1 October 2002
United Kingdom Austin Haddock will today make his debut as a member of parliament - but he bears an uncanny resemblance to Austin Mitchell, the sitting member for Great Grimsby. Mr Mitchell, 68, has changed his named by deed poll in an effort to promote the struggling fishing industry, once the mainstay of his Lincolnshire constituency. Mr Mitchell, sitting tenant in the seat for more than 25 years, wants the British to eat more fish. As political stunts go it is as desperate as it is fishy, but it follows this week's culinary flavour of a former Prime Minister having a taste for Indian cuisine.
Mr Mitchell changed his surname to Haddock to coincide with a seafood promotion week. His wife Linda, caught hopelessly by the same hook, line and sinker, said that she was considering changing her surname to Chips. "I thought this would be a fun way of getting some more publicity for the seafood cause," Mr Haddock said. "Haddock was a natural choice for my fishy surname. I've been brought up on this great fish and Grimsby's fish market is the best place to get it."
Hannah Mitchell, one of the MP's four children - none of whom has adopted the family name change - was not impressed. "I think Dad's mad. What will it be next seafood week? Austin Mackerel? Austin Swordfish?" Fish, Mr Haddock said, was the backbone of Grimsby's economy and was an integral part of the town's heritage and future. As a member of the Commons Select Committee on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, he hoped his name change would help the British public become more adventurous about their choice of seafood. "But for now I'm sticking to Haddock," he said.
As someone who sees new marketing potential, the chief editor of this website, Mr Henk Brus, announced that he is already considering to change his name to Henk Tuna ;-)
