David Heyes


David Alan Heyes is a British Labour Party politician and former Member of Parliament for Ashton under Lyne from 2001 to 2015.

Early life

Heyes was born in Blackley, Manchester and was educated at the Blackley Technical High School on Dommett Street and was awarded a BA in Social sciences from the Open University in 1987. He joined Manchester City Council in 1962 as a local government officer, before joining Greater Manchester County Council in 1974. He was appointed as a principal local government officer with the Metropolitan Borough of Oldham Council in 1987, leaving local government employment in 1990 to set up as a graphic designer. In 1995 he was appointed deputy district manager of Manchester Citizens Advice Bureau where he remained until his election to parliament.
He has been a member of the trade union UNISON, and its predecessor the NALGO, since 1962. He was elected as a councillor in Oldham in 1992 and was secretary of the Labour group from 1993 to 2000; he stood down from the council in 2004.

Parliamentary career

Following the retirement of Ashton's veteran Labour MP Robert Sheldon at the 2001 General Election, he represented the seat in the House of Commons until 2015.
He has served as a member of the public administration select committee since 2001 and has fought for compensation for residents living alongside the M60 motorway.

Personal life

He is married to Judith Egerton-Gallagher, and they have a son and a daughter.