The French Ambassador presented the insignia of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur to Sir Stuart Bell

The French Ambassador presented the insignia of Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur to Sir Stuart Bell. The reception was held at the Résidence de France on Wednesday, 11 October 2006 at 6 p.m..

A Barrister-at-Law, writer and politician, Sir Stuart has been a member of the Labour Party since 1964 and MP for Middlesborough since 1983. He sits on the House of Commons Commission and chairs the Finance and Services Committee. Since 1997, when the Queen appointed him Second Church Estates Commissioner, he has represented the Church of England in the Commons. Made a Knight Bachelor in the 2003 New Year’s Honours List, Sir Stuart was formally knighted by the Prince of Wales in 2004.

Having lived and practised international law in Paris, where he also wrote his first book of short stories and first four novels, Sir Stuart has close links with France. Indeed, he sits on the supervisory board of the Fondation pour l’innovation politique in Paris, has chaired many important Franco-British conferences and, since June last year, has been Chairman of the Franco-British Parliamentary Relations Committee.

A convinced European, Sir Stuart has always argued in favour of Britain joining the euro and for a European Constitution.