conservativehome--2020-01-21--Boris’ Boys and Girls: The Conservative Commons Intake of 2019

The Class of 2019* is , by dint of the scale of the Conservative victory in the election , larger than those we examined in 2017 and 2015 .
With that in mind , there are : • Almost a third of the new intake is female , including more than a dozen returned for newly-won seats .
In 2017 this was 21 per cent , of which 80 per cent were in safe seats , and in 2015 it was 36 per cent , with just over half of those in safe seats .
• At under five per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ share or black or minority MPs in the Class of 2017 is lower than 2017 or 2015 , and the share elected for safe seats is a third of what it was two years ago .
• This intake much resembles 2015 , with public-sector experience overwhelmingly concentrated amongst those MPs who took their seats off another party , than 2017 , where such experience was vanishingly rare .
This time , excluding the Armed Forces , it is 16 per cent ( 29 per cent of newly-won seats ) , versus just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We count only four of the new intake with Armed Forces experience , compared to three apiece in the smaller 2015 and 2017 intakes .
• At about one-in-five , the share of MPs who have held Westminster roles – be that working for an MP , the Government , or the Party – is almost double what it was in 2015 and 2010 , and is higher than 2017 .
• The share of the new intake with a legal background is pretty consistent with 2017 , at ten per cent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has halved since ‘ Cameron ’ s Children ’ in 2015 , when it was one in four .
• Marriage remains one of the most common characteristics shared by new Conservative MPs , but at less than 50 per cent the overall number is well down on 2017 and 2015 .
• Almost half of the Class of 2019 had fought at least one general election before , and almost as many had served as councillors or mayors .
• None Public schools hold their own ( as best we can tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the things Tory MPs seem to be most cagey about , but from those who have been explicit there is a similar portion of publicly-educated winners as in 2017 , at around 14 per cent .
*We are counting 107 MPs , i.e .
every MP in this list .
It includes Mims Davies , who moved seat but sat in the last Parliament .
“ 2019 has been described as the result Theresa May should have won , and the partial truth of this can be seen in the higher shares of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this election , as well as clear tendency to reward those who have slogged with the Party infantry in previous elections or local government .
Beyond that , the archetypical Tory MP of the Johnson era worked in business and is , perhaps appropriately , less likely to be married than in previous intakes.
” Two years ago , we introduced ‘ May ’ s Men and Women ’ , our introduction to the Conservative Commons intake in 2017 .
Two years before that we published ‘ Cameron ’ s Children ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Conservative MPs who entered the Commons after five years of a Conservative-led Government ” .
We did not expect this to become a biennial series – and hopefully , in the wake of the Party ’ s decisive election in last month , we won ’ t be back here in 2021 .
But for now , we have a new intake to profile .
The first big difference between this intake and its predecessor is sheer size .
After a disastrous campaign , Theresa May saw only 29 new MPs returned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is 106-strong , considerably larger even than the 2015 intake , which was only 74 .
Yet they share a crucial similarity in that both took place less than a year after May and Johnson became leader of the party .
This strongly contrasts with 2015 , at which point David Cameron had been in-post for a decade and thus had much greater scope to put his stamp on the selection process .
At first glance , one might be tempted to see in this list the delayed arrival of some of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Party , especially in the larger number of female MPs and successful candidates with public sector experience .
Candidates who have put in the miles with the Party , either at previous elections , in local government , or as a Westminster staffers of one sort or another , are also well-represented .
Certainly much of the raw material of the candidates list was put together under her leadership .
But as we have previously chronicled , Johnson ’ s CCHQ played an energetic , and sometimes confrontational , role in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exigency of a snap election to impose short-cuts through the procedures which increased central control .
The final product should be taken , then , as a result of both their efforts .
So what , beyond the traits listed above , sets out the typical Tory candidate of the Johnson era ?
They are , perhaps appropriately , much less likely to be married .
They are no more or less likely to be a lawyer or ( as best we can determine ) privately educated , and are overwhelmingly likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or another prior to election .
Finally , the share of black and ethnic minority candidates remains extremely low , even in safe seats where representation has previously been better .
This is despite what looks to have been a push from CCHQ to see such candidates over-represented ( relative to the population ) in selections .
Ten points on the Conservatives of 2019 There are few traits more widespread amongst the Class of 2019 than local government experience .
Fully 45 newly-elected Conservative MPs have been councillors ( excluding parish councillors ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commons .
Several of these have held leadership positions : Nickie Aiken ( Cities of London & Westminster ) led Westminster City Council whilst David Simmonds ( Ruislip , Northwood , and Pinner ) was deputy leader on Hillingdon .
Gareth Bacon and James Daly led the Tory groups on the London Assembly and Bury Council respectively .
Others , including Simon Baynes ( Clwyd South ) , Duncan Baker ( North Norfolk ) , Holly Mumby-Croft ( Scunthorpe ) and Marco Longhi ( Dudley North ) , have been mayors .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being more prevalent in new seats versus safe seats , with a 25/20 split .
Furthermore not every candidate had local government experience in the seat they won .
Alex Stafford , for example , won Rother Valley but served as a councillor in Ealing .
However at around four in ten this does represent a lower proportion of former councillors or devolved legislators than in 2017 or 2019 .
• None It pays to have been a former candidate The single most common trait amongst newly-elected Tory MPs is that they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have done so , 48 for the Conservatives and one ( Mark Jenkinson , Workington ) for UKIP .
Some , such as Christopher Clarkson ( Heywood & Middleton ) contested their current seat at a previous election , giving them an opportunity to raise their profile and get to know the constituency .
Others have blooded themselves in the traditional manner by fighting safe Labour seats or , in a couple of cases , standing in Northern Ireland .
This is a lower share than in 2017 , where two thirds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although again this is a much larger pool than that of two years ago .
Nonetheless , it remains high enough to suggest that speculation about the decline of this traditional pathway to becoming an MP has been premature .
• None Almost one in five are ex-staffers In 2015 and 2010 the share of new MPs who had previously worked for either the Party or an MP was about one in ten .
This time it was almost double that .
Overall 12 winning candidates in new seats and eight in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this sort .
These include special advisors such as Simon Jupp ( East Devon ) , Anthony Mangnall ( Totnes ) , and Craig Williams ( Montgomeryshire ) ; ex-Downing Street personnel such as Laura Trott ( Sevenoaks ) and James Wild ( North West Norfolk ) ; and former MP staffers Paul Bristow ( Peterborough ) , Jane Hunt ( Loughborough ) , and Selaine Saxby ( North Devon ) .
We have not counted people like Tom Hunt ( Ipswich ) , who worked as chief of staff to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although we didn ’ t look at this question specifically last time , the 2017 intake was on a similar level to 2015 , with four MPs who had previously served as a either a special advisor or other Westminster staffer .
Despite Theresa May ’ s prominent involvement in Women2Win , The last election did not do much to advance the representation of women in the parliamentary Conservative Party .
Of the 29 new Tory MPs who entered the Commons in 2017 , only six were female .
Moreover , five of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held by the Party .
Only Kirstene Hair , returned for Angus in Scotland , captured a new seat .
This time out the picture is much improved .
Of the 107 MPs freshly elected last month , 36 were women – almost exactly a third or the total , or double the share of the last election .
Even better , more than half of these – 20 versus 16 – were returned for newly-won constituencies , suggesting that this new balance is the result of more than simply CCHQ putting its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe seats .
December ’ s result has been described as the victory May should have won , two years late .
This appears to be as true , in this respect at least , for the composition of the intake as for the geographical spread and scale of the gains .
Last time we wrote about how 2017 was a disappointing election when it came to expanding minority representation on the Conservative benches .
But this election was little better .
Out of more than a hundred new Tory MPs , only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Imran Ahmad-Khan ( Wakefield ) ; Saqib Bhatti ( Meriden ) ; Claire Coutinho ( East Surrey ) ; Darren Henry ( Broxtowe ) ; and Gagan Mohindra ( South West Hertfordshire ) .
Of these , only Ahmad-Khan took a seat off the Opposition , with the rest selected for safe seats .
This echoes the last election , where both black MPs were returned for previously-held constituencies .
At under five per cent of the total this is a poorer share of the overall intake than in either 2017 ( seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent ) , but those numbers are all so low that the trend is almost beside the point if your objective is increasing the number of BAME Conservative MPs .
Notably , at the last election such candidates comprised 20 per cent of those returned for safe seats .
Had the same proportion been maintained this time it would have seen some 12 ethnic minority MPs returned – more than double the total .
Don ’ t let that headline say too much – marriage still remains one of the most common @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But 48 out of 106 is just 45 per cent of the intake .
Whilst there is definitely scope for this number to shift with more information – we have had to make a couple of judgement calls on the headline figures – it seems unlikely that it will close the gap with 2017 , where the figure was 65 per cent , let alone 2015 ’ s 73 per cent .
Another notable feature here is that there is no bias towards married candidates in safe seats .
On our figures the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or 50 per cent apiece .
By contrast in 2017 and 2015 the share of married candidates in previously-head constituencies were respectively 90 and 87 per cent .
Of course , once again this intake is much larger than those produced by the last two contests .
But the lack of over-representation for married candidates in safe suggests that this is not simply a broader intake disguising an ongoing preference , but a real shift .
It certainly makes the parliamentary party a little more representative of the nation in that regard .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar : we identify 40 new MPs which children , again with a pretty even split of 22 vs 18 between newly-won and previously-held seats .
• None A steady level of public schoolboys and girls ( on the available evidence ) … Education is often a sensitive subject for Conservative MPs , especially if they went to private school .
Our policy when compiling these potted biographies is to leave section blank if the information is not readily available , and there are plenty of Tory candidates who chose not to discuss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open about being privately-educated , seven from new seats and eight from previously-held seats .
The former were : Baker ; Dr James Davies ( Vale of Clwyd ) ; Dehenna Davison ( Bishop Auckland ) ; Imran-Khan ; Mangnall ; Karl McCartney ( Lincoln ) ; and Stafford .
The latter were : Bhatti ; Anthony Browne ( South Cambridgeshire ) ; Danny Kruger ( Devizes ) ; Richard Fuller ( North East Bedfordshire ) ; Jerome Mayhew ( Broadland ) ; Greg Smith ( Buckingham ) ; and Edward Timpson ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true number is probably a little higher than this , but at just shy of 14 per cent the share of the total given by the above is pretty much level with that from two years ago .
By contrast , only 31 of the new intake were readily identifiable as having attended state schools – 19 from new seats and 12 from previously-held seats .
This works out at 29 per cent .
This produces a sort of yo-yo effect when we consider the different Tory intakes over time , being very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent but considerably lower than either 2017 or 2010 , when the share was close to 50 per cent .
As previously noted , we expect that several of those new MPs who chose to be discrete about their schooling were educated privately , but without more information it is impossible to tell what share that is – and therefore , whether what we ’ re tracking is variation in education or in candour .
• None More public sector , but proportionately few soldiers We counted 22 MPs with public sector experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This intake follows the pattern set in 2015 in that this is overwhelmingly concentrated in newly-won seats , at 17 MPs versus just five .
( In 2017 this pattern was not in evidence but then we only counted five MPs from that intake who had worked in the public sector . )
This makes public sector experience the only trait examined where with a pronounced split between those MPs who captured seats from other parties and those selected to in safe Tory territory .
Another interesting feature of this is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has always been a traditional Tory recruiting ground .
These are Stuart Anderson ( Wolverhampton South West ) ; Henry ; Jason McCartney ( Colne Valley ) ; and James Sunderland ( Bracknell ) – evenly split between gains and retentions .
In comparison the much smaller 2017 intake featured three , as did the Class of 2015 .
• None Only one in ten are lawyers We noted in 2015 that lawyers , and in particular barristers , were extremely well-represented amongst that intake .
Two years later , on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyers were returned to the Tory benches .
This time we count 11 lawyers .
The six returned for new seats are : Siobhan Baillie ( Stroud ) ; Daly ; Peter Gibson ( Darlington ) ; Tom Randall ( Gedling ) ; Clarkson ; and Shaun Bailey ( West Bromwich West ) .
Those returned for newly-won seats are : Timpson ; Natalie Elphicke ( Dover & Deal ) ; Sally-Ann Hart ( Hastings ) ; Laura Farris ( Newbury ) ; and Sarah Dines ( Derbyshire Dales ) .
Altogether this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new intake , which is roughly on a par with the previous intake , but compared to 2015 the share selected for safe seats has halved .
When compiling our potted biographies , we have drawn on the information which can be readily gleaned from a candidate ’ s website , press coverage , Wikipedia entry , and so – i.e .
whatever a mildly interested constituent might uncover .
Where a candidate has been unforthcoming , usually with regards to family or education , we have simply acknowledged the hole in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance that some profiles may end up out of date if their subjects subsequently publish more detailed or up-to-date information .
As we said last time , our aim is to provide snapshots , not CVs .
Any mistakes are the author ’ s own .
Work : Ex-miner , went on to work for Citizens Advice and homelessness charities .
Latterly office manager for Gloria de Piero , the Labour MP he succeeded .
Snapshot : “ I want to be first ever MP for Ashfield and Eastwood who was actually born @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Chair of the Barrow and District Credit Union for two years ” , director of an anti-fraud not-for-profit , and previously worked in communications .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes , contested the same seat in 2015 and 2017 .
Education : First in his family to go to university .
Family : Married to Andra , a doctor at Bassetlaw hospital , and a son .
Work : Formerly headteacher of an international school .
Former Parliamentary candidate : No , but stood for the European Parliament .
Snapshot : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the more controversial new Tory MPs after he said that the rise of foodbanks was an inevitable consequence of their giving things away for free .
A Brexiteer .
Work : Used to work for James Morris MP .
Snapshot : Stresses how his experiences as a Birmingham councillor will help him hit the ground running as an MP .
A “ proud Freemason ” .
Family : None – made headlines over a previous fiancé 34 years older than her .
Work : Formerly worked for Jacob Rees-Mogg MP and in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yes – fought Sedgefield in 2017 .
Work : Worked for Craig Whittaker MP , prior to which he was a primary school teacher “ where he focused on supporting under-privileged children.
” Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – fought Hudderfield in 2017 and previously ran for the Northern Ireland Assembly .
Snapshot : Stresses local projects , especially re-starting commercial passenger flights at the local airport and getting a regional boost from Brexit .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes , he fought the same seat in 2017 .
Snapshot : Jewish , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
Focus on local transport , especially restoring passenger rail services .
Work : Ex-Chief of Staff for the Trade Envoy to Uganda and communications director Synergix Health , a private healthcare company .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – contested Doncaster North in 2015 .
Snapshot : Campaigned for Leave in 2016 and emphasises the opportunity Brexit offers to forge new links with African nations .
Education : Queen ’ s University Belfast , then two masters from the LSE and Wadham College , Oxford .
Work : Previously a translator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in management consultancy .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – fought East Antrim in 2017 .
Snapshot : “ As we leave the European Union , skills like [ his ] will be invaluable in Parliament as we seek to enhance our reputation of a ‘ global Britain ’ and forge new alliances.
” Work : Previously a researcher for the Prince of Wales , the National Farmers Union , and DEFRA .
Chair of ‘ Public Affairs Cymru ’ , as well as for Jonathan Evans MEP and David Jones MP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but stood for the European Parliament .
Snapshot : “ In Parliament , I will be draw on my previous experience and be a loud champion for food and farming.
” Daughter of Gwilym Jones , ex-Tory MP for Cardiff North .
Snapshot : Website profile stresses tourism and skills as two issues he intends to prioritise .
Education : Comprehensive school , then University of Hull – first of his family to go .
Work : Previously for the NHS , then as a banker .
Snapshot : “ His time in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a strong focus on the UK ’ s defence and security policy and getting proper support for veterans.
” Councillor : Yes , former leader of the Conservative group on Bury Council .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – stood for Bolton North East in 2015 and 2017 .
Snapshot : “ I play cricket here and coach a local under 9s team .
I am also Chair of Governors at a local state run nursery school.
” Education : Politics at Lancaster University , Chemistry at the Open University .
Work : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sectors ” .
Councillor : Yes – led the Conservative group on Pendle Borough Council .
Snapshot : “ Previously [ … ] a youth worker at his local church and a school governor.
” Snapshot : “ He also expressed a desire to fight for trans rights and reform the Gender Recognition Act.
” Work : Career finance and “ running a small business selling books ” .
Also runs a charity and chairs the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust .
Councillor : Yes , and a former town mayor .
Former Parliamentary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seat in 2017 .
Snapshot : Website refers to local transport connections , libraries , and mobile phone coverage as some of his key campaigns .
Work : Royal Air Force , reporter for BBC and ITV .
Lectured in journalism .
Councillor : No – but stood as a Liberal Democrat in 2006 .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes , and MP – represented this seat from 2010 until 2017 .
Snapshot : Voted against the tuition fee increase during the Coalition , but backed Brexit .
Work : A junior doctor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Stood for Birmingham Hodge Hill in 2015 and Wolverhampton North East in 2017 .
Snapshot : Has written for ConservativeHome .
Wants to be “ a different sort of MP ” .
Spent four years as a school governor and four years as a volunteer policeman Snapshot : “ I am a passionate northerner , proud of our rich heritage and the bright future we have , but I have often felt that the north could be better represented than it has been in the past.
” Snapshot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guy with the community firmly at heart.
” First in his family to speak Welsh .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – served as MP for this seat from 2015 to 2017 .
Snapshot : “ A businesswoman , school governor and is an active community volunteer .
Amanda plans on maintaining these current roles alongside her position as MP.
” Snapshot : Local candidate and active campaigner who DJs in his spare time , he lists his top priorities and job creation and helping young people get onto the housing ladder .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ : his long-standing relationship with the area , and the importance of delivering Brexit .
Work : Trained as a pilot , worked in the oil and gas industry .
Councillor : Yes , and has been Mayor of Walsall .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – fought Dudley South in 2015 .
Snapshot : A Brexiteer .
The one-paragraph biography on his website contains two priorities : reforming hospital car parking , and protecting the green belt .
Work : Used to be a teacher and school inspector .
Former Parliamentary candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 to 2017 .
Snapshot : Website focuses heavily on the local dimension , including in the majority of her ‘ Top Ten Achievements ’ during her first term .
Snapshot : Continues the near-universal pattern of winning candidates in new seats having deep local roots – he grew up in the seat .
Work : Lectured in Media Studies at the Grimsby Institute and was executive producer at a TV station .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – contested Kingston-upon-Hull North in 2017 .
Snapshot : Only got involved in party politics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a parish councillor and has a history of volunteering .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes , fought the same seat in 2017 .
Snapshot : A Brexiteer , member of the Countryside Alliance , and one of 20 LGBT Tory MPs .
His priorities include tackling anti-social behaviour and building more houses .
Education : “ Local comprehensive ” and the University of Manchester .
Work : Trained as an accountant , worked as parliamentary assistant to Greg Hands .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – stood for Bury South in 2017 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ promises that he will be an “ independent-minded moderate ” .
Education : St Christopher ’ s Church of England High School , then the University of Manchester .
Work : Prior to her election she managed a sandwich shop .
Councillor : Yes – succeeded her father to the same ward on Hyndburn council .
Snapshot : Aged 24 , she is the youngest Conservative MP elected last month .
Beyond Brexit her priorities are “ bringing investment to the region , working to improve educational standards and reducing crime and anti-social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief of staff to the elected mayor of Cambridge and Peterborough .
Snapshot : An ardent Brexiteer , Hunt has joined the European Research Group .
He lists is five priorities as infrastructure , crime , opportunities for young people , health services , and the town centre .
Education : University of Newcastle and University College of Estate Management .
Work : Trained as a chartered surveyor and runs his own company .
Snapshot : From a farming background .
Doesn ’ t mention local connections but ran a very locally-focused campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town in his seat .
Work : Financial services , including for Bank of America and JP Morgan .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – contested South Down in 2015 and South Shields in 2017 .
Snapshot : Describes her vision for Kensington as “ thriving high streets , improved air quality and new housing developments which will be the conservation areas of the future.
” Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes , stood in the previous election .
Snapshot : He ’ s one of the 21 Conservative MPs who has founded the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wants to campaign for Leigh to get its own council for the first time since the 1970s .
Work : Previously worked in transport , and as a management consultant in the City of London .
Councillor : He has been a parish councillor .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – represented this seat from 2010 to 2017 .
Snapshot : His website says that he has been “ a vocal supporter of traditional Conservative values in the House of Commons ” .
The educational under-performance of boys is a personal priority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with three children .
Work : Owns a local financial technology business which employs more than 40 people .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – he stood in Don Valley in 2017 .
Snapshot : A Brexiteer with a long history in the seat , he lists amongst his priorities the redevelopment of the town centre .
A successful quizzer who has appeared on several TV shows .
Councillor : Yes , a district councillor and former mayor .
Snapshot : His hobbies reportedly include “ spending time with family , DIY , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for walks along the coast.
” Family : Married to Baroness Evans , the Leader of the House of Lords .
Work : Served as an adviser to Michael Gove and David Lidington and joined the Prime Minister ’ s Downing Street team prior to the election .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – contested North Norfolk in 2017 .
Snapshot : One of many candidates to stress transport links in his pitch , specifically improvements to the A47 and the seat ’ s railway links to Cambridge and London .
Work : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Gavin Williamson , at Education , and worked for the Party .
Snapshot : Has strongly criticised the criminal justice system over his treatment over previous false allegations of sexual assault , and written about it for this site .
Snapshot : “ I ’ m an active member of the community .
I chaired the school PTA , helped to set up and lead a youth group , and in my role as a Parish Councillor I have campaigned on a number of local issues.
” Work : Previously worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MP who now sits in the Lords as Baron Risby .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – stood for Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland in 2010 and fought the Peterborough by-election last year .
Snapshot : His plan for Peterborough focuses on police , schools , and local transport connections .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes , contested Middlesbrough in 2017 .
Snapshot : Made headlines when he worked the Christmas Day shift in his factory job after being elected .
Describes himself as a ‘ Teessider and Brexiteer ’ .
Work : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the WWF on “ global environmental issues ” .
Snapshot : His maternal grandparents were both refugees from different Communist regimes in Eastern Europe .
Councillor : Yes , on North Lincolnshire Council .
Has also been town mayor .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes , fought this seat in 2017 .
Snapshot : Long experience in local government .
Has family connections to the local steelworks , and made emphasised protecting British steel during her campaign .
Snapshot : Another winning candidate with a long , in this instance apparently life-long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in local government .
Education : Went to school and university locally , has degrees in business management and law .
Councillor : Yes – has led the Tory group on Stockton Council .
Former Parliamentary candidate : No , but was Police and Crime Commissioner candidate in 2016 .
Snapshot : “ The son of a builder and a hairdresser , he has stacked shelves , pulled pints and laid bricks in Stockton South.
” Work : “ Has been a small business owner for more than 20 years ” , former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Parliamentary candidate : Yes – fought Great Grimsby last time .
Snapshot : A ‘ social entrepreneur ’ and serial participant in civil society groups who believes her background and experiences will bring a fresh perspective to the Tory benches .
Work : Secondary school teacher in Birmingham , was the school ’ s trades union rep to NASUWT .
Snapshot : Unsurprisingly , education was front and centre in his list of personal priorities .
He has also joined the European Research Group .
Work : Career in law , then became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charity .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – contested Bermondsey & Old Southwark in 2017 .
Snapshot : “ Having left home at 15 and worked her way up in the legal profession from 17 without ever attending university , Mrs Baillie says she wants to work to put more money in further education.
” Work : Two separate stints working for William Hague as a ‘ senior advisor ’ , and a spell overseas at a ship brokering firm .
More recently served as a spad at the the Welsh Office under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yes – stood in Warley at the last election .
Snapshot : “ As a passionate conservationist he was able to help with the creation of a Transport Taskforce directed at eradicating the movement of illegally poached goods.
” Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – represented this seat from 2015 to 2017 .
Snapshot : Can reportedly trace his roots in the constituency back seven generations .
Now something of an old hand to a new and enlarged caucus of North Welsh Tory MPs .
Work : Previously worked for the United Nations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & C Saatchi .
A counter-terrorism expert .
Snapshot : Responded to allegations that he was being ‘ parachuted in ’ by stressing his local links… and literally doing a parachute jump into the seat .
Education : Worksop College , University of Leicester , and the University of Pennsylvania .
Work : A long career in the radio sector , he now runs his own consultancy business .
Snapshot : An award-winning ‘ on air ’ journalist who has worked on the business side of the industry around the UK , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Has worked for several current and former MPs including Mike Wood and Margot James .
Snapshot : At 24 years old , she is one of the youngest MPs in the country .
Serves as Midlands manager for the Jewish Leadership Council .
Education : Aberystwyth University and the University of the West of England .
Councillor : Yes , has served on City of Wolverhampton Council .
Snapshot : Family were local industrialists .
Campaign priorities include improved transport infrastructure and a ‘ brownfield first ’ approach to house building .
Education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Army .
Work : Active service with the Army , then went into private security , founding two businesses .
Councillor : Yes – elected to Herefordshire Council in 2017 .
Snapshot : Was shot in the foot whilst training aged 17 .
An active charity fundraiser .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – for UKIP !
Snapshot : Was a founder member of UKIP ’ s West Cumbria branch , and fought this seat for that party at the 2015 election .
Wrote about his defection for this site .
Work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked as a midwife and social worker .
Owns a micro-brewery .
Former Parliamentary candidate : No , but fought the Alyn & Deeside by-election for the Welsh Assembly in 2017 .
Snapshot : Was criticised for not producing Welsh-language election literature , but said it was the right decision based on the number of actual Welsh speakers in the seat .
Education : Colchester County High School , Queen Mary University of London , and the University of Westminster .
Work : Worked as a director at UBS and HSBC before retraining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate : Yes – fought the Rhondda in 2017 .
Snapshot : She is listed as the Conservative Policy Forum ’ s ‘ Champion for Social Mobility ’ , and is a director of Tory campaign group Women2Win .
Once worked as a dolphin trainer .
Work : “ An engineer and businessman before working on social policy , health care and public sector reform.
” Councillor : Yes – has served on both Suffolk and West Suffolk county councils .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – stood in Arfon in 2010 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s work .
“ Started an assisted reading programme in local schools and is co-founder of a small charity investing in young people ” .
Family : Married to Barbara , with two teenage children .
Work : Appointed the Prime Minister ’ s chief business adviser after 19 years at Sky .
Snapshot : Used to chair the Centre for Policy Studies ’ advisory board , and co-led the national ‘ Fix Britain ’ s Internet ’ campaign in 2016 .
Lent Boris Johnson ’ s leadership campaign the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broadcast journalism , latterly as a communications adviser .
Snapshot : Backed Brexit , opposes HS2 , has strong links to the seat .
Has served as a school governor , magistrate , and non-executive director for HM Prison and Probation Service .
Work : Film and performing arts – “ worked as an actor and producer in Hollywood ” .
Latterly for the Centre for Social Justice .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes , contested Ealing Central & Acton in 2017 .
Snapshot : Fought for the nomination as the Conservative candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Conservative Policy Forum champion for social housing tenants .
Member of the ERG .
Born in the US .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – fought Birmingham Edgbaston in 2015 .
Snapshot : Was ‘ British Public Speaking Champion ’ in 2017 .
Also played rugby and “ sang in competitive barbershop chorus ” .
Work : “ Recently stepped down as an army officer at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst after 27 years service.
” Snapshot : “ I am proudly local , having been born and brought up close to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life in the … area.
” Family : Married to Kate , with three children .
Work : Originally a barrister , then joined the senior management at ‘ Go Ape !
’ before working in the seat as director of an agricultural company .
Snapshot : Strongly stresses rural issues in his profile , especially broadband and the lack of attention paid to rural crime .
Son of Patrick Mayhew , a former Conservative cabinet minister .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – stood in Wolverhampton North East in 2015 .
Snapshot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Force as a young man because I wanted to serve my country and that ’ s exactly what I want to do here.
” Education : Bromsgrove School and the University of Buckingham .
Work : “ Worked in print , design and marketing , serving clients across the manufacturing , medical technology and charity sectors.
” Councillor : Yes , formerly sat on Hammersmith & Fulham Council .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – fought John McDonnell in Hayes & Harlington in 2017 .
Snapshot : Voted Leave .
Opposes HS2 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building concentrated on brownfield sites .
Helps on his wife ’ s family farm .
Family : Estranged from Andrew Griffiths , the previous MP .
They have a daughter .
Snapshot : Has said she intends to become an advocate for abuse survivors in Parliament .
Family : Married to Alex , a senior civil servant .
The have two children .
Councillor : Yes – was leader of Westminster City Council since 2017 .
Snapshot : Accepts the Brexit referendum result , but voted Remain and suggests the UK could re-enter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s generation ” .
Education : Comprehensive school , Brunel University , and the Inns of Court .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – fought Belfast East in 1997 .
Snapshot : Interest in individual rights from when her parents , tenant farmers , lost their farm to build a New Town .
Member of the ‘ Vote Blue , Go Green ’ movement .
Voted Leave in 2016 .
Work : Political Secretary to the Prime Minister , formerly speechwriter for David Cameron .
Snapshot : “ During Mr Cameron ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developing the idea of the Big Society , and was also said to be the writer behind Mr Cameron ’ s “ hug a hoodie ” speech.
” A “ committed Christian ” .
Education : Grammar school and the University of Kent .
Family : Married to Charlie Elphicke , whom she succeeds as MP .
Snapshot : Has published both think-tank and official reports on housing , and in 2015 received an OBE for her contributions on this subject .
Described as “ a backer of the mutual movement ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and special adviser to Dominic Raab and advisor to Tim Bowles , the Mayor of the West of England .
Snapshot : Faced a strong challenge from an Independent to win his seat .
Emphasises his local roots in Devon .
Work : Banker , latterly a civil servant at the Treasury .
Snapshot : Worked education-related roles at both KPMG and the Centre for Social Justice .
“ Quit her job in the City to work in Government to deliver Brexit.
” A lifelong charity supporter .
Work : The food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lidington , then-Deputy Prime Minister , and Damian Hinds , then-Education Secretary .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – stood in Mitcham & Morden in 2015 and Southampton Test in 2017 .
Snapshot : Lists his two top priority policy areas as education and housing .
Served as Cabinet Member for Children ’ s Services and Education on the Council .
Work : Whilst out of Parliament he authored an education review and was was appointed as the chair of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service .
Prior to first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate : Yes – represented Crewe & Nantwich from 2008 to 2017 Work : Over 13 years at a global investment company .
Named one of Europe ’ s finance ‘ rising stars ’ in 2018 .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – contested Doncaster Central in 2010 and Leeds Central in 2017 .
Snapshot : “ In 2014 , Gareth helped establish a £100m fund that invests in UK infrastructure , universities , charities and housing authorities .
He has also been on the Conservative Party ’ s National Economic Policy Taskforce.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with three teenage children .
Work : Investment banker in the City of London .
Snapshot : Born in New Zealand .
School governor , chairman of a Parent-Teacher Association , and active in amateur dramatics .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – stood in North West Durham in 2017 .
Snapshot : “ currently a school governor for ARK Little Ridge , ARK Blacklands and ARK Castledown in Hastings with a responsibility for improving the achievements of disadvantaged children.
” Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – contested Dagenham & Rainham in 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brexiteer who says she has supported leaving the EU “ all her life ” .
Sat on the board of Women for Britain during the referendum .
Work : Was Nicky Morgan ’ s senior caseworker , previously worked in the civil service , the charity sector and business .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes : fought Leicester East in 2010 , the Leicester South by-election in 2011 , and Nottingham South in 2015 and 2017 .
Snapshot : Will be very well-positioned to hit the ground running as MP with her prior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Read South East Asian Studies at Hull , and later a Masters in Global Politics and International Relations at Southampton .
Councillor : Yes , has sat on Winchester City Council in the past .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – stood in Southampton Itchen in 2005 and Portsmouth South in 2010 , represented the latter from 2015 to 2017 .
Snapshot : Has published several reports or book chapters on coastal communities , women in work , and social workers .
Prior to the election was going to stand as Police and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s School and the London School of Economics .
Work : An accountant by profession , director of his family ’ s firm after working at Deloitte .
Snapshot : Is the youngest ever President of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce , and sat on the board of Vote Leave .
Deputy Chair of Andy Street ’ s re-election campaign .
Work : Previously “ worked in a variety of fields in retail , hospitality , but mainly media , events and communications .
Most notably for the AA , BBC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , served on Mid Sussex District Council for six years .
Snapshot : Previously sat as Member of Parliament for Eastleigh since first being returned as one of ‘ Cameron ’ s Children ’ in 2015 ; has held several posts in government since 2018 .
Family : Married to Emma , with three children .
Work : Was Head of Strategy the Institute of Chartered Accountants .
Prior to that , worked in farming .
Snapshot : Another candidate who sounds a warning note on house building , he promises on his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reckless over-development ” .
Loves rugby , politics , and beer , supports Brexit Education : State schools , Watford College , and the University of Birmingham .
Work : Was special adviser to Steve Barclay whilst the latter was Brexit Secretary .
Councillor : Yes , has sat on City of Cardiff Council .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – represented Cardiff North between 2015 and 2017 .
Also stood for the Welsh Assembly .
Snapshot : Williams opposed Brexit prior to the 2016 referendum .
Whilst an MP he sat variously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Affairs , and Welsh Affairs select committees .
Work : Barrister , specialising in employment and equality law .
Former BBC and Reuters journalist .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – stood in Leyton & Wanstead in 2017 .
Snapshot : Daughter of Sir Michael McNair-Wilson and niece of Sir Patrick McNair-Wilson , both former Tory MPs .
Has written for this site .
Sits on the board of the Society of Conservative Lawyers .
Work : Ran an online retail business for 15 years .
Was Chief of Staff to Ben Howlett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Latterly a teacher .
Snapshot : From “ a family of teachers ” and thus passionate about education .
A keen , successful , and award-winning charity fundraiser .
Work : Career in management consultancy that took him all over the world .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – was MP for Bedford between 2010 and 2017 and fought it in 2005 .
Snapshot : As a Young Conservative , Fuller joined the Tory Reform Group .
A former national chairman of the YCs .
Pro-Brexit .
Work : His local government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recruitment .
Snapshot : Sat on the London Assembly since 2008 , and was leader of the Conservative Group from 2015 until 2019 .
Work : “ He is an equine veterinary surgeon and University Senior Lecturer.
” Snapshot : Is a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons .
Has also performed in the Cambridge Footlights and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes , has fought two previous election .
Snapshot : Has led the Conservatives at the Local Government Association .
Was awarded a CBE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has worked at both King ’ s College Hospital and Maudsley Hospital .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – contested Camberwell & Peckham in 2017 .
Snapshot : In 2013 he was awarded the Advanced Psychiatric Trainee of the Year Award by the Royal College of Psychiatrists .
Volunteers at a homelessness charity .
Work : Led strategy and public policy for BT ’ s cyber security business .
Also worked at Policy Exchange and as an expert adviser to the Home Affairs Select Committee on cyber crime .
Former Parliamentary candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 .
Snapshot : “ Was recently recognised by industry with a Europe-wide ISG Paragon ‘ Woman in Technology ’ award for helping more young women into technology careers.
” Work : A counter-terrorism expert , has worked for the Foreign Office .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – fought Mitcham & Morden in 2017 Snapshot : “ My priorities are to protect our rural way of life , secure the funds we need to deliver exceptional health care , broadband , roads , and social care , and to keep us safe.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party , then Head of Strategic Communications during David Cameron ’ s Government .
Prior to election was a partner at Portland .
Snapshot : Cameron made her an MBE in his resignation honours list for political and public services .
First in her family to go to university .
Education : The Perse School and Cambridge , both on scholarships .
Work : Was chairman of the UK Government ’ s Regulatory Policy Committee .
Previously head of the British Bankers ’ Association and sat on the Boards of the International Banking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and TheCityUK .
Snapshot : Worked for Johnson whilst the latter was Mayor of London .
Co-founder of the HomeOwners Alliance , Britain ’ s only consumer group to help homeowners .
Work : an SME business owner , manufacturing & exporting wooden products .
Previously she worked in management , IT consultancy , business banking operations , and the Credit Union Movement .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – contested Ellesmere Port and Neston in 2015 .
Snapshot : First of her family to go to university , worked as a nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biker , loves palaeontology .
Work : Financial services , then the family furniture retail business .
Latterly full-time in politics .
Councillor : Yes – on Essex County Council and Epping Forest District Council .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – stood in North Tyneside in 2015 .
Snapshot : He was the county council ’ s cabinet member for finance , property and housing .
Joined the Party in 2003 .
Likes “ watching and playing football and cricket , reading bad fiction and watching bad sci-fi.
” Work : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founder and CEO of the Coalition for Global Prosperity.
” Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – fought Bristol East in 2015 and 2017 .
Snapshot : Jacob Rees-Mogg ’ s niece .
“ First decided to get involved in campaigning after the election expenses scandal.
” Work : “ Has worked in a senior leadership role for a global logistics provider for 25 years.
” Former Parliamentary candidate : No , but contested the 2019 elections to the European Parliament .
Snapshot : Voted Remain , but now backs leaving the EU and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brexiteer ” .
Work : “ Worked as an IT project manager in London , Bristol and overseas.
” Snapshot : Aside from Brexit , her profile overwhelmingly priorities the environment as a personal policy priority including planning , air quality , and marine management .
Work : Stood down as Chairman of the Social Mobility Foundation in 2019 .
Snapshot : A former member of Parliament ’ s Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission .
He has also served as a director of Future Academies , an educational charity and multi-academy trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Business Studies , MPhil in Physics and Material Science .
Work : Founder of leadership and pitch consultancy Win That Pitch .
Former Parliamentary candidate : Yes – stood in Luton North in 2015 and Luton South in 2017 .
Snapshot : Has “ become known as a successful polymath with a diverse career spanning from physics to the arts , senior roles advising global brands , CEOs , government and philanthropists through to running his own business.
” Work : Joined the railways out of school – rose to head of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivered the multi-million-pound upgrade to Waterloo station .
Snapshot : Lived at the family farm , giving his parents hands-on support while pursuing a professional career in London .
A Christian , and has also held various voluntary roles .

Executive Summary
The Class of 2019* is, by dint of the scale of the Conservative victory in the election, larger than those we examined in 2017 and 2015. With that in mind, there are:
More women: Almost a third of the new intake is female, including more than a dozen returned for newly-won seats. In 2017 this was 21 per cent, of which 80 per cent were in safe seats, and in 2015 it was 36 per cent, with just over half of those in safe seats.
Almost a third of the new intake is female, including more than a dozen returned for newly-won seats. In 2017 this was 21 per cent, of which 80 per cent were in safe seats, and in 2015 it was 36 per cent, with just over half of those in safe seats. Fewer minorities: At under five per cent of the new intake, the share or black or minority MPs in the Class of 2017 is lower than 2017 or 2015, and the share elected for safe seats is a third of what it was two years ago.
At under five per cent of the new intake, the share or black or minority MPs in the Class of 2017 is lower than 2017 or 2015, and the share elected for safe seats is a third of what it was two years ago. More public-sector experience: This intake much resembles 2015, with public-sector experience overwhelmingly concentrated amongst those MPs who took their seats off another party, than 2017, where such experience was vanishingly rare. This time, excluding the Armed Forces, it is 16 per cent (29 per cent of newly-won seats), versus just seven per cent in 2017.
This intake much resembles 2015, with public-sector experience overwhelmingly concentrated amongst those MPs who took their seats off another party, than 2017, where such experience was vanishingly rare. This time, excluding the Armed Forces, it is 16 per cent (29 per cent of newly-won seats), versus just seven per cent in 2017. Fewer soldiers: We count only four of the new intake with Armed Forces experience, compared to three apiece in the smaller 2015 and 2017 intakes.
We count only four of the new intake with Armed Forces experience, compared to three apiece in the smaller 2015 and 2017 intakes. More spads and staffers: At about one-in-five, the share of MPs who have held Westminster roles – be that working for an MP, the Government, or the Party – is almost double what it was in 2015 and 2010, and is higher than 2017.
At about one-in-five, the share of MPs who have held Westminster roles – be that working for an MP, the Government, or the Party – is almost double what it was in 2015 and 2010, and is higher than 2017. Another weak election for lawyers: The share of the new intake with a legal background is pretty consistent with 2017, at ten per cent, but the share returned for safe seats has halved since ‘Cameron’s Children’ in 2015, when it was one in four.
The share of the new intake with a legal background is pretty consistent with 2017, at ten per cent, but the share returned for safe seats has halved since ‘Cameron’s Children’ in 2015, when it was one in four. Fewer are married: Marriage remains one of the most common characteristics shared by new Conservative MPs, but at less than 50 per cent the overall number is well down on 2017 and 2015.
Marriage remains one of the most common characteristics shared by new Conservative MPs, but at less than 50 per cent the overall number is well down on 2017 and 2015. Lots of local government and election experience: Almost half of the Class of 2019 had fought at least one general election before, and almost as many had served as councillors or mayors.
Almost half of the Class of 2019 had fought at least one general election before, and almost as many had served as councillors or mayors. Public schools hold their own (as best we can tell): Schooling is always one of the things Tory MPs seem to be most cagey about, but from those who have been explicit there is a similar portion of publicly-educated winners as in 2017, at around 14 per cent.
*We are counting 107 MPs, i.e. every MP in this list. It includes Mims Davies, who moved seat but sat in the last Parliament.
Our snapshot take
“2019 has been described as the result Theresa May should have won, and the partial truth of this can be seen in the higher shares of women and people with public-sector experience returned at this election, as well as clear tendency to reward those who have slogged with the Party infantry in previous elections or local government. Beyond that, the archetypical Tory MP of the Johnson era worked in business and is, perhaps appropriately, less likely to be married than in previous intakes.”
Introduction
Two years ago, we introduced ‘May’s Men and Women’, our introduction to the Conservative Commons intake in 2017. Two years before that we published ‘Cameron’s Children’, “our examination of the generation of Conservative MPs who entered the Commons after five years of a Conservative-led Government”.
We did not expect this to become a biennial series – and hopefully, in the wake of the Party’s decisive election in last month, we won’t be back here in 2021. But for now, we have a new intake to profile.
The first big difference between this intake and its predecessor is sheer size. After a disastrous campaign, Theresa May saw only 29 new MPs returned. Boris Johnson’s first intake is 106-strong, considerably larger even than the 2015 intake, which was only 74.
Yet they share a crucial similarity in that both took place less than a year after May and Johnson became leader of the party. This strongly contrasts with 2015, at which point David Cameron had been in-post for a decade and thus had much greater scope to put his stamp on the selection process.
At first glance, one might be tempted to see in this list the delayed arrival of some of the changes Theresa May sought to wreak on the Party, especially in the larger number of female MPs and successful candidates with public sector experience. Candidates who have put in the miles with the Party, either at previous elections, in local government, or as a Westminster staffers of one sort or another, are also well-represented.
Certainly much of the raw material of the candidates list was put together under her leadership. But as we have previously chronicled, Johnson’s CCHQ played an energetic, and sometimes confrontational, role in the selection process, once again using the exigency of a snap election to impose short-cuts through the procedures which increased central control. The final product should be taken, then, as a result of both their efforts.
So what, beyond the traits listed above, sets out the typical Tory candidate of the Johnson era? They are, perhaps appropriately, much less likely to be married. They are no more or less likely to be a lawyer or (as best we can determine) privately educated, and are overwhelmingly likely to have been in businesses in some capacity or another prior to election.
Finally, the share of black and ethnic minority candidates remains extremely low, even in safe seats where representation has previously been better. This is despite what looks to have been a push from CCHQ to see such candidates over-represented (relative to the population) in selections.
Ten points on the Conservatives of 2019
Lots of councillors
There are few traits more widespread amongst the Class of 2019 than local government experience. Fully 45 newly-elected Conservative MPs have been councillors (excluding parish councillors) at some level prior to entering the Commons.
Several of these have held leadership positions: Nickie Aiken (Cities of London & Westminster) led Westminster City Council whilst David Simmonds (Ruislip, Northwood, and Pinner) was deputy leader on Hillingdon. Gareth Bacon and James Daly led the Tory groups on the London Assembly and Bury Council respectively. Others, including Simon Baynes (Clwyd South), Duncan Baker (North Norfolk), Holly Mumby-Croft (Scunthorpe) and Marco Longhi (Dudley North), have been mayors.
There is no pronounced pattern of such candidates being more prevalent in new seats versus safe seats, with a 25/20 split. Furthermore not every candidate had local government experience in the seat they won. Alex Stafford, for example, won Rother Valley but served as a councillor in Ealing.
However at around four in ten this does represent a lower proportion of former councillors or devolved legislators than in 2017 or 2019.
It pays to have been a former candidate
The single most common trait amongst newly-elected Tory MPs is that they have fought a seat before. Almost have have done so, 51 for the Conservatives and one (Mark Jenkinson, Workington) for UKIP.
Some, such as Christopher Clarkson (Heywood & Middleton) contested their current seat at a previous election, giving them an opportunity to raise their profile and get to know the constituency. Others have blooded themselves in the traditional manner by fighting safe Labour seats or, in a couple of cases, standing in Northern Ireland.
This is a lower share than in 2017, where two thirds of the intake had previously fought an election, although again this is a much larger pool than that of two years ago. Nonetheless, it remains high enough to suggest that speculation about the decline of this traditional pathway to becoming an MP has been premature.
Almost one in five are ex-staffers
In 2015 and 2010 the share of new MPs who had previously worked for either the Party or an MP was about one in ten. This time it was almost double that. Overall 12 winning candidates in new seats and eight in previously-held seats have had an insider job of this sort.
These include special advisors such as Simon Jupp (East Devon), Anthony Mangnall (Totnes), and Craig Williams (Montgomeryshire); ex-Downing Street personnel such as Laura Trott (Sevenoaks) and James Wild (North West Norfolk); and former MP staffers Paul Bristow (Peterborough), Jane Hunt (Loughborough), and Selaine Saxby (North Devon). We have not counted people like Tom Hunt (Ipswich), who worked as chief of staff to the elected mayor of Cambridge and Peterborough.
Although we didn’t look at this question specifically last time, the 2017 intake was on a similar level to 2015, with four MPs who had previously served as a either a special advisor or other Westminster staffer.
A better election for women…
Despite Theresa May’s prominent involvement in Women2Win, The last election did not do much to advance the representation of women in the parliamentary Conservative Party. Of the 29 new Tory MPs who entered the Commons in 2017, only six were female.
Moreover, five of those six were selected for seats already held by the Party. Only Kirstene Hair, returned for Angus in Scotland, captured a new seat.
This time out the picture is much improved. Of the 107 MPs freshly elected last month, 36 were women – almost exactly a third or the total, or double the share of the last election. Even better, more than half of these – 20 versus 16 – were returned for newly-won constituencies, suggesting that this new balance is the result of more than simply CCHQ putting its thumb on the scales in selections for safe seats.
December’s result has been described as the victory May should have won, two years late. This appears to be as true, in this respect at least, for the composition of the intake as for the geographical spread and scale of the gains.
…but not for minority candidates
Last time we wrote about how 2017 was a disappointing election when it came to expanding minority representation on the Conservative benches. But this election was little better.
Out of more than a hundred new Tory MPs, only five were from a minority background: Imran Ahmad-Khan (Wakefield); Saqib Bhatti (Meriden); Claire Coutinho (East Surrey); Darren Henry (Broxtowe); and Gagan Mohindra (South West Hertfordshire).
Of these, only Ahmad-Khan took a seat off the Opposition, with the rest selected for safe seats. This echoes the last election, where both black MPs were returned for previously-held constituencies.
At under five per cent of the total this is a poorer share of the overall intake than in either 2017 (seven per cent) or 2015 (nine per cent), but those numbers are all so low that the trend is almost beside the point if your objective is increasing the number of BAME Conservative MPs.
Notably, at the last election such candidates comprised 20 per cent of those returned for safe seats. Had the same proportion been maintained this time it would have seen some 12 ethnic minority MPs returned – more than double the total.
Fewer are married
Don’t let that headline say too much – marriage still remains one of the most common traits amongst the Class of 2019. But 48 out of 106 is just 45 per cent of the intake. Whilst there is definitely scope for this number to shift with more information – we have had to make a couple of judgement calls on the headline figures – it seems unlikely that it will close the gap with 2017, where the figure was 65 per cent, let alone 2015’s 73 per cent.
Another notable feature here is that there is no bias towards married candidates in safe seats. On our figures the split is exactly 24 to 24, or 50 per cent apiece. By contrast in 2017 and 2015 the share of married candidates in previously-head constituencies were respectively 90 and 87 per cent.
Of course, once again this intake is much larger than those produced by the last two contests. But the lack of over-representation for married candidates in safe suggests that this is not simply a broader intake disguising an ongoing preference, but a real shift. It certainly makes the parliamentary party a little more representative of the nation in that regard.
Perhaps unsurprisingly the figures for children are similar: we identify 40 new MPs which children, again with a pretty even split of 22 vs 18 between newly-won and previously-held seats.
A steady level of public schoolboys and girls (on the available evidence)…
Education is often a sensitive subject for Conservative MPs, especially if they went to private school. Our policy when compiling these potted biographies is to leave section blank if the information is not readily available, and there are plenty of Tory candidates who chose not to discuss their schooling.
Fourteen chose to be open about being privately-educated, seven from new seats and eight from previously-held seats. The former were: Baker; Dr James Davies (Vale of Clwyd); Dehenna Davison (Bishop Auckland); Imran-Khan; Mangnall; Karl McCartney (Lincoln); and Stafford. The latter were: Bhatti; Anthony Browne (South Cambridgeshire); Danny Kruger (Devizes); Richard Fuller (North East Bedfordshire); Jerome Mayhew (Broadland); Greg Smith (Buckingham); and Edward Timpson (Eddisbury).
Suffice to say the true number is probably a little higher than this, but at just shy of 14 per cent the share of the total given by the above is pretty much level with that from two years ago.
…but fewer confirmed state pupils
By contrast, only 31 of the new intake were readily identifiable as having attended state schools – 19 from new seats and 12 from previously-held seats. This works out at 29 per cent.
This produces a sort of yo-yo effect when we consider the different Tory intakes over time, being very similar to 2015’s 34 per cent but considerably lower than either 2017 or 2010, when the share was close to 50 per cent.
As previously noted, we expect that several of those new MPs who chose to be discrete about their schooling were educated privately, but without more information it is impossible to tell what share that is – and therefore, whether what we’re tracking is variation in education or in candour.
More public sector, but proportionately few soldiers
We counted 22 MPs with public sector experience – around a fifth of the total. This intake follows the pattern set in 2015 in that this is overwhelmingly concentrated in newly-won seats, at 17 MPs versus just five. (In 2017 this pattern was not in evidence but then we only counted five MPs from that intake who had worked in the public sector.)
This makes public sector experience the only trait examined where with a pronounced split between those MPs who captured seats from other parties and those selected to in safe Tory territory.
Another interesting feature of this is that only four have backgrounds in the military, which has always been a traditional Tory recruiting ground. These are Stuart Anderson (Wolverhampton South West); Henry; Jason McCartney (Colne Valley); and James Sunderland (Bracknell) – evenly split between gains and retentions. In comparison the much smaller 2017 intake featured three, as did the Class of 2015.
Only one in ten are lawyers
We noted in 2015 that lawyers, and in particular barristers, were extremely well-represented amongst that intake. Two years later, on the other hand, only four new lawyers were returned to the Tory benches.
This time we count 11 lawyers. The six returned for new seats are: Siobhan Baillie (Stroud); Daly; Peter Gibson (Darlington); Tom Randall (Gedling); Clarkson; and Shaun Bailey (West Bromwich West). Those returned for newly-won seats are: Timpson; Natalie Elphicke (Dover & Deal); Sally-Ann Hart (Hastings); Laura Farris (Newbury); and Sarah Dines (Derbyshire Dales).
Altogether this makes up around ten per cent of the new intake, which is roughly on a par with the previous intake, but compared to 2015 the share selected for safe seats has halved.
Methodology
When compiling our potted biographies, we have drawn on the information which can be readily gleaned from a candidate’s website, press coverage, Wikipedia entry, and so – i.e. whatever a mildly interested constituent might uncover. Where a candidate has been unforthcoming, usually with regards to family or education, we have simply acknowledged the hole in their profile. There is also a chance that some profiles may end up out of date if their subjects subsequently publish more detailed or up-to-date information. As we said last time, our aim is to provide snapshots, not CVs. Any mistakes are the author’s own.
– – – – – – – – – –
New Seats
Lee Anderson
Constituency: Ashfield
Education: Ashfield School.
Family: Unknown
Work: Ex-miner, went on to work for Citizens Advice and homelessness charities. Latterly office manager for Gloria de Piero, the Labour MP he succeeded.
Councillor: Yes.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: “I want to be first ever MP for Ashfield and Eastwood who was actually born, raised and worked here.”
– – – – – – – – – –
Simon Fell
Constituency: Barrow and Furness
Education: University of Warwick.
Family: Married to Pippa, with a daughter.
Work: “Chair of the Barrow and District Credit Union for two years”, director of an anti-fraud not-for-profit, and previously worked in communications.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes, contested the same seat in 2015 and 2017.
Snapshot: Stresses local connections, strong background in charitable work, and Brexit credentials.
– – – – – – – – – –
Brendan Clarke-Smith
Constituency: Bassetlaw
Education: First in his family to go to university.
Family: Married to Andra, a doctor at Bassetlaw hospital, and a son.
Work: Formerly headteacher of an international school.
Councillor: Yes.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No, but stood for the European Parliament.
Snapshot: Listed by the Guardian as one of the more controversial new Tory MPs after he said that the rise of foodbanks was an inevitable consequence of their giving things away for free. A Brexiteer.
– – – – – – – – – –
Gary Sambrook
Constituency: Birmingham Northfield
Education: Unknown.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Used to work for James Morris MP.
Councillor: Yes.
Former Parliamentary candidate:
Snapshot: Stresses how his experiences as a Birmingham councillor will help him hit the ground running as an MP. A “proud Freemason”.
– – – – – – – – – –
Dehenna Davison
Constituency: Bishop Auckland
Education: Sheffield High School (scholarship), University of Hull.
Family: None – made headlines over a previous fiancé 34 years older than her.
Work: Formerly worked for Jacob Rees-Mogg MP and in a video-game shop.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – fought Sedgefield in 2017.
Snapshot: “Muscle car, baseball, and fluffy animal enthusiast.”
– – – – – – – – – –
Scott Benton
Constituency: Blackpool South
Education: Unknown.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Worked for Craig Whittaker MP, prior to which he was a primary school teacher “where he focused on supporting under-privileged children.”
Councillor: Yes.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – fought Hudderfield in 2017 and previously ran for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Snapshot: Stresses local projects, especially re-starting commercial passenger flights at the local airport and getting a regional boost from Brexit.
– – – – – – – – – –
Ian Levy
Constituency: Blyth Valley
Education: Unknown.
Family: Unknown.
Work: NHS healthcare assistant.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes, he fought the same seat in 2017.
Snapshot: Jewish, and “a lifelong resident of Blyth”. Focus on local transport, especially restoring passenger rail services.
– – – – – – – – – –
Mark Fletcher
Constituency: Bolsover
Education: Ridgewood School and Jesus College, Cambridge.
Family: Married to Will.
Work: Ex-Chief of Staff for the Trade Envoy to Uganda and communications director Synergix Health, a private healthcare company.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – contested Doncaster North in 2015.
Snapshot: Campaigned for Leave in 2016 and emphasises the opportunity Brexit offers to forge new links with African nations.
– – – – – – – – – –
Mark Logan
Constituency: Bolton North East
Education: Queen’s University Belfast, then two masters from the LSE and Wadham College, Oxford.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Previously a translator for the Foreign Office in China, and in management consultancy.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – fought East Antrim in 2017.
Snapshot: “As we leave the European Union, skills like [his] will be invaluable in Parliament as we seek to enhance our reputation of a ‘global Britain’ and forge new alliances.”
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Fay Jones
Constituency: Brecon & Radnorshire
Education: King’s College London.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Previously a researcher for the Prince of Wales, the National Farmers Union, and DEFRA. Chair of ‘Public Affairs Cymru’, as well as for Jonathan Evans MEP and David Jones MP.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No, but stood for the European Parliament.
Snapshot: “In Parliament, I will be draw on my previous experience and be a loud champion for food and farming.” Daughter of Gwilym Jones, ex-Tory MP for Cardiff North.
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Jamie Wallace
Constituency: Bridgend
Education: Unknown.
Family: Wife and two daughters.
Work: Owns a local business.
Councillor: Formerly a town councillor.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Website profile stresses tourism and skills as two issues he intends to prioritise.
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Antony Higginbotham
Constituency: Burnley
Education: Comprehensive school, then University of Hull – first of his family to go.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Previously for the NHS, then as a banker.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: “His time in the Army Cadets also fostered in him a strong focus on the UK’s defence and security policy and getting proper support for veterans.”
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James Daly
Constituency: Bury North
Education: Unknown.
Family: Wife and two children,
Work: Partner in a Bury law firm.
Councillor: Yes, former leader of the Conservative group on Bury Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – stood for Bolton North East in 2015 and 2017.
Snapshot: “I play cricket here and coach a local under 9s team. I am also Chair of Governors at a local state run nursery school.”
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Christian Wakeford
Constituency: Bury South
Education: Politics at Lancaster University, Chemistry at the Open University.
Family: Married to Alexandra.
Work: “Background in the communications and insurance sectors”.
Councillor: Yes – led the Conservative group on Pendle Borough Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: “Previously […] a youth worker at his local church and a school governor.”
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Elliott Colburn
Constituency: Carshalton & Wallington
Education: Carshalton Boys Sports College.
Family: Same-sex partner.
Work: “Previously worked for the NHS”.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate:
Snapshot: “He also expressed a desire to fight for trans rights and reform the Gender Recognition Act.”
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Simon Baynes
Constituency: Clwyd South
Education: Unknown.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Career finance and “running a small business selling books”. Also runs a charity and chairs the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust.
Councillor: Yes, and a former town mayor.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes, fought the same seat in 2017.
Snapshot: Website refers to local transport connections, libraries, and mobile phone coverage as some of his key campaigns.
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Jason McCartney
Constituency: Colne Valley
Education: Lancaster Royal Grammar School, Leeds Trinity University.
Family: Two children.
Work: Royal Air Force, reporter for BBC and ITV. Lectured in journalism.
Councillor: No – but stood as a Liberal Democrat in 2006.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes, and MP – represented this seat from 2010 until 2017.
Snapshot: Voted against the tuition fee increase during the Coalition, but backed Brexit.
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Dr Kieran Mullan
Constituency: Crewe & Nantwich
Education: Unknown.
Family: Unknown.
Work: A junior doctor in A&E for the NHS.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Stood for Birmingham Hodge Hill in 2015 and Wolverhampton North East in 2017.
Snapshot: Has written for ConservativeHome. Wants to be “a different sort of MP”. Spent four years as a school governor and four years as a volunteer policeman
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Peter Gibson
Constituency: Darlington
Education: University of Newcastle.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Local solicitor, runs his own business.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: “I am a passionate northerner, proud of our rich heritage and the bright future we have, but I have often felt that the north could be better represented than it has been in the past.”
– – – – – – – – – –
Rob Roberts
Constituency: Delyn
Education: Ysgol Maes Garmon
Family: Wife and daughter.
Work: Financial planner and business owner.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: “I’m a local guy with the community firmly at heart.” First in his family to speak Welsh.
– – – – – – – – – –
Amanda Solloway
Constituency: Derby North
Education: Bramcote Hills Grammar School.
Family: Married.
Work: Management consultant.
Councillor: Former parish councillor.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – served as MP for this seat from 2015 to 2017.
Snapshot: “A businesswoman, school governor and is an active community volunteer. Amanda plans on maintaining these current roles alongside her position as MP.”
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Mark Eastwood
Constituency: Dewsbury
Education: “He attended the local Junior and Comprehensive schools.”
Family: Wife and two teenage children.
Work: Businessman.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Local candidate and active campaigner who DJs in his spare time, he lists his top priorities and job creation and helping young people get onto the housing ladder.
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Nick Fletcher
Constituency: Don Valley
Education: Locally-schooled.
Family: Married.
Work: Runs an electrical contracting business.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: His profile stresses two things: his long-standing relationship with the area, and the importance of delivering Brexit.
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Marco Longhi
Constituency: Dudley North
Education: University of Manchester.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Trained as a pilot, worked in the oil and gas industry.
Councillor: Yes, and has been Mayor of Walsall.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – fought Dudley South in 2015.
Snapshot: A Brexiteer. The one-paragraph biography on his website contains two priorities: reforming hospital car parking, and protecting the green belt.
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Caroline Ansell
Constituency: Eastbourne
Education: Unknown.
Family: Married, with three children.
Work: Used to be a teacher and school inspector.
Councillor: Formerly.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – represented this seat from 2015 to 2017.
Snapshot: Website focuses heavily on the local dimension, including in the majority of her ‘Top Ten Achievements’ during her first term.
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Tom Randall
Constituency: Gedling
Education: Redhill Academy and Oxford University.
Family: Unknown.
Work: “Worked for a professional membership body.”
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Continues the near-universal pattern of winning candidates in new seats having deep local roots – he grew up in the seat.
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Lia Nici
Constituency: Great Grimsby
Education: Unknown.
Family: Married with a son.
Work: Lectured in Media Studies at the Grimsby Institute and was executive producer at a TV station.
Councillor: Yes, on North East Lincolshire Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – contested Kingston-upon-Hull North in 2017.
Snapshot: Only got involved in party politics in 2017, but previously served as a parish councillor and has a history of volunteering.
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Christopher Clarkson
Constituency: Heywood & Middleton
Education: Dundee University.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Worked as a consultant for Virgin.
Councillor: Yes, served on Salford City Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes, fought the same seat in 2017.
Snapshot: A Brexiteer, member of the Countryside Alliance, and one of 20 LGBT Tory MPs. His priorities include tackling anti-social behaviour and building more houses.
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Robert Largan
Constituency: High Peak
Education: “Local comprehensive” and the University of Manchester.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Trained as an accountant, worked as parliamentary assistant to Greg Hands.
Councillor: Yes, on Hammersmith Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – stood for Bury South in 2017.
Snapshot: The profile on his website promises that he will be an “independent-minded moderate”.
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Sara Britcliffe
Constituency: Hyndburn
Education: St Christopher’s Church of England High School, then the University of Manchester.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Prior to her election she managed a sandwich shop.
Councillor: Yes – succeeded her father to the same ward on Hyndburn council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Aged 24, she is the youngest Conservative MP elected last month. Beyond Brexit her priorities are “bringing investment to the region, working to improve educational standards and reducing crime and anti-social behaviour.”
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Tom Hunt
Constituency: Ipswich
Education: University of Manchester.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Previously worked as chief of staff to the elected mayor of Cambridge and Peterborough.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes, stood in Doncaster Central in 2017.
Snapshot: An ardent Brexiteer, Hunt has joined the European Research Group. He lists is five priorities as infrastructure, crime, opportunities for young people, health services, and the town centre.
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Robbie Moore
Constituency: Keighley
Education: University of Newcastle and University College of Estate Management.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Trained as a chartered surveyor and runs his own company.
Councillor: “Experience in local government”.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: From a farming background. Doesn’t mention local connections but ran a very locally-focused campaign, with separate six-point plans for each town in his seat.
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Felicity Buchan
Constituency: Kensington
Education: Fraserburgh Academy and Christ Church, Oxford.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Financial services, including for Bank of America and JP Morgan.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – contested South Down in 2015 and South Shields in 2017.
Snapshot: Describes her vision for Kensington as “thriving high streets, improved air quality and new housing developments which will be the conservation areas of the future.”
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James Grundy
Constituency: Leigh
Education: Unknown.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Unknown.
Councillor: Yes.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes, stood in the previous election.
Snapshot: He’s one of the 21 Conservative MPs who has founded the ‘HS2 Review Group’, and he wants to campaign for Leigh to get its own council for the first time since the 1970s.
– – – – – – – – – –
Karl McCartney
Constituency: Lincoln
Education: Birkenhead School, St David’s University College and Kingston Business School.
Family: Married with two sons.
Work: Previously worked in transport, and as a management consultant in the City of London.
Councillor: He has been a parish councillor.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – represented this seat from 2010 to 2017.
Snapshot: His website says that he has been “a vocal supporter of traditional Conservative values in the House of Commons”. The educational under-performance of boys is a personal priority.
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Aaron Bell
Constituency: Newcastle-under-Lyme
Education: St Olave’s Grammar School and St John’s College, Oxford.
Family: Married to Emily, with three children.
Work: Owns a local financial technology business which employs more than 40 people.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – he stood in Don Valley in 2017.
Snapshot: A Brexiteer with a long history in the seat, he lists amongst his priorities the redevelopment of the town centre. A successful quizzer who has appeared on several TV shows.
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Duncan Baker
Constituency: North Norfolk
Education: Gresham’s School and Nottingham Trent University.
Family: Married with two daughters.
Work: Qualified as a chartered accountant, works for “a well-known, respected local company”.
Councillor: Yes, a district councillor and former mayor.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: His hobbies reportedly include “spending time with family, DIY, gardening, cycling, golf and going for walks along the coast.”
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James Wild
Constituency: North West Norfolk
Education: Unknown.
Family: Married to Baroness Evans, the Leader of the House of Lords.
Work: Served as an adviser to Michael Gove and David Lidington and joined the Prime Minister’s Downing Street team prior to the election.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – contested North Norfolk in 2017.
Snapshot: One of many candidates to stress transport links in his pitch, specifically improvements to the A47 and the seat’s railway links to Cambridge and London.
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Richard Holden
Constituency: North West Durham
Education: London School of Economics.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Previously advised Chris Grayling, at Transport, and Gavin Williamson, at Education, and worked for the Party.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – fought Preston in 2015.
Snapshot: Has strongly criticised the criminal justice system over his treatment over previous false allegations of sexual assault, and written about it for this site.
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Miriam Cates
Constituency: Penistone & Stocksbridge
Education: State school, then Cambridge University.
Family: Married with children.
Work: Teacher, then Finance Director of a technology consultancy.
Councillor: Parish councillor.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: “I’m an active member of the community. I chaired the school PTA, helped to set up and lead a youth group, and in my role as a Parish Councillor I have campaigned on a number of local issues.”
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Paul Bristow
Constituency: Peterborough
Education: Unknown.
Family: Yes.
Work: Previously worked for Richard Spring, the former Conservative MP who now sits in the Lords as Baron Risby.
Councillor: Yes, on Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – stood for Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland in 2010 and fought the Peterborough by-election last year.
Snapshot: His plan for Peterborough focuses on police, schools, and local transport connections.
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Jacob Young
Constituency: Redcar
Education: Macmillan Academy, TTE Technical Institute, and Teeside University.
Family: Engaged to Jack.
Work: Was a “lead technician at a global petrochemical company”.
Councillor: Yes, on Middlesbrough Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes, contested Middlesbrough in 2017.
Snapshot: Made headlines when he worked the Christmas Day shift in his factory job after being elected. Describes himself as a ‘Teessider and Brexiteer’.
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Alexander Stafford
Constituency: Rother Valley
Education: St Benedict’s School and Oxford University.
Family: Married, expecting a child.
Work: Worked in the energy industry, and for the WWF on “global environmental issues”.
Councillor: Yes, on Ealing Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: His maternal grandparents were both refugees from different Communist regimes in Eastern Europe.
– – – – – – – – – –
Holly Mumby-Croft
Constituency: Scunthorpe
Education: Unknown.
Family: Has a partner.
Work: Full-time councillor.
Councillor: Yes, on North Lincolnshire Council. Has also been town mayor.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes, fought this seat in 2017.
Snapshot: Long experience in local government. Has family connections to the local steelworks, and made emphasised protecting British steel during her campaign.
– – – – – – – – – –
Paul Howell
Constituency: Sedgefield
Education: Unknown.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Accountant (retired).
Councillor: Yes.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Another winning candidate with a long, in this instance apparently life-long, relationship with the constituency and experience in local government.
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Matt Vickers
Constituency: Stockton South
Education: Went to school and university locally, has degrees in business management and law.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Retail management.
Councillor: Yes – has led the Tory group on Stockton Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No, but was Police and Crime Commissioner candidate in 2016.
Snapshot: “The son of a builder and a hairdresser, he has stacked shelves, pulled pints and laid bricks in Stockton South.”
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Jo Gideon
Constituency: Stoke-on-Trent Central
Education: University of Birmingham.
Family: Mother of three.
Work: “Has been a small business owner for more than 20 years”, former aide to Damian Green MP.
Councillor: Yes, on Ashford Borough Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – fought Great Grimsby last time.
Snapshot: A ‘social entrepreneur’ and serial participant in civil society groups who believes her background and experiences will bring a fresh perspective to the Tory benches.
– – – – – – – – – –
Jonathan Gullis
Constituency: Stoke-on-Trent North
Education: Unknown.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Secondary school teacher in Birmingham, was the school’s trades union rep to NASUWT.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Unsurprisingly, education was front and centre in his list of personal priorities. He has also joined the European Research Group.
– – – – – – – – – –
Siobhan Baillie
Constituency: Stroud
Education: State educated, later law school around full-time work.
Family: Married.
Work: Career in law, then became head of policy and communications for a charity.
Councillor: Yes, previously sat on Camden Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – contested Bermondsey & Old Southwark in 2017.
Snapshot: “Having left home at 15 and worked her way up in the legal profession from 17 without ever attending university, Mrs Baillie says she wants to work to put more money in further education.”
– – – – – – – – – –
Anthony Mangnall
Constituency: Totnes
Education: Shrewsbury School and Exeter University.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Two separate stints working for William Hague as a ‘senior advisor’, and a spell overseas at a ship brokering firm. More recently served as a spad at the the Welsh Office under Alun Cairns.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – stood in Warley at the last election.
Snapshot: “As a passionate conservationist he was able to help with the creation of a Transport Taskforce directed at eradicating the movement of illegally poached goods.”
– – – – – – – – – –
Dr James Davies
Constituency: Vale of Clwyd
Education: King’s School and Christ’s College, Cambridge.
Family: Married to Nina, with two son.
Work: An NHS GP, specialising in dementia.
Councillor: Yes, both town and county between 2004 and 2015.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – represented this seat from 2015 to 2017.
Snapshot: Can reportedly trace his roots in the constituency back seven generations. Now something of an old hand to a new and enlarged caucus of North Welsh Tory MPs.
– – – – – – – – – –
Imran Ahmad-Khan
Constituency: Wakefield
Education: Silcoates School, the Pushkin Institute, and King’s College London.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Previously worked for the United Nations, and as a consultant for M&C Saatchi. A counter-terrorism expert.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Responded to allegations that he was being ‘parachuted in’ by stressing his local links… and literally doing a parachute jump into the seat.
– – – – – – – – – –
Andy Carter
Constituency: Warrington South
Education: Worksop College, University of Leicester, and the University of Pennsylvania.
Family: Married to Aggie, with a son.
Work: A long career in the radio sector, he now runs his own consultancy business.
Councillor: A parish councillor.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: An award-winning ‘on air’ journalist who has worked on the business side of the industry around the UK, including five years in Wales.
– – – – – – – – – –
Nicola Richards
Constituency: West Bromwich East
Education: University of Birmingham.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Has worked for several current and former MPs including Mike Wood and Margot James.
Councillor: Yes, sits on Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: At 24 years old, she is one of the youngest MPs in the country. Serves as Midlands manager for the Jewish Leadership Council.
– – – – – – – – – –
Shaun Bailey
Constituency: West Bromwich West
Education: Aberystwyth University and the University of the West of England.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Lawyer.
Councillor: Parish councillor.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: He is reportedly a self-taught Welsh speaker.
– – – – – – – – – –
Jane Stevenson
Constituency: Wolverhampton North East
Education: Wolverhampton Girls’ High School, Guildhall School of Opera.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Professional singer.
Councillor: Yes, has served on City of Wolverhampton Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Family were local industrialists. Campaign priorities include improved transport infrastructure and a ‘brownfield first’ approach to house building.
– – – – – – – – – –
Stuart Anderson
Constituency: Wolverhampton South West
Education: Left school at 16 to join the Army.
Family: Married with five children.
Work: Active service with the Army, then went into private security, founding two businesses.
Councillor: Yes – elected to Herefordshire Council in 2017.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Was shot in the foot whilst training aged 17. An active charity fundraiser.
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Mark Jenkinson
Constituency: Workington
Education: Unknown.
Family: Married, with four children.
Work: A self-employed contractor in the nuclear engineering supply chain.
Councillor: Yes – previously deputy leader of Allderdale Borough Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – for UKIP!
Snapshot: Was a founder member of UKIP’s West Cumbria branch, and fought this seat for that party at the 2015 election. Wrote about his defection for this site.
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Sarah Atherton
Constituency: Wrexham
Education: Left school at 16.
Family: Is a mother.
Work: Served in the Intelligence Corps and worked as a midwife and social worker. Owns a micro-brewery.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No, but fought the Alyn & Deeside by-election for the Welsh Assembly in 2017.
Snapshot: Was criticised for not producing Welsh-language election literature, but said it was the right decision based on the number of actual Welsh speakers in the seat.
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Virginia Crosbie
Constituency: Ynys Môn
Education: Colchester County High School, Queen Mary University of London, and the University of Westminster.
Family: Married with three children.
Work: Worked as a director at UBS and HSBC before retraining as a mathematics teacher.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – fought the Rhondda in 2017.
Snapshot: She is listed as the Conservative Policy Forum’s ‘Champion for Social Mobility’, and is a director of Tory campaign group Women2Win. Once worked as a dolphin trainer.
– – – – – – – – – –
Held Seats
Robin Millar
Constituency: Aberconwy
Education: “After school in Ysgol Friars, Robin graduated in engineering.”
Family: Married.
Work: “An engineer and businessman before working on social policy, health care and public sector reform.”
Councillor: Yes – has served on both Suffolk and West Suffolk county councils.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – stood in Arfon in 2010.
Snapshot: Left Wales for his wife’s work. “Started an assisted reading programme in local schools and is co-founder of a small charity investing in young people”.
– – – – – – – – – –
Andrew Griffith
Constituency: Arundel & South Downs
Education: Local comprehensive and Nottingham University.
Family: Married to Barbara, with two teenage children.
Work: Appointed the Prime Minister’s chief business adviser after 19 years at Sky.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes, stood in Corby in 2001 and 2005.
Snapshot: Used to chair the Centre for Policy Studies’ advisory board, and co-led the national ‘Fix Britain’s Internet’ campaign in 2016. Lent Boris Johnson’s leadership campaign the use of his townhouse.
– – – – – – – – – –
Rob Butler
Constituency: Aylesbury
Education: University of Sheffield.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Initially in broadcast journalism, latterly as a communications adviser.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Backed Brexit, opposes HS2, has strong links to the seat. Has served as a school governor, magistrate, and non-executive director for HM Prison and Probation Service.
– – – – – – – – – –
Joy Morrissey
Constituency: Beaconsfield
Education: London School of Economics.
Family: Married to William, with a daughter.
Work: Film and performing arts – “worked as an actor and producer in Hollywood”. Latterly for the Centre for Social Justice.
Councillor: Yes, in Ealing.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes, contested Ealing Central & Acton in 2017.
Snapshot: Fought for the nomination as the Conservative candidate for the next London mayoral election. Conservative Policy Forum champion for social housing tenants. Member of the ERG. Born in the US.
– – – – – – – – – –
Dr Luke Evans
Constituency: Bosworth
Education: University of Birmingham Medical School.
Family: Wife is also a GP.
Work: GP, formerly taught anatomy at university level.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – fought Birmingham Edgbaston in 2015.
Snapshot: Was ‘British Public Speaking Champion’ in 2017. Also played rugby and “sang in competitive barbershop chorus”.
– – – – – – – – – –
James Sunderland
Constituency: Bracknell
Education: Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.
Family: Unknown.
Work: “Recently stepped down as an army officer at the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst after 27 years service.”
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: “I am proudly local, having been born and brought up close to Bracknell and spent much of my working life in the … area.”
– – – – – – – – – –
Jerome Mayhew
Constituency: Broadland
Education: Tonbridge School and Cranfield University.
Family: Married to Kate, with three children.
Work: Originally a barrister, then joined the senior management at ‘Go Ape!’ before working in the seat as director of an agricultural company.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Strongly stresses rural issues in his profile, especially broadband and the lack of attention paid to rural crime. Son of Patrick Mayhew, a former Conservative cabinet minister.
– – – – – – – – – –
Darren Henry
Constituency: Broxtowe
Education: The University of Lincoln.
Family: Married to Caroline, with twins.
Work: Served 26 years in the Royal Air Force.
Councillor: Yes, on Wiltshire Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – stood in Wolverhampton North East in 2015.
Snapshot: “I joined the Royal Air Force as a young man because I wanted to serve my country and that’s exactly what I want to do here.”
– – – – – – – – – –
Greg Smith
Constituency: Buckingham
Education: Bromsgrove School and the University of Buckingham.
Family: Married to Annalise, with a son.
Work: “Worked in print, design and marketing, serving clients across the manufacturing, medical technology and charity sectors.”
Councillor: Yes, formerly sat on Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – fought John McDonnell in Hayes & Harlington in 2017.
Snapshot: Voted Leave. Opposes HS2 and the East West Expressway. Wants house building concentrated on brownfield sites. Helps on his wife’s family farm.
– – – – – – – – – –
Kate Griffiths
Constituency: Burton
Education: Unknown.
Family: Estranged from Andrew Griffiths, the previous MP. They have a daughter.
Work: Unknown.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Has said she intends to become an advocate for abuse survivors in Parliament.
– – – – – – – – – –
Nickie Aiken
Constituency: Cities of London & Westminster
Education: University of Exeter.
Family: Married to Alex, a senior civil servant. The have two children.
Work: Presumably council-related.
Councillor: Yes – was leader of Westminster City Council since 2017.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Accepts the Brexit referendum result, but voted Remain and suggests the UK could re-enter the European Union “in our children’s generation”.
– – – – – – – – – –
Sarah Dines
Constituency: Derbyshire Dales
Education: Comprehensive school, Brunel University, and the Inns of Court.
Family: “Mother of 4 grown-up sons.”
Work: Barrister, specialising in family law.
Councillor: Yes – was a Basildon district councillor.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – fought Belfast East in 1997.
Snapshot: Interest in individual rights from when her parents, tenant farmers, lost their farm to build a New Town. Member of the ‘Vote Blue, Go Green’ movement. Voted Leave in 2016.
– – – – – – – – – –
Danny Kruger
Constituency: Devizes
Education: Eton, University of Edinburgh, University of Oxford.
Family: Married to Emma.
Work: Political Secretary to the Prime Minister, formerly speechwriter for David Cameron.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: “During Mr Cameron’s government, he was involved in developing the idea of the Big Society, and was also said to be the writer behind Mr Cameron’s “hug a hoodie” speech.” A “committed Christian”.
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Natalie Elphicke
Constituency: Dover & Deal
Education: Grammar school and the University of Kent.
Family: Married to Charlie Elphicke, whom she succeeds as MP.
Work: “A top nationally ranked housing and finance lawyer”.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Has published both think-tank and official reports on housing, and in 2015 received an OBE for her contributions on this subject. Described as “a backer of the mutual movement”.
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Simon Jupp
Constituency: East Devon
Education: Unknown.
Family: Unknown.
Work: A radio and television journalist, and special adviser to Dominic Raab and advisor to Tim Bowles, the Mayor of the West of England.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Faced a strong challenge from an Independent to win his seat. Emphasises his local roots in Devon.
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Claire Coutinho
Constituency: East Surrey
Education: Exeter College, Oxford – read mathematics.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Banker, latterly a civil servant at the Treasury.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Worked education-related roles at both KPMG and the Centre for Social Justice. “Quit her job in the City to work in Government to deliver Brexit.” A lifelong charity supporter.
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Paul Holmes
Constituency: Eastleigh
Education: State school, then Southampton University.
Family: Unknown.
Work: The food industry, then as advisor to David Lidington, then-Deputy Prime Minister, and Damian Hinds, then-Education Secretary.
Councillor: Yes – served on Southampton City Council whilst studying.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – stood in Mitcham & Morden in 2015 and Southampton Test in 2017.
Snapshot: Lists his two top priority policy areas as education and housing. Served as Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education on the Council.
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Edward Timpson
Constituency: Eddisbury
Education: Uppingham School and Durham University.
Family: Married to Julia, three children.
Work: Whilst out of Parliament he authored an education review and was was appointed as the chair of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service. Prior to first election, a barrister.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – represented Crewe & Nantwich from 2008 to 2017
Snapshot: Family owns the Timpsons retail chain. Runs marathons for fun.
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Gareth Davies
Constituency: Grantham & Stanford
Education: State comprehensives, Harvard University
Family: Married to Laura.
Work: Over 13 years at a global investment company. Named one of Europe’s finance ‘rising stars’ in 2018.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – contested Doncaster Central in 2010 and Leeds Central in 2017.
Snapshot: “In 2014, Gareth helped establish a £100m fund that invests in UK infrastructure, universities, charities and housing authorities. He has also been on the Conservative Party’s National Economic Policy Taskforce.”
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Angela Richardson
Constituency: Guildford
Education: Unknown.
Family: Married to Jeremy, with three teenage children.
Work: Investment banker in the City of London.
Councillor: Parish councillor.
Former Parliamentary candidate:
Snapshot: Born in New Zealand. School governor, chairman of a Parent-Teacher Association, and active in amateur dramatics.
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Sally-Ann Hart
Constituency: Hastings & Rye
Education: Unknown.
Family: Married, with three grown-up children.
Work: Lawyer, specialising in family law.
Councillor: Yes, a district councillor.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – stood in North West Durham in 2017.
Snapshot: “currently a school governor for ARK Little Ridge, ARK Blacklands and ARK Castledown in Hastings with a responsibility for improving the achievements of disadvantaged children.”
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Julie Marson
Constituency: Hertford & Stortford
Education: Grammar school.
Family: Is a “wife and mother”.
Work: In finance.
Councillor: Yes – a former Thanet councillor.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – contested Dagenham & Rainham in 2015 and 2017.
Snapshot: An ardent Brexiteer who says she has supported leaving the EU “all her life”. Sat on the board of Women for Britain during the referendum.
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Jane Hunt
Constituency: Loughborough
Education: Unknown.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Was Nicky Morgan’s senior caseworker, previously worked in the civil service, the charity sector and business.
Councillor: Yes, on Charnwood Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes: fought Leicester East in 2010, the Leicester South by-election in 2011, and Nottingham South in 2015 and 2017.
Snapshot: Will be very well-positioned to hit the ground running as MP with her prior experience supporting Loughborough constituents.
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Flick Drummond
Constituency: Meon Valley
Education: Read South East Asian Studies at Hull, and later a Masters in Global Politics and International Relations at Southampton.
Family: Married, with four children.
Work: Former insurance broker.
Councillor: Yes, has sat on Winchester City Council in the past.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – stood in Southampton Itchen in 2005 and Portsmouth South in 2010, represented the latter from 2015 to 2017.
Snapshot: Has published several reports or book chapters on coastal communities, women in work, and social workers. Prior to the election was going to stand as Police and Crime Commissioner.
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Saqib Bhatti
Constituency: Meriden
Education: King Edward’s School and the London School of Economics.
Family: Unknown.
Work: An accountant by profession, director of his family’s firm after working at Deloitte.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Is the youngest ever President of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, and sat on the board of Vote Leave. Deputy Chair of Andy Street’s re-election campaign.
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Mims Davies*
Constituency: Mid Sussex
Education: Read politics at Swansea University.
Family: Divorced, with two children.
Work: Previously “worked in a variety of fields in retail, hospitality, but mainly media, events and communications. Most notably for the AA, BBC and the Police.”
Councillor: Yes, served on Mid Sussex District Council for six years.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Previously sat as Member of Parliament for Eastleigh since first being returned as one of ‘Cameron’s Children’ in 2015; has held several posts in government since 2018.
*Moved seat.
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Ben Everitt
Constituency: Milton Keynes North
Education: Unknown.
Family: Married to Emma, with three children.
Work: Was Head of Strategy the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Prior to that, worked in farming.
Councillor: Yes – on Aylesbury Vale district council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Another candidate who sounds a warning note on house building, he promises on his website to “protect our communities from reckless over-development”. Loves rugby, politics, and beer, supports Brexit
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Craig Williams
Constituency: Montgomeryshire
Education: State schools, Watford College, and the University of Birmingham.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Was special adviser to Steve Barclay whilst the latter was Brexit Secretary.
Councillor: Yes, has sat on City of Cardiff Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – represented Cardiff North between 2015 and 2017. Also stood for the Welsh Assembly.
Snapshot: Williams opposed Brexit prior to the 2016 referendum. Whilst an MP he sat variously on the Work & Pensions, Scottish Affairs, and Welsh Affairs select committees.
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Laura Farris
Constituency: Newbury
Education: PPE and Oxford, then Gray’s Inn.
Family: Married with two children.
Work: Barrister, specialising in employment and equality law. Former BBC and Reuters journalist.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – stood in Leyton & Wanstead in 2017.
Snapshot: Daughter of Sir Michael McNair-Wilson and niece of Sir Patrick McNair-Wilson, both former Tory MPs. Has written for this site. Sits on the board of the Society of Conservative Lawyers.
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Selaine Saxby
Constituency: North Devon
Education: State school, Read mathematics at Cambridge.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Ran an online retail business for 15 years. Was Chief of Staff to Ben Howlett whilst the latter was MP for Bath. Latterly a teacher.
Councillor: Yes, on North Devon council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: From “a family of teachers” and thus passionate about education. A keen, successful, and award-winning charity fundraiser.
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Richard Fuller
Constituency: North East Bedfordshire
Education: Bedford Modern School, Oxford University and Harvard Business School.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Career in management consultancy that took him all over the world.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – was MP for Bedford between 2010 and 2017 and fought it in 2005.
Snapshot: As a Young Conservative, Fuller joined the Tory Reform Group. A former national chairman of the YCs. Pro-Brexit.
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Gareth Bacon
Constituency: Orpington
Education: Kent University.
Family: Unknown.
Work: His local government role, and a background in financial recruitment.
Councillor: Yes, on Bexley Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Sat on the London Assembly since 2008, and was leader of the Conservative Group from 2015 until 2019.
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Dr Neil Hudson
Constituency: Penrith & The Border
Education: Universities of Cambridge, Syndney, and Edinburgh.
Family: Unknown.
Work: “He is an equine veterinary surgeon and University Senior Lecturer.”
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Is a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Has also performed in the Cambridge Footlights and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
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David Simmonds
Constituency: Ruislip, Northwood & Pinner
Education: Comprehensive school, then Durham University and Birkbeck College, London.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Professional background is in finance.
Councillor: Yes – deputy leader on Hillingdon Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes, has fought two previous election.
Snapshot: Has led the Conservatives at the Local Government Association. Was awarded a CBE in 2015.
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Dr Ben Spencer
Constituency: Runnymede & Weybridge
Education: State grammar school and medical school.
Family: Married with two children.
Work: A psychiatrist who has worked at both King’s College Hospital and Maudsley Hospital.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – contested Camberwell & Peckham in 2017.
Snapshot: In 2013 he was awarded the Advanced Psychiatric Trainee of the Year Award by the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Volunteers at a homelessness charity.
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Ruth Edwards
Constituency: Rushcliffe
Education: Unknown.
Family: Married.
Work: Led strategy and public policy for BT’s cyber security business. Also worked at Policy Exchange and as an expert adviser to the Home Affairs Select Committee on cyber crime.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – stood in Ceredigion in 2017.
Snapshot: “Was recently recognised by industry with a Europe-wide ISG Paragon ‘Woman in Technology’ award for helping more young women into technology careers.”
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Alicia Kearns
Constituency: Rutland & Melton
Education: Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge.
Family: Yes, and a son.
Work: A counter-terrorism expert, has worked for the Foreign Office.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – fought Mitcham & Morden in 2017
Snapshot: “My priorities are to protect our rural way of life, secure the funds we need to deliver exceptional health care, broadband, roads, and social care, and to keep us safe.”
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Laura Trott
Constituency: Sevenoaks
Education: Unknown.
Family: Husband and three children.
Work: Long-term adviser to the Party, then Head of Strategic Communications during David Cameron’s Government. Prior to election was a partner at Portland.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Cameron made her an MBE in his resignation honours list for political and public services. First in her family to go to university.
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Anthony Browne
Constituency: South Cambridgeshire
Education: The Perse School and Cambridge, both on scholarships.
Family: Married.
Work: Was chairman of the UK Government’s Regulatory Policy Committee. Previously head of the British Bankers’ Association and sat on the Boards of the International Banking Federation, the European Banking Federation, and TheCityUK.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Worked for Johnson whilst the latter was Mayor of London. Co-founder of the HomeOwners Alliance, Britain’s only consumer group to help homeowners.
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Katherine Fletcher
Constituency: South Ribble
Education: State school, then Nottingham University.
Family: Unknown.
Work: an SME business owner, manufacturing & exporting wooden products. Previously she worked in management, IT consultancy, business banking operations, and the Credit Union Movement.
Councillor: Town councillor.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – contested Ellesmere Port and Neston in 2015.
Snapshot: First of her family to go to university, worked as a nursing assistant. Qualified safari ranger and mountain biker, loves palaeontology.
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Gagan Mohindra
Constituency: South West Hertfordshire
Education: King’s College, London.
Family: Married to Pam.
Work: Financial services, then the family furniture retail business. Latterly full-time in politics.
Councillor: Yes – on Essex County Council and Epping Forest District Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – stood in North Tyneside in 2015.
Snapshot: He was the county council’s cabinet member for finance, property and housing. Joined the Party in 2003. Likes “watching and playing football and cricket, reading bad fiction and watching bad sci-fi.”
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Theo Clarke
Constituency: Stafford
Education: Unknown.
Family: Unknown.
Work: “Prior to entering parliament, she was founder and CEO of the Coalition for Global Prosperity.”
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – fought Bristol East in 2015 and 2017.
Snapshot: Jacob Rees-Mogg’s niece. “First decided to get involved in campaigning after the election expenses scandal.”
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Suzanne Webb
Constituency: Stourbridge
Education: Unknown.
Family: Unknown.
Work: “Has worked in a senior leadership role for a global logistics provider for 25 years.”
Councillor: Yes – on Birmingham City Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No, but contested the 2019 elections to the European Parliament.
Snapshot: Voted Remain, but now backs leaving the EU and has been described as a “proud Brexiteer”.
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Cherilyn Mackrory
Constituency: Truro & Falmouth
Education: Unknown.
Family: Married, with a daughter.
Work: “Worked as an IT project manager in London, Bristol and overseas.”
Councillor: Yes, on Cornwall Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: Aside from Brexit, her profile overwhelmingly priorities the environment as a personal policy priority including planning, air quality, and marine management.
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David Johnston
Constituency: Wantage
Education: Unknown.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Stood down as Chairman of the Social Mobility Foundation in 2019.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: No.
Snapshot: A former member of Parliament’s Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission. He has also served as a director of Future Academies, an educational charity and multi-academy trust.
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Dean Russell
Constituency: Watford
Education: Undergraduate degree in Physics and Business Studies, MPhil in Physics and Material Science.
Family: Married, with a daughter.
Work: Founder of leadership and pitch consultancy Win That Pitch.
Councillor: No.
Former Parliamentary candidate: Yes – stood in Luton North in 2015 and Luton South in 2017.
Snapshot: Has “become known as a successful polymath with a diverse career spanning from physics to the arts, senior roles advising global brands, CEOs, government and philanthropists through to running his own business.”
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Chris Loder
Constituency: West Dorset
Education: The Gryphon School.
Family: Unknown.
Work: Joined the railways out of school – rose to head of service strategy for the South West and delivered the multi-million-pound upgrade to Waterloo station.
Councillor: Yes – on West Dorset District Council.
Former Parliamentary candidate:
Snapshot: Lived at the family farm, giving his parents hands-on support while pursuing a professional career in London. A Christian, and has also held various voluntary roles.