DAVID LAMMY
Born and raised in the inner city of Tottenham with an absent father, at 9 years old David applied for and was accepted to the King's School in Peterborough on a scholarship. He achieved 9 GCSEs though he was predicted to get only 2. David received a law degree at the School for Oriental and African Studies in London. He also became the first black Britain to be accepted into Harvard Law School in America.
First career decision
David became a barrister aged 23. He soon learned his skills could be better served in the public arena. He decided he would try his hand in politics one day.
The turning point
The day came when David was called up by the Labour Party during the Tottenham bi-elections to run as a candidate for MP. He was elected soundly and took his place in parliament as the youngest member of the House of Commons.
Conflict: The major and the minor
As a young man David was surrounded by poverty, drugs, crime and unemployment of which many of his friends fell victim to. Not wanting to be another victim of this was a massive driving force in his success. As most boys, he experienced some bullying at school as the only black chorister in an all white public school. He would experience discrimination again in the old establishment legal profession in London. But he overcame all of this as he gained knowledge and in turn gained more confidence in his abilities.
Resolution
Two years ago, David was called up by Tony Blair to become a government minister. He has assumed responsibility in handling a legal aid budget of almost 2 billion pounds. Though politics is a very competitive profession, David steers clears of the many trappings of celebrity and temptation and keeps it real.
Background information
Some figures from the film- David got 9 GCSEs
- Responsible for a 1.9 billion pound legal aid budget
- Earns £84,000 a year
Born and raised in the inner city of Tottenham with an absent father, at 9 years old David applied for and was accepted to the King's School in Peterborough on a scholarship. He achieved 9 GCSEs though he was predicted to get only 2. David received a law degree at the School for Oriental and African Studies in London. He also became the first black Britain to be accepted into Harvard Law School in America.
First career decision
David became a barrister aged 23. He soon learned his skills could be better served in the public arena. He decided he would try his hand in politics one day.
The turning point
The day came when David was called up by the Labour Party during the Tottenham bi-elections to run as a candidate for MP. He was elected soundly and took his place in parliament as the youngest member of the House of Commons.
Conflict: The major and the minor
As a young man David was surrounded by poverty, drugs, crime and unemployment of which many of his friends fell victim to. Not wanting to be another victim of this was a massive driving force in his success. As most boys, he experienced some bullying at school as the only black chorister in an all white public school. He would experience discrimination again in the old establishment legal profession in London. But he overcame all of this as he gained knowledge and in turn gained more confidence in his abilities.
Resolution
Two years ago, David was called up by Tony Blair to become a government minister. He has assumed responsibility in handling a legal aid budget of almost 2 billion pounds. Though politics is a very competitive profession, David steers clears of the many trappings of celebrity and temptation and keeps it real.
