Michael Meacher MP has been the Labour Member of Parliament for Oldham West and Royton since 1997. He was first elected to Parliament in 1970 for Oldham West, reversing his previous defeat, and served as a junior minister under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan (Under-Secretary for Industry, 1974-75, Under-Secretary for Health and Social Security, 1975-79). During opposition he was in the Shadow Cabinet for fourteen years and concurrently lectured at the LSE. He stood against Roy Hattersley in the 1983 deputy leadership election. Michael is a member of the Fabian Society.