Editing Michael Fallon (section)

==Early life and career==
Michael Cathel Fallon<ref>{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/cm010620/ml010620.htm |title=Alphabetical List of Members |publisher=UK Parliament |date=20 June 2001 |access-date=6 July 2024}}</ref> was born in [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]], Perthshire, Scotland. His father was an Irish-born surgeon, Dr Martin Fallon, who was educated in Dublin and became a high-ranking medical officer in the British Army. Dr Fallon received the [[OBE]] for services to the wounded including at Arnhem.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/bridge-of-sighs-frank-mcnally-on-the-contrasting-role-of-two-dubliners-in-an-infamous-battle-of-the-second-world-war-1.4021341 |title=Bridge of Sighs – Frank McNally on the contrasting role of two Dubliners in an infamous battle of the second World War |work=The Irish Times |date=2019-09-17 |access-date=3 February 2020 |archive-date=10 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110174719/https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/bridge-of-sighs-frank-mcnally-on-the-contrasting-role-of-two-dubliners-in-an-infamous-battle-of-the-second-world-war-1.4021341 |url-status=live }}</ref> Michael Fallon was educated at [[Craigflower Preparatory School]] near [[Dunfermline]] and at [[Epsom College]], a [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private boys' school]] in [[Surrey]]. He then read [[Classics]] and [[Ancient History]] at the [[University of St Andrews]], graduating in 1974 with a [[Master of Arts (Scotland)|Master of Arts (MA Hons)]] degree.

As a student, Fallon was active in the [[European Movement]] and the [[1975 United Kingdom European Communities membership referendum|"Yes" youth campaign in the 1975 referendum]]. After university he joined the [[Conservative Research Department]], working first for [[Lord Carrington]] in the [[House of Lords]] until 1977 and then as European desk officer until 1979. He became research assistant to [[Baroness Elles]] in 1979, around the time that she became an [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]].