Gareth Johnson

Gareth Johnson
MP
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
Assumed office
27 June 2017
Prime Minister Theresa May
Preceded by Stewart Jackson
Member of Parliament
for Dartford
Assumed office
6 May 2010
Preceded by Howard Stoate
Majority 13,186 (24.4%)
Personal details
Born (1969-10-12) 12 October 1969
Bromley, London, England[1]
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s)
Wendy Morris (m. 1997)
Children 2
Residence Hartley, Kent
Alma mater The College of Law[1]
Profession Solicitor
Website www.garethjohnsonmp.co.uk

Gareth Alan Johnson (born 12 October 1969)[2][3] is a British Conservative Party politician and former lawyer. He was first elected at the 2010 general election as Member of Parliament (MP) for Dartford, winning the seat from Labour. He has been supportive of Leave Means Leave, a Eurosceptic pressure group.[4]

Early life and career

Johnson was born in Bromley in London on the 12 October 1969. The son of a milkman, Johnson attended Dartford Grammar School.[5] Before entering politics, Johnson worked in the Magistrates Court Service and as a solicitor in Dartford. He was previously on the Board of Governors for Dartford Grammar School for Girls.

Political career

Johnson stood unsuccessfully as the Conservative candidate in the Danson ward of the London Borough of Bexley in 1994, before being elected in the Christchurch Ward in 1998. He served one term of four years and did not stand for re-election in 2002.[6] He served as Constituency chairman for the Conservative Party in Bexley.[7]

In 2001, Johnson unsuccessfully stood as the Conservative Party candidate for the Labour held seat of Lewisham West in London, where he suffered a swing of 1.5% against his party in the 2001 general election. Johnson was unsuccessful again when he stood in Dartford at the 2005 general election, but achieved a swing in his favour of 0.5%. However, at the 2010 general election Johnson was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Dartford, winning the seat from Labour. He won the seat with a 10,628 majority.

Johnson stated during an interview at a local school that he believes firmly that students should have to pay £9,000 a year and is quoted as saying "why should a plumber pay for a doctor to go to university."

In the 2014 reshuffle he became PPS to David Gauke, newly promoted Financial Secretary to the Treasury.[8]

In the 2015 general election, Johnson retained his seat and increased his majority to 12,345.[9] Following the election, Johnson was made PPS to Matthew Hancock, Paymaster General of the Cabinet Office.[10][11]

Johnson is the current chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Dominican Republic.[12][13] Johnson has previously served as the vice-chairman of both the Retail APPG[14] and the British Sikhs APPG.[15] Johnson has also previously been a member of both the Child and Youth Crime APPG[16] and the BBC APPG.[17]

In January 2016, Johnson led a Westminster Hall debate on congestion at the Dartford Crossing.[18][19]

Johnson has previously served on the Justice Select Committee, the Human Rights (Joint Committee) and the Science and Technology Select Committee.[20][11] Since the 27 June 2017, he has served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union.[21]

He was re-elected at the 2017 general election, with an increased majority of 13,186.

Personal life

Johnson lives in the village of Hartley with his wife Wendy[22] and their two children.

Johnson employs his wife as a part-time Parliamentary Assistant on a salary up to £25,000.[23] He was listed in an article in the Daily Telegraph criticising the practice of MPs employing family members, on the lines that it promotes nepotism.[24] Although MPs who were first elected in 2017 have been banned from employing family members, the restriction is not retrospective - meaning that Johnson's employment of his wife is lawful.[25]

References

  1. 1 2 "Johnson, Gareth Alan, (born 12 Oct.1969), MP (C) Dartford, since 2010". Who's Who. 2018. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.251404.
  2. ↑ "No. 59418". The London Gazette. 13 May 2010. p. 8736.
  3. ↑ "Gareth Johnson MP". BBC Democracy Live. BBC. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  4. ↑ "Co-Chairmen - Political Advisory Board - Supporters". Leave Means Leave.
  5. ↑ "ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog: Diary of a PPC: Gareth Johnson (Dartford)". conservativehome.blogs.com. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  6. ↑ "Bexley Council Election Results 1964-2010" (PDF). Plymouth University. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  8. ↑ "Reshuffle (continued): The full list of every PPS". Conservativehome.com. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  9. ↑ "Dartford parliamentary constituency – Election 2015 – BBC News". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "Complete Government PPS List". Guido Fawkes. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  11. 1 2 "About Gareth - Gareth Johnson - Member of Parliament". www.garethjohnsondartford.co.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  12. ↑ https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/151223/register-151223.pdf p.41
  13. ↑ Commons, The Committee Office, House of. "House of Commons - Register Of All-Party Groups as at 30 July 2015 : Dominican Republic". www.publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  14. ↑ http://www.parliament.uk/documents/pcfs/all-party-groups/app-register-30-march-2015.pdf p.509
  15. ↑ http://www.parliament.uk/documents/pcfs/all-party-groups/app-register-30-march-2015.pdf p.535
  16. ↑ http://www.parliament.uk/documents/pcfs/all-party-groups/app-register-30-march-2015.pdf p.215
  17. ↑ https://meagenda.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/appg-register-at-july-2010.pdf p.120
  18. ↑ Westminster, Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons,. "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 13 Jan 2016 (pt 0002)". www.publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  19. ↑ "Parliamentlive.tv". parliamentlive.tv. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  20. ↑ "Gareth Johnson MP appointed to Science and Technology Select Committee - Gareth Johnson - Member of Parliament". www.garethjohnsondartford.co.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  21. ↑ "Gareth Johnson MP". GOV.UK. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  22. ↑ "House of Commons – The Register of Members' Financial Interests – Part 2: Part 2". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  23. ↑ "IPSA". GOV.UK. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  24. ↑ "One in five MPs employs a family member: the full list revealed". \Daily Telegraph. 2015-06-29. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  25. ↑ "MPs banned from employing spouses after election in expenses crackdown". London Evening Standard. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Howard Stoate		 Member of Parliament for Dartford
2010–present		 Incumbent
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