Stephen Kerr

Stephen Charles Kerr[1] (born 26 September 1960) is a Scottish Conservative Party politician who was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Stirling[2] at the 2017 general election.[3] He was unseated by Alyn Smith in the 2019 United Kingdom general election.

For Scottish footballer, see Steven Kerr. For American basketball coach, see Steve Kerr.

Stephen Kerr
Official Parliamentary portrait, June 2017
Member of Parliament
for Stirling
In office
9 June 2017 – 6 November 2019
Preceded bySteven Paterson
Succeeded byAlyn Smith
Personal details
Born
Stephen Charles Kerr

(1960-09-26) 26 September 1960
Dundee, Scotland, UK
Political partyConservative
Spouse(s)Yvonne Kerr
Alma materUniversity of Stirling

Kerr was born in Dundee in 1960[4] and has lived in the Stirling area since 1982.[5] He attended the University of Stirling[5] and worked for Kimberly Clark before his election to Parliament.[6] Kerr was the Conservative Party candidate in Stirling at both the 2005 and 2015 general elections; where he lost to Labour the first time, and the SNP the second time[7] before he eventually gained the seat in 2017 with a narrow majority of 148 votes (0.3%) over Steven Paterson of the Scottish National Party.[8]

Kerr is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has served in a number of positions in the church, including as an area seventy from 2006[9] to 2013.[10] Among other assignments while an area seventy, Kerr was president of the Church's first pageant done in Britain.[11]

Member of Parliament for Stirling

Kerr signed a letter to the Prime Minister on 16 February 2018, making suggestions about the way Britain should leave the European Union.[12]

Kerr founded the APPG for Professional Sales as Chairman, in June 2018. It published a report into the sales capabilities of SMEs in October 2019, making 24 recommendations on how to help SMEs to improve their sales capabilities. The launch event was keynoted by Kelly Tolhurst, Small Businesses Minister.

In July 2018, Kerr unveiled replicas of the John Allan Stones at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum. The stones were originally placed on Albany Crescent, a now-demolished row of houses near the Stirling City Centre. Although the original stones were taken to the United States by David O. McKay, who had seen them while serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, following the houses being knocked down, they remained a part of Stirling's history through their association with Stirling architect John Allan.

The motto "What e're thou art, act well thy part" inscribed on the stones inspired McKay to continue his work as a missionary, and as such became known across the Church for their inspiring qualities. The originals can still be found in the church's Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah.[13]

The replica stones were carved by Doune Stonemasons James Innes and Son.[14]

Personal life

Kerr was born in Dundee in 1960 and was raised on a council estate in Forfar, Angus. He attended a local primary school and later, Forfar Academy. He left school at 16 to work as a bank junior. After returning from serving as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in London, he graduated from the University of Stirling with an honours degree in business. Kerr's career has largely been spent working in business, mainly in sales and marketing. His role immediately prior to his election involved heading the sales teams for Kimberly Clark in the UK, Ireland and France. He and his wife, Yvonne, were married in 1983 and they are the parents of four children. They have lived in Bridge of Allan since the 1980s.[15]

References
  1. "No. 27885". The Edinburgh Gazette. 19 June 2017. p. 1077.
  2. "Stephen Kerr MP". UK Parliament.
  3. "EXCLUSIVE: Stephen Kerr reflects on victory in shock general election | Brig Newspaper". Brignews.com. 25 April 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  4. "Kerr, Stephen". Who's Who. 2018 (February 2018 online ed.). A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. Retrieved 13 February 2018. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
  5. "About Stephen". Kerr For Stirling 2017. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  6. "Stephen Kerr Linked In Page".
  7. "Stirling parliamentary constituency - Election 2017". BBC News. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  8. McCurdy, Rebecca (9 June 2017). "EXCLUSIVE: Stephen Kerr reflects on victory in shock general election". Brig Newspaper. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  9. "The newly called are sustained". 2 April 2006.
  10. "New General Authority Callings and Releases Announced". 6 April 2013.
  11. "UK to host 'once in a lifetime' LDS pageant - KSL.com".
  12. Asthana, Anushka (20 February 2018). "Tory MPs' hard Brexit letter to May described as ransom note". the Guardian.
  13. http://www.stirlingarchives.scot/2016/09/13/john-allan-architect-stirling-buildings-1893-1911/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. "Revealing the John Allan stones". Stephen Kerr.
  15. "About Stephen Kerr". Stephen Kerr.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Steven Paterson		 Member of Parliament for Stirling
2017–2019		 Succeeded by
Alyn Smith
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