Steve Brine

Early life

Brine was educated at Bohunt School, Highbury College and Liverpool Hope University where he read History. He served a sabbatical year as President of the Students' Union. While in Liverpool he created a new company called Liverpool Student Media. In his youth, Brine also joined Friends of the Earth, which he cited as one of the reasons which drove him into politics.

Professional career

Brine worked as a radio journalist, and when 18 years old was one of the BBC's youngest reporters and producers on BBC Local Radio, before working with BBC Radio Surrey and BBC Southern Counties Radio as well as contributing as a freelance reporter to Radio Five Live. Brine also spent a year working in Chicago with the Tribune Media Group's WGN Radio. He also worked as a business development consultant, and for a golf marketing and publishing business.

Political career

Brine assisted Conservative Central Office when William Hague was leader of the party and again during the 2005–10 Parliament when he worked with Conservative MPs and Parliamentary Candidates across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Formerly the party's area campaign director for Hampshire, Steve was selected in November 2006 for Winchester, where he has served a deputy chairman (political) of the local Conservative association.

On 5 February 2013, Brine opposed the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill, which aimed to introduce same-sex marriage in England and Wales, asking a question of Rt Hon Tim Loughton positing that the progressive outcome would be to meet the perception that "civil partnerships are somehow not enough...without redefining marriage and mortally offending so many of my—and I am sure his—constituents?".

Speaking to a local newspaper about his vote, Brine said: “"This was a free vote as matters of conscience traditionally are. As I said in Parliament, if there is a feeling out there that civil partnerships, which I strongly support, are now somehow not enough the coalition should have produced a green paper to explore options for change. That could have been done in a collegiate way instead of a non-consultation last year leading to a rushed Bill that has horribly divided the entire country and the Government.

"That said, I have received more contact from constituents on this, mostly opposed to the Bill for what it's worth, than any other subject in almost three years and many said to me the coalition should not be spending any time on this and has no mandate for such a major constitutional change. I will be following the Bill extremely closely as it moves into committee."

In 2013, Brine was made a PPS (Parliamentary Private Secretary) to Mike Penning, Minister of State at the Department for Work & Pensions and Minister for Disabled People. As a result, he worked closely with colleagues including Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative) and Steve Webb (Liberal Democrat) as the coalition government sought to tackle many problems with welfare and pensions issues.

In July 2014, Brine followed Mr Penning to a new Government role, within the Home Office and Ministry of Justice. This followed a number of years spent on the House of Commons Justice Select Committee, chaired by veteran Liberal Democrat MP Sir Alan Beith, where much of Mr Brine's work was centred on rehabilitation. As part of this, Brine took part in a Reducing Reoffending conference which was held in Winchester in early 2014

Steve Brine was re-adopted by the Winchester Conservatives to contest the seat at the General Election held on 7 May 2015 and was re-elected with a majority of almost 17,000.

In May 2015, Brine was made Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health.

Brine was opposed to "Brexit" prior to the 2016 referendum on the UK's membership of the EU. After the change of Prime Minister in July 2016, Steve became a Minister after being appointed by Theresa May as an Assistant Government Whip.

Following the 2017 General Election he was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health with special responsibility for public health and GPs.

Voting in House of Commons

Steve Brine's voting history can be viewed online, as can his speeches. He has attended 92% of voting divisions.

Brine, unlike the vast majority of his conservative colleagues, voted against investigation into the UK's involvement in the Iraq War in November 2016. He has voted twice against equal gay rights, including same sex marriage. He voted against allowing terminally ill people to be allowed to have assisted suicide. He has previously voted in support of airstrikes against ISIL in Syria and continued deployment in Afghanistan.

He voted to allow Theresa May to trigger Article 50 and since 7 December 2016 has voted against continued membership of the EU. The Winchester constituency voted "remain" by a majority of around 8.9%. He almost always supported policies in the 2010 Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition Agreement.

Personal life

Brine is a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur, his sports include skiing, tennis, golf and boules and enjoys live music such as at The Glastonbury Festival. Brine is married with two children, and has a dog, Popcorn.