Amateur jockey in race for Hexham seat
Nov 17 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal
HEXHAM Conservatives have selected a London-based barrister to stand for election when Peter Atkinson MP steps down. Former senior Tory adviser Guy Opperman will fight for the Hexham seat at the next general election.
He has previously unsuccessfully contested seats in London and Swindon and worked as an adviser to the former Shadow Foreign Secretary, Michael Ancram.
Last night Mr Opperman said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been selected by local people to be the parliamentary candidate for Hexham. I am grateful for the support given to me by Peter Atkinson, the present MP.
“I know the area well and this is now my home. I will be living and working in Hexham from now on and can’t wait to get started.”
Mr Opperman last year won a national award for his pro bono work helping volunteers.
After receiving the award, given to those who offer legal advice and time for free, he called on other lawyers to do more for good causes.
He said: “I would like all barristers to be required to give one day a year to pro bono work; many barristers earn between five and 40 times what a nurse earns.
“One day a year is not too much to ask and if even half of the Bar committed to it thousands of people could be helped.”
As well as many personal injury claims he has also worked on high profile clinical negligence claims.
The policy expert cites his mother as one of the most influential people in his life, following her time as MI6’s only female spy.
He was up against six shortlisted candidates over the weekend, including Edward Heckels, a member of London mayor Boris Johnson’s election campaign team, and Chris Emmett, a Rutland-based businesswoman from Liverpool.
The keen amateur jockey was asked in a interview with The Times last year what he would have done if he had not became a lawyer. He answered: “I would have been a professional steeplechase jockey. There is nothing more exciting than winning races on half a ton of horse over big fences at speed.
“As Mick Fitzgerald said after winning the Grand National: ‘It’s better than sex.’”
Peter Atkinson said: “Guy was the clear choice. He will get things done for Hexham and the North East.”
