The former MP for Hove, Mike Weatherley, has died at the age of 63.
Mr Weatherley won Hove back for the Conservatives at the 2010 general election and served a five-year term before stepping down.
He was in remission at the time from oesophageal cancer – the subject of one of his final speeches in the House of Commons.
He died this morning (Thursday 20 May) from lung cancer – despite never having smoked.
Mr Weatherley was born in Somerset, went to school in Kent and then to London South Bank University.
He worked as a chartered management accountant before entering politics and became the finance director for businesses owned by the record producer Pete Waterman.
He went on to become the vice-president (Europe) for the Motion Picture Licensing Company and retained a keen interest in intellectual property rights during his parliamentary career.
It was a time of significant change for the music and film industries with the emergence of digital and online sharing challenging the traditional financial model.
Mr Weatherley stood for election a number of times, including in safe Labour seats in London and Scotland.
He won a seat from Labour on Crawley Borough Council but stood unsuccessfully for a seat on Brighton and Hove City Council.
At the general election in 2005 he contested Brighton Pavilion which was held by the sitting Labour MP, David Lepper.
Mr Weatherley’s close friend and colleague, Steve Bell, leader of the Conservatives in Brighton and Hove, said that “he’d earned his spurs” by the time he was selected for Hove.
He was picked at an open selection meeting in 2006 as the Tories looked to broaden their appeal, with Priti Patel – now the Home Secretary – among those hoping to be chosen.
At the general election in May 2010, Mr Weatherley won the Hove seat in the Commons, defeating the incumbent, Labour MP Celia Barlow, by 1,868 votes.
He was a big fan of rock and heavy metal music and wanted to wear an Iron Maiden t-shirt in the chamber – he was a friend of the band. The speaker said no, so instead of having the t-shirt on show, he wore it under his shirt and tie.
Recognising the challenge in trying to interest fellow MPs in copyright and intellectual property law, he set up the Rock the House competition for up and coming bands.
Within days of his election, Mike was asked to sign our saveHOVE Petition to get Tory-run BHCC to buy the Grade 2 listed 1890’s former infants school in Connaught Road. It was not on the short list of options for a primary school. Supported by a parents group, we wanted it.
He diplomatically called a public mtg….after which he signed the petition. He attended the presentation to the council committee…and we got the school.
RIP Mike…
He was such a good friend to animal welfare and spoke out against fox hunting on many occasions. Deep condolences to his family and friends.
Mike was such a pleasure to work with at MPLC. A positive spirit, encouraging and easy to talk too. He will be missed dearly.
Very sad, I remember him having a sharp mind and a good sense of homour.
I knew Mike from the early years when we were both young and heavily influenced by music and having a good time. Our small village, Newick, in East Sussex had little to offer two teenagers growing up so we naturally gravitated to Brighton. We sadly lost touch due to career paths but thankfully we got in touch again a few years ago after Mike had given up politics.
We had planned several retirement adventures including Route 66 on motorbikes and a New Zealand tour but sadly that was not to be.
Mikes health never stopped him planning for the future even though he probably knew deep down he would never make old bones.
God bless Mike and where ever you are now i hope the bar is still open and the band are rocking! Till we meet again.
RIP old friend we spent some good times together, a good rascal.
We still talk about the Eurovision party. Keep rocking Mike😊