Graham Stuart (politician)

Education

Graham Stuart was born in Carlisle, Cumbria, and studied at Glenalmond College, an independent school in Perthshire, followed by Selwyn College, Cambridge from 1982 to 1985, where he read Philosophy and Law but failed his degree, after focusing his efforts on developing his "What's on in Cambridge" guide into a profitable business and remains non-executive chairman of the company.

He was Chairman of the Cambridge University Conservative Association during Easter 1985.

Early political career in Cambridge

He was elected as a member of Cambridge City Council for the Cherry Hinton Ward in the 1998 local elections. He contested the Cambridge constituency as the Conservative Party candidate at the 2001 general election, coming in third place with 9,829 votes, 23% of the share. He was re-elected to Cambridge City Council in the 2002 local elections and served until 2004.

Parliamentary career

Stuart was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament (MP) for Beverley and Holderness in the 2005 general election with a majority of 2,580. Following his election, he said "I plan to be upfront and have a high profile, not only within the constituency but nationally". He sat as a member of two select committees; the Environmental Audit Select Committee and the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee. He was elected a member of the Conservative Party Board by his fellow MPs in 2006. He was elected as chair of the Education Select Committee in June 2010.

In 2005, he founded Beverley and Holderness Pensioners Action Group, Community Hospitals Acting Nationally Together (CHANT), a cross-party campaign group and Hull and Holderness Opposing the Incinerator (HOTI Group). He is vice-chairman of the GLOBE UK branch of Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment. Following the Parliamentary expenses scandal, Stuart defended his expenses in June 2009, which included spending £426 on bed linen and towels.

His successful campaigns in the 2005–10 Parliament included the defeat of legislation on home education and saving the Beverley Pasture Masters. In the following parliament, he was involved in the successful campaign for lower Humber Bridge tolls, and successfully persuaded the government to improve the A164 and construct the Beverley Bypass. In 2012, he defeated a proposed increase in VAT on static caravans, which are largely manufactured in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

In an interview with the journalist Peter Wilby for The Guardian, Stuart described himself as socially liberal, a "deficit hawk" who favours faster cuts to public spending, and an end to welfare dependency.

Chair of Education Schools and Families Select Committee

In June 2010, Stuart was elected by MPs as Chair of the Education Select Committee. Despite being a Conservative MP, Stuart frequently disagreed with the Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove. His Committee produces up to six reports a year ranging from single evidence inquiries to more detailed examinations into Education, Schools and Family policy.

Support for EU membership

On 27 February 2016, Stuart announced his support for Britain continuing to be a member of the European Union: "There has been a whole diet of negative media coverage about the EU but not a great deal recognising the benefits."

Support for Fox Hunting

Stuart supports repealing the 2004 Hunting Act to bring back fox hunting "I've always said I would vote to reverse the ban".