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> A socially-conservative Catholic who opposed abortion and same-sex marriage That's from his Wikipedia page because I had no idea who he was. That's the kind

• cge 5y ago
  While he had socially conservative political views, it doesn't seem that he spent an enormous amount of effort pushing them. From the coverage I've seen, I get the impression that he was a perpetual backbencher by choice, did not have large-scale political ambitions, and focused his efforts primarily on local topics, constituent concerns, and campaigning for relatively niche, less partisan political topics. His two largest legislative contributions were on animal welfare and fuel poverty, and he was known for his involvement in particular health topics, and his quixotic campaign to have Southend be given city status. In a speech of his on fuel poverty, he outright says of himself that ‘once one realises one's limitations, it is rather churlish to remain here and become bitter and twisted because no one notices the talent that one's relatives alone believe one to have‘, and also points out that, while he could have tried to bring a bill on his pro-life views, he felt it would be far less useful than bringing a bill on fuel poverty after a constituent brought up the matter to him. He was also, of depressing relevance to the attack, known as an MP who was particularly accessible, responsive, and helpful to his constituents.