John Hemming (politician)

John Hemming
Hemming in 2005
Member of Parliament
for Birmingham Yardley
In office
5 May 2005 – 30 March 2015
Preceded byEstelle Morris
Succeeded byJess Phillips
Personal details
Born
John Alexander Melvin Hemming

(1960-03-16) 16 March 1960 (age 64)
Birmingham, England
Political partyLiberal Democrat
SpouseChristine (div.)
Domestic partnerEmily Cox
Children5
Alma materMagdalen College, Oxford
Websitehttp://john.hemming.name

John Alexander Melvin Hemming (born 16 March 1960) is a British Liberal Democrat politician and businessman who served as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Yardley from 2005 until 2015.

Hemming was an elected councillor for the South Yardley Ward and Group Chair of the Liberal Democrats on Birmingham City Council until 1 May 2008 and was elected as the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Yardley at the 2005 general election. He was the first Liberal Democrat or Liberal to represent a Birmingham constituency since Wallace Lawler had briefly held Birmingham Ladywood after a 1969 by-election.

In 2004, Hemming became deputy leader of Birmingham City Council in a deal whereby the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats formed a coalition to jointly administer the council. He stood down from this position upon being elected to the House of Commons in 2005.

In 2007, Hemming became the Liberal Democrat Spokesman for the West Midlands and led the West Midlands Liberal Democrat team of spokespeople, with Solihull MP Lorely Burt as the Deputy Leader.