Sir Roger James Gale (born 20 August 1943) is a British Conservative Party politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Herne Bay and Sandwich, previously North Thanet, since 1983. A Conservative Party member from 1964, which he combined with his career in journalism and broadcasting until his election as a Conservative MP, in 1983.
He was a prominent and vocal critic of Boris Johnson during his leadership of the Conservative Party.
He is the oldest MP elected in the 2024 general election.
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Early life and education
Roger Gale was born on 20 August 1943 in Poole. He was educated at Southbourne Preparatory School and the Thomas Hardye's School in Dorchester. He completed his education at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1963.
Broadcasting career
From August 1964 to January 1965, Gale worked as a radio DJ for Radio Caroline North. He worked as a programme director at Radio Scotland from 1965; personal assistant to the general manager of Universal Films from 1971 to 1972; freelance reporter at BBC Radio London from 1972 to 1973; producer at BBC Radio 1 and then at BBC Radio 4 from 1973 to 1976; became director of BBC Children's Television in 1976 until 1979; then senior producer of children's television and later of special projects at Thames TV from 1979 to 1983.
Parliamentary career
Gale stood as the Conservative candidate in Birmingham Northfield at the 1982 by-election, coming second with 35.6% of the vote behind the Labour candidate John Spellar.
At the 1983 general election, Gale was elected to Parliament as MP for North Thanet with 58.4% of the vote and a majority of 14,051. Gale made his maiden speech in the House of Commons on 30 June 1983.
Gale was re-elected as MP for North Thanet at the 1987 general election with a decreased vote share of 58% and an increased majority of 17,480.
At the 1992 general election, Gale was again re-elected with a decreased vote share of 57.2% and an increased majority of 18,210. Following the election, he was appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the ministers of state at the Ministry of Defence Archie Hamilton and Jeremy Hanley until 1994.
Gale was again re-elected at the 1997 general election, with a decreased vote share of 44.1% and a decreased majority of 2,766. He was again re-elected at the 2001 general election, with an increased vote share of 50.3% and an increased majority of 6,650.
He was a vice chairman of the Conservative Party under the leadership of Iain Duncan Smith from 2001 to 2003 with responsibility for presentation.
Gale was again re-elected at the 2005 general election, with a decreased vote share of 49.6% and an increased majority of 7,634.
In July 2008, Gale said that capital punishment was a solution to fatal knife stabbings.
At the 2010 general election, Gale was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 52.7% and an increased majority of 13,528.
Gale strongly opposed Conservative prime minister David Cameron's introduction of same-sex marriage, stating in the House of Commons: "Marriage is the union between a man and a woman. It is Alice in Wonderland territory, Orwellian almost, for any government of any political persuasion to seek to come along and try to rewrite the lexicon. It will not do".
Honours and awards
Gale was knighted in the 2012 New Year Honours for public and political services.
In February 2016, Gale was nominated for a "Grassroots Diplomat" award for his involvement in the campaign to save and reopen Manston Airport, which is in his constituency.
Personal life
Gale has been married three times: firstly to Wendy Bowman in 1964 (marriage dissolved in 1967), secondly to Susan Linda Sampson in 1971 (marriage dissolved in 1980), with whom he has a daughter; thirdly to Susan Gabrielle Marks, with whom he has two sons.