Published 13 December 2019 Share close panel Share page Copy link About sharing By David Pittam BBC News Veteran Labour politician Dennis Skinner, 87, has lost the seat he had held since 1970 after being defeated by Conservative Mark Fletcher. Why did 2019 prove to be an election too far for the so-called Beast of Bolsover? Dennis Skinner was not present at the overnight count in his Derbyshire constituency , having recently undergone hip surgery. His absence held a sad irony, given that he has been very much an ever-present in British politics for the best part of five decades. Like him or loathe him, his memorable public image – the famous finger, the voice raised above the Commons cacophony – struck a chord with many. He supported the miners through the strike and beyond, fought for their pensions rights and was suspended from the House of Commons numerous times for what was deemed “unparliamentary language” . His humorous heckles at the State Opening of Parliament became one of the endearing features of Commons life, where he became well-known for expressing his republican beliefs by heckling during the Queen’s Speech ceremony. His quips included “Tell her to pay her tax”… Read full this story
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