liberal Democrat politician to win a parliamentary election, following the formation of the party through the merger of the Liberal Party and the SDP. He was also the most recent UK Member of Parliament to successfully take a seat from an opposing party following the assassination of the incumbent politician.

Early life

Bellotti attended Exeter School and then went on to complete diplomas in youth service and counselling. He studied part-time at the University of Sussex, gaining a MA in education policy.

Political career

Bellotti first contested the Eastbourne seat at the 1979 general election, subsequently fighting Lewes in the 1983 and 1987 general elections under the Liberal banner. He then won the parliamentary seat of Eastbourne for the Liberal Democrats in the 1990 by-election following the assassination of Conservative MP Ian Gow by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA). He became the first person to be elected as a Liberal Democrat MP after the party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the Liberal Party and the SDP. Bellotti's win was both unexpected and controversial, with Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe noting: "Bellotti is the innocent beneficiary of murder. I suspect as last night as the Liberal Democrats were toasting their success, in its hideouts the IRA were doing the same thing". After Bellotti's win, future by-elections resulting from assassinations of MPs saw most parties decline to contest the seat. The shock defeat contributed to the end of Margaret Thatcher's premiership in November 1990 as Conservative MPs worried if they could hold their seats at a general election if she remained prime minister.

Two years later Bellotti was defeated by Nigel Waterson in the 1992 general election in which John Major's Conservative government was re-elected.

He subsequently unsuccessfully contested the East Sussex and Kent South constituency in the 1994 elections to the European Parliament.

Bellotti returned to local government, regaining a seat on East Sussex County Council and was elected chairman of Sussex Police Authority. He then became CEO of Brighton & Hove Albion, a position in which he controversially took part in the sale of the indebted football club's stadium after their articles of association had been changed, allowing for profit to be made on the sale of the Goldstone Ground. This change was however reversed on the insistence of the Football Association, preventing directors from taking out more than they had invested. Bellotti became reviled by Brighton fans and left the area shortly afterwards.

After leaving the football club and losing his council seat Bellotti moved to Bath and became election agent for Don Foster MP. In May 2003 David Bellotti was elected councillor for Lyncombe ward on Bath and North East Somerset council and was re-elected in 2007 and 2011. He was appointed as chairman of the council for 2008/9 and was the council's cabinet member for resources for four years. He died on 10 June 2015, aged 71.

Personal life

Bellotti married three times. His first wife was Shelia Jones, whom he married in 1965, and they had a son and a daughter. He then married Jennifer Compson in 1973, with the couple having a son. His third wife was Jo Brown whom he married in 1996, and with whom he had a son and daughter.

See also

References

  1. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "E" (part 1)
  2. "The ex-MPs who died in 2015 - part one". BBC News. 26 December 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  3. ^ "David Bellotti, Liberal Democrat MP - obituary". 15 June 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2020 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  4. The Guardian, 20 October 1990
  5. Seldon, Anthony; Daniel Collings (2014). Britain under Thatcher. Routledge. p. 60.
  6. Danny Penman (6 January 1995). "Animal trade attacked by police chairman". The Independent. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  7. Greg Wood (29 October 1996). "Brighton rocked by civil war". The Independent. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  8. "Lyncombe". Bath Liberal Democrats. Archived from the original on 13 October 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  9. "Council hosts unique Fairtrade visit for Fairtrade Fortnight". Bath and North East Somerset Council. 16 February 2009. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  10. "Former MP and Councillor David Bellotti dies at 72". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2015.

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded byIan Gow Member of Parliament for Eastbourne
1990–1992 		Succeeded byNigel Waterson
Categories: