Andrew Charalambous: Difference between revisions

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His [[Greek Cypriot]] father served as a soldier for the British in [[World War II]] and later settled in the [[United Kingdom]].<ref name="insidehousing1">{{cite web|url=http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/introducing-dr-earth/6527381.article |title=Introducing Dr Earth &#124; Analysis |publisher=Inside Housing |date=2013-06-21 |accessdate=2014-06-13}}</ref>
He went to William Forster School in [[Tottenham]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Hastings |first=Rob |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/can-dr-earth-save-the-planet-and-win-edmonton-1964484.html |title=Can Dr Earth save the planet, and win Edmonton? - UK Politics - UK |publisher=The Independent |date=2010-05-06 |accessdate=2014-06-13}}</ref>
 
In October 2014, ''[[The Times]]'' newspaper reported that Charalambous falsely claimed to hold a "PhD in the parallels between Plato’s Utopia and Spartan Society" on his [[Facebook]] page as well as claiming to be a "professor of environmental sciences" on his official website. It was also reported that shortly after the revelations, claims that Charalambous was a qualified [[Barrister-at-Law]] were removed from his official website.<ref name="timesdegree">{{cite news|url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4236914.ece|title=Exposed: fake doctorate of Ukip 'professor'|last=Fisher|first=Lucy|date=October 15, 2014|publisher=The Times}}</ref> In response, Charalambous made a statement via his official website, refuting claims made in ''The Times''' article and displaying his academic certificates. These included a different Doctorate in Business Administration certificate from the since discredited [[University of Northern Virginia]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.andrewcharalambous.com/certifications/ | title=Andrew Charalambous – Doctorate in Business Administration | publisher=AndrewCharalambous.com | accessdate=2015-08-06}}</ref><ref name="Rediff">{{cite web|last1=Haniffa|first1=Aziz|title=India has enough safeguards to keep away sham US colleges|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-india-has-enough-safeguards-to-keep-away-sham-us-colleges-sibal/20111012.htm|website=Rediff.com|publisher=Rediff News|accessdate=22 February 2016}}</ref>
 
== Career ==
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As UKIP Work and Pensions Spokesman, he has called for action to end the north-south divide, and for government to extend its employment drive to parts of the UK which have never recovered the loss of their manufacturing base.
 
Charalambous was called to the Bar as a member of the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn at Michealmas term 1989.
 
Charalambous made a career in business as a [[property developer]] and private [[landlord]].<ref name="insidehousing1" /> ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' newspaper poked fun at him for falling out with his bank for allegedly taking homeless people off the streets of [[Covent Garden]] in London and putting them in his properties.<ref>{{cite news | first = Simon | last = Goodley | title = Charity doesn't begin at the bank | publisher = The Daily Telegraph | date = 6 Mar 2008}}</ref> It was also pointed out in the [[Sunday Mirror]] that housing in his property portfolio had been rented out to immigrant tenants, despite the fact that [[UKIP]] leader [[Nigel Farage]] was calling for greater controls on immigration.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sommerlad |first=Nick |url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/ukip-housing-spokesman-trousering-fortune-3175130 |title=UKIP housing spokesman trousering a fortune renting to migrants on benefits despite party's policies - Mirror Online |publisher=Mirror.co.uk |date=2014-02-22 |accessdate=2014-06-13}}</ref> Following [[Freedom of Information Act 2000|Freedom of Information requests]] in 2015, Charalambous was shown to be among the biggest landlord recipients of [[housing benefit]], having received £826,395 in the last tax year.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dugan |first=Emily |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/britains-wealthiest-private-landlords-being-paid-millions-in-housing-benefit-despite-social-housing-being-cut-10208208.html |title=£827,000: What Ukip's housing spokesman was paid in housing benefit as a private landlord |publisher=Mirror.co.uk |date=2015-04-27 |accessdate=2015-04-27}}</ref>
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=== Environmental efforts ===
Also known as 'Dr Earth',<ref name="insidehousing1"/><ref name="heraldscotland1">{{cite web|author=Saturday 6 September 2008 |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/green-guru-to-the-stars-falls-out-with-friends-of-the-earth-1.826370 |title=Green guru to the stars falls out with Friends of the Earth |publisher=Herald Scotland |date=2008-09-06 |accessdate=2014-06-13}}</ref> Charalambous opened a music venue[[nightclub]] in 2008 called Surya, styled as the 'world's first ever ecological club'.<ref name="insidehousing1"/> One of the main features was a [[piezoelectric]] dance floor that attempted to harness energy through human movement.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sean Michaels |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/jul/10/news.culture1 |title=World's first eco-club hits London &#124; Music |publisher=theguardian.com |date=2008-07-10 |accessdate=2014-06-13}}</ref> ''[[The Economist]]'' noted that despite Surya's claims, a [[Netherlands|Dutch]] company "unveiled plans for a disco with a piezoelectric dancefloor, waterless urinals and bio-beer back in 2006".<ref>{{cite web|author=Stay informed today and every day |url=http://www.economist.com/node/11776437?story_id=11776437 |title=Green.view: Can green be groovy? |publisher=The Economist |date=2008-07-21 |accessdate=2014-06-13}}</ref> Charalambous also launched Club4Climate, an 'eco-night' initiative designed to get young people involved in tackling environmental issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bodoplanet.com/surya-a-club-4-climate/ |title=Surya – A Club 4 Climate |publisher=Bodoplanet.com |date= |accessdate=2014-06-13}}</ref> Club4Climate was criticised by [[Friends of the Earth]] over an event it promoted in [[Ibiza]]; Friends of the Earth stated: "Telling people they can save the world by flying to an island to party is a green con. Club4Climate is misleading people by using our logo and our name..." Charalambous responded: "Our philosophy is about millions of people making a small change to their lifestyles. You aren't going to save the planet by telling them to ride bikes..."<ref name="heraldscotland1">{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/green-guru-to-the-stars-falls-out-with-friends-of-the-earth-1.826370|title=Green guru to the stars falls out with Friends of the Earth|date=2008-09-06|publisher=Herald Scotland|author=Saturday 6 September 2008|accessdate=2014-06-13}}</ref>
 
== References ==