Editing Martin Salter (section)

==Early life and career==

Born to Ray and Naomi Salter in [[Hampton, Middlesex]],<ref name=MS:PB>{{cite web|title=Political Biography|url=http://www.martinsalter.com/index.php/about/biography/|publisher=Martin Salter|accessdate=11 June 2012}}</ref> he received a grammar school education before attending the [[University of Sussex]],<ref name=MS:CV>{{cite web|title=Martin Salter – Curriculum Vitae|url=http://www.martinsalter.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/martin-salter-cv.pdf|publisher=Martin Salter|accessdate=11 June 2012}}</ref> though he left before gaining a degree, saying 'academic life was not for him – "I wanted to do politics, not study it"'.<ref name="RC:stand down">{{cite news|last=Powell|first=Ali|title=Martin Salter: Why I decided to stand down|url=http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/reading/articles/2009/02/12/9420-martin-salter-why-i-decided-to-stand-down/|accessdate=11 June 2012|newspaper=The Reading Chronicle|date=12 February 2009}}</ref><ref name="RC:Lives Here">{{cite news|title=Martin Salter lives here|url=http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/reading/articles/2009/02/12/9458-martin-salter-lives-here/|accessdate=11 June 2012|newspaper=The Reading Chronicle|date=12 February 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514182919/http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/reading/articles/2009/02/12/9458-martin-salter-lives-here/|archivedate=14 May 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Both his parents were active trade unionists, and grandfather George Baker was sent to [[Wormwood Scrubs (HM Prison)|Wormwood Scrubs]] prison in 1917 as a [[First World War]] [[conscientious objector]].<ref name="RC:stand down"/> He cites his politics teacher from the age of 14 for developing his political interest, when he took him to the Politics Society in Kingston to hear [[Tony Benn]] speak, saying that his teacher 'spotted something in me, a real interest'.<ref name="RC:stand down"/>

Starting in 1975, Salter began employment in the construction and transport industries, holding various jobs from a labourer to a cargo handler.  During this time, he was an active member in the [[Transport and General Workers' Union]] and the [[Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians]], and served as a shop steward tasked with 'negotiating working conditions and wages'.<ref name=MS:CV/>  He moved to Reading in 1980,<ref name=MS:Interview>{{cite web |title=Martin Salter Interview |url=http://www.martinsalter.com/index.php/about/martin-salter-interview/ |publisher=Martin Salter |access-date=11 June 2012 |archive-date=28 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328084423/http://www.martinsalter.com/index.php/about/martin-salter-interview/}}</ref> and in 1982 he switched his employment focus by being hired by Reading Borough Council to organise community-based playschemes for children, followed by a move in 1984 to become the co-ordinator of Reading Centre for the Unemployed.  Dropping that role in 1987, Salter would thereafter work for Co-op Home Services until 1996, first becoming the development officer then the regional manager.<ref name=MS:CV/>