Hilton Dawson


Thomas Hilton Dawson is a British politician who was the Labour Party Member of Parliament for the Lancashire constituency of Lancaster and Wyre from 1997 until 2005. In 2014, Dawson became the chairman of North East Party. In September 2019, Dawson stated that he would be campaigning with the Liberal Democrats in the Berwick-upon-Tweed constituency.

Early life

Dawson was born on 30 September 1953 in Stannington, Northumberland, England. He is the son of Harry Dawson and his wife Sally, both teachers. He attended Ashington County Grammar School on Green Lane in Ashington. At the University of Warwick, he gained a BA in Politics and Philosophy in 1975. From Lancaster University, he gained a Diploma in Social Work.
He worked as a Social Work Manager from 1983–97, involving Children's Homes, Fostering and Adoption, and Day care.

Parliamentary career

In 2004 Dawson announced he would not be seeking re-election at the next General Election, seeking to return to work in children's services – his former career was as a social worker. The local Constituency Labour Party selected Anne Sacks as its new candidate, but the seat was won by the Conservative Party candidate, Ben Wallace, with a 4.5% swing from Labour.

Life after Parliament

Dawson was CEO of Shaftesbury Young People. In April 2009 he was appointed chief executive of the British Association of Social Workers.
Hilton left BASW in January 2013 by mutual agreement and now runs his own company called Northumbria People. In March 2013 he published Frank Renner's Bairns - Looking at the world through the lives of a Northumbrian Family. He is Chair of the Newbiggin by the Sea Genealogy Project.

Personal life

Dawson married Susan Williams on 11 August 1973. They have two daughters and four grandchildren. He is a supporter of Sunderland.