Evan Harris

Evan Harris
Name	Evan Harris
Birth date	21 October 1965
Birth place	Sheffield, England
Nationality	British
Alma mater	Wadham College, Oxford, University of Oxford Medical School
Occupation	Doctor, Politician, Campaigner
Known for	Liberal Democrat MP, Science and human rights advocacy
Party	Liberal Democrats (UK)
Office	Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon
Term start	1 May 1997
Term end	6 May 2010
Predecessor	John Patten
Successor	Nicola Blackwood

Evan Harris is a British doctor, former politician, and prominent campaigner for evidence-based policy, humanism, and liberal democracy. A member of the Liberal Democrats (UK), he served as the Member of Parliament for Oxford West and Abingdon from 1997 to 2010, gaining a reputation as a leading parliamentary advocate for science, civil liberties, and secularism. His career has been defined by his work on bioethics, reproductive rights, and challenging religious influence in politics, often placing him at the centre of significant political and media controversies.

Early life and education

Born in Sheffield, he was educated at King Edward VII School, Sheffield before studying Physiology at Wadham College, Oxford. He subsequently completed his medical training at the University of Oxford Medical School, qualifying as a doctor in 1990. His academic background at Oxford University provided a foundation in scientific methodology that would heavily influence his later political and campaigning work on issues ranging from embryology research to climate change.

Medical career

After qualifying, he worked in the National Health Service as a junior doctor, with posts in general medicine and geriatrics in hospitals across Oxfordshire and North Yorkshire. This clinical experience informed his political perspective on health policy, particularly regarding NHS funding, medical research, and patient choice. He maintained his registration with the General Medical Council throughout his time in Parliament.

Political career

Elected in the 1997 general election, he unseated the sitting Conservative minister John Patten. In the House of Commons, he served as the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Science and later for Health. He was a key figure in steering complex legislation, notably the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, through Parliament. He also served on influential committees including the Science and Technology Select Committee and the Joint Committee on Human Rights, scrutinising legislation on issues from stem cell research to counter-terrorism laws. He lost his seat in the 2010 election to Conservative candidate Nicola Blackwood.

Views and controversies

A committed secularist and humanist, he was a leading parliamentary voice against faith schools and for reforming the House of Lords to remove Lords Spiritual. His strong advocacy for abortion rights, embryonic stem cell research, and animal testing made him a frequent target of anti-abortion and religious right groups, who dubbed him "Dr. Death". He was a prominent supporter of the British Humanist Association and campaigned for the Equality Act 2010. His robust defence of free speech, even for controversial groups, and his legal actions against News International following the phone-hacking scandal, were also significant.

Later career and activities

After leaving Parliament, he has remained active in public life, serving as Associate Director of the National Secular Society and a board member of the British Humanist Association. He works as a policy advisor and campaigner, focusing on science policy, health research, and human rights. He has been involved with organisations such as Hacked Off, campaigning for press reform, and continues to write and comment frequently in media outlets including The Guardian and the British Medical Journal.

Personal life

He is openly gay and has been a supporter of LGBT rights in the United Kingdom, including campaigning for same-sex marriage. His partner is a university academic. He is a noted atheist and a patron of the Oxford University Scientific Society. His interests include classical music and he is a supporter of Sheffield Wednesday F.C..

Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:Liberal Democrat MPs for English constituencies Category:Alumni of Wadham College, Oxford Category:British humanists Category:People from Sheffield