Edward Timpson

Edward Timpson
CBE
Minister of State for Children and Families
In office
12 May 2015 – 9 June 2017
Prime Minister David Cameron
Theresa May
Sec. of State Nicky Morgan
Justine Greening
Preceded by Sarah Teather
Succeeded by Robert Goodwill
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families
In office
4 September 2012 – 12 May 2015
Prime Minister David Cameron
Preceded by Tim Loughton
Succeeded by Sam Gyimah (Childcare and Education)
Member of Parliament
for Crewe and Nantwich
In office
22 May 2008 – 9 June 2017
Preceded by Gwyneth Dunwoody
Succeeded by Laura Smith
Personal details
Born (1973-12-26) 26 December 1973
Knutsford, Cheshire, England
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Julia Timpson
Children Three[1]
Parents John Timpson
Alex Timpson
Alma mater Durham University
Website www.edwardtimpsonmp.com

Anthony Edward Timpson, CBE (born 26 December 1973) is a British Conservative Party politician. He was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Crewe and Nantwich at a 2008 by-election, but lost his seat at the 2017 general election to the Labour candidate, Laura Smith, by 48 votes.

Timpson was Minister of State for Children and Families after the 2015 general election, being promoted from Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Education.

Early life

Timpson was born in Knutsford, Cheshire, in 1973.[2] His father, John, is the CEO and owner of the Timpson chain of shoe repair and key-cutting shops, which has been in the family for five generations and has over 550 stores in the UK and Ireland. Timpson grew up with a brother, sister and over 80 children fostered by his parents.[3][4]

He was educated at Uppingham School and Durham University (Hatfield College), where he studied politics before converting to law. He became a barrister in 1998. From 1999, he has practised in Chester as a family law barrister.[5]

Parliamentary career

First years in the Commons

In July 2007, Timpson was selected as the Conservative candidate for the Crewe and Nantwich constituency,[6] an area which had been represented by the Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody since 1974. After Dunwoody died in April 2008, a by-election was called for May 2008. In the run up to the by-election, Timpson was the target of a "toff" campaign by Labour, trying to paint him as "a rich man" who would not "understand the problems that people face day-to-day" in contrast to their candidate, Gwyneth Dunwoody's daughter Tamsin Dunwoody.[7] The Conservative campaign focused on local issues, such as crime and antisocial behaviour, closure of post offices and problems at Leighton Hospital, where two women in labour were turned away, as well as national issues - referring to Dunwoody as "Gordon Brown's candidate" and capitalising on dissatisfaction with the Labour government, in particular the removal of the 10p tax rate.[8]

On 22 May 2008, Timpson was elected MP, gaining 20,539 votes (49% of the vote), a swing from Labour of 17.6%.[9][10] This was the Conservatives' first gain in a by-election since 1982. He made his maiden speech in the House of Commons on 16 June 2008.[11] Timpson served on the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee. He is a Vice-President of Conservative Friends of Poland.[12]

Since 2010

Following his re-election on 7 May 2010, Timpson was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary of Theresa May, the Home Secretary. In September 2012, he was appointed as a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families at the Department for Education.

Timpson was named "Minister of the Year" in 2014 for pushing through reforms increasing the age of leaving foster care from 18 to 21, an initiative he had originally championed as a backbench committee chair.[13] Timpson credited his childhood experiences of living with a large family of fostered children.

Edward Timpson was re-elected on 8 May 2015 for the constituency of Crewe and Nantwich. It was announced by David Cameron on 11 May 2015 that Edward Timpson would become Minister of State for Children and Families at Department for Education.

Edward Timpson voted for Remain in the 2016 EU membership referendum.[14]

He lost his seat at the 2017 general election by 48 votes after three recounts.[15]

Personal life

In June 2002, Timpson married Julia Still in south Cheshire. Since then he has lived in Cheshire, 13 miles from Crewe, with his wife and three children (including a son born February 2004 and a daughter born November 2005).

Timpson has completed six marathons, including the New York marathon in 2007 and the London Marathon in 2008, raising over £4,500.[16] Outside politics Timpson is a fan of football, both watching and playing.

Notes and references

  1. ↑ http://www.edwardtimpson.com/text.aspx?id=11
  2. ↑ "Edward Timpson" in "Dod's Parliamentary Companion, 2009", Vacher Dod Publishing, 2008.
  3. ↑ The Times 8-May-08 Top hats and tails come out as Tory candidate says ‘I’m no Tarporley toff’
  4. ↑ "Labour's 'toff' campaign defended". BBC News. 2008-05-19.
  5. ↑ "Profile at Nicholas Street Chambers".
  6. ↑ "Edward Timpson adopted for Crewe and Nantwich". Conservative Home. 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  7. ↑ "Labour's 'toff' campaign defended". BBC News. 2008-05-19. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  8. ↑ Carter, Helen (2008-05-05). "Tories train their sights on Crewe". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  9. ↑ The Daily Telegraph Crewe and Nantwich by-election: Rampant Tories crush Labour 23 May-2008
  10. ↑ "Tories snatch Crewe from Labour". BBC News. 23 May 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
  11. ↑ "Edward Timpson makes his debut". Daily Telegraph. London. 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  12. ↑ Conservative Friends of Poland website Archived 3 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ Rustin, Susanna (29 March 2014). "Edward Timpson: 'I wouldn't be children's minister if my parents hadn't fostered'". Guardian. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "EU Vote where cabinet and other MPs stand". The BBC. London. 2016-06-22. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
  15. ↑ Ryan, Belinda (2017-06-09). "Labour's Laura Smith wins Crewe and Nantwich seat after three recounts". crewechronicle. Retrieved 2017-11-20.
  16. ↑ Edward's marathon effort will aid families in need Crewe Guardian
Political offices
Preceded by
Tim Loughton		 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families
2012–2015		 Succeeded by
Sam Gyimah
as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Childcare and Education
Preceded by
Sarah Teather		 Minister for Children and Families
2015-		 Incumbent
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Gwyneth Dunwoody		 Member of Parliament for Crewe and Nantwich
2008–2017		 Succeeded by
Laura Smith
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