Born in
Halifax, West Yorkshire on 28 October 1937, Seal was educated at
Heath Grammar School, the
University of Bradford, and the
European Business School in
Fontainebleau. He worked as a chemical engineer, then as a computer consultant and lecturer. Seal became active in the
Labour Party, serving on
Bradford City Council from 1971 until 1979. At the
October 1974 United Kingdom general election, he unsuccessfully contested
Harrogate. He was
Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the single-member seat of
Yorkshire West from
1979 to
1999. He stood unsuccessfully for election to the new multi-member seat of
Yorkshire and the Humber in the
1999 European elections. Seal served as Leader of the Labour MEPs from 1988 until 1989, Seal died from
acute myeloid leukaemia on 17 September 2025, at the age of 87. ==References==