Leader Michael Howard Majority 15,174 (31.3%) Succeeded by Caroline Spelman Preceded by Antony Buck Party Conservative Party | Preceded by Iain Duncan Smith Role Politician Leader Iain Duncan Smith Name Bernard Jenkin | |
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Preceded by David Davis (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister) Spouse Anne Jenkin, Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (m. 1988) Parents Patrick Jenkin, Baron Jenkin of Roding Education William Ellis School, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge Similar People Anne Jenkin - Baroness, Patrick Jenkin - Baron Je, Oliver Letwin, Jacob Rees‑Mogg, Iain Duncan Smith Profiles | ||
Bernard Jenkin MP: Government "Deliberately Trying To Fog Atmosphere"
Bernard Christison Jenkin (born 9 April 1959) is a British Conservative politician. He has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Harwich and North Essex since the 2010 general election. He was first elected to represent Colchester North in the 1992 general election, and went on to represent North Essex before the current Harwich and North Essex constituency was created.
Contents
- Bernard Jenkin MP Government Deliberately Trying To Fog Atmosphere
- Bbc sunday politics bernard jenkin mp discusses the eu renegotiation
- Early life
- Parliamentary career
- Expenses claims
- Combat Stress
- Personal life
- References
He was elected Chairman of the Public Administration Select Committee in May 2010. He was Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party, and had responsibility for candidates until 7 November 2006 when this role was given to John Maples. Jenkin was sacked from his position over a race row regarding the use of the racial descriptor "coloured", which is widely considered an offensive term within the UK, in referring to British Asian Conservative A-List candidate Ali Miraj.
Bbc sunday politics bernard jenkin mp discusses the eu renegotiation
Early life
Jenkin was born on 9 April 1959 to Patrick Jenkin (later Baron Jenkin of Roding), the life peer and former cabinet minister. He is a male-line descendant of the scientist Fleeming Jenkin. He was educated at Highgate School, William Ellis School (also in Highgate) and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he was awarded a Choral Exhibition and gained an BA honours degree in English literature in 1982. He was President of the Cambridge Union Society in 1982. He worked for Ford and the private equity company 3i as Manager of Legal & General Ventures from 1989–92. From 1992–95, he was an advisor to Legal & General Group plc.
Parliamentary career
Declaring that he wanted to "illustrate that people in the South-East haven't forgotten about Scotland", Jenkin stood for election in Glasgow Central in the 1987 general election. At the 1992 general election he was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Colchester North. When that constituency was abolished for the 1997 general election, he was returned to the House of Commons for the newly-re-established North Essex constituency.
In John Major's 1992–1997 government, Jenkin was one of the "Maastricht Rebels" who defied the party whip to oppose the Maastricht Treaty. William Hague appointed him Shadow Minister for Transport (1998–2001). He has also served as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence (2001–03) under Iain Duncan Smith and as Shadow Regions Secretary (2003–05) for Michael Howard. He has also been Shadow Energy Minister. In the 2010 Parliament Jenkin chaired the Public Affairs Committee.
In January 2014 Jenkin drafted a letter calling for prime minister David Cameron to renegotiate Britain's relationship with the EU to give the House of Commons powers to veto EU legislation, which was ultimately signed by 95 MPs, and reportedly backed by another six. Following the Scottish Independence Referendum and promises made to further devolve powers to Scotland Jenkin called for the creation of an "English First Minister" and for departments responsible for policy that applied only in England to be accountable only to the English MPs
Jenkin, who gained a reputation as a critic of the Coalition government, also led calls to drop the House of Lords Reform Bill 2012. Jenkin voted in favour of same sex marriage in 2013 "as a matter of principle", whilst acknowledging the decision to hold the debate caused much "political unhappiness".
Following the 2015 general election, he was returned unopposed as the chairman of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee.
Expenses claims
In May 2009 Jenkin was reported by The Daily Telegraph to have used £50,000 in expenses to pay his sister-in-law rent on the property he uses as his constituency home. Jenkin claimed that he was just paying "an honest and reasonable rent" for the property. On 27 October 2009, it was initially recommended that Bernard Jenkin pay back £63,250 by expenses auditor Sir Thomas Legg. This is the highest amount known to have been recommended after an audit of MPs' claims on second homes expenses. This amount was reduced to £36,250 following an appeal.
Combat Stress
Jenkin is the Vice-President of the UK charity Combat Stress, which offers residential treatment to ex-servicemen and women suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. To mark his 50th birthday, he held a fundraising event in March 2009 which raised over £50,000 for the charity.
Personal life
Jenkin married Anne Caroline Strutt in 1988 and has two sons. He is the UK parliament's best known naturist. He is a long-time acquaintance of screenwriter Richard Curtis, who typically includes a character named 'Bernard' in everything he writes.