Margot James: Difference between revisions

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James had resigned from the Conservative Party after [[Margaret Thatcher]] was ousted as Prime Minister. She rejoined the Conservative Party early in 2003.<ref name="LonStan1"/>
James had resigned from the Conservative Party after [[Margaret Thatcher]] was ousted as Prime Minister. She rejoined the Conservative Party early in 2003.<ref name="LonStan1"/>


At the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|May 2005 general election]], she was the Conservative [[prospective parliamentary candidate|candidate]] for the [[Holborn and St. Pancras (UK Parliament constituency)|Holborn and St. Pancras constituency]]; James was the first ever openly lesbian Conservative candidate to stand in a British general election.<ref name="LonStan1">{{cite news| last = Saner | first = Emine |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-9473424-details/I+can%27t+be+%27outed%27/article.do|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505124250/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-9473424-details/I+can't+be+'outed'/article.do|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2013|title=I can't be 'outed'|work=[[London Evening Standard]]|date=4 March 2004|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> She came third behind the sitting MP, [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]'s [[Frank Dobson]], and the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] candidate Jill Fraser.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/vote2005/html/323.stm|title=BBC NEWS {{!}} Election 2005 {{!}} Results {{!}} Holborn & St Pancras|date=6 May 2005|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref>
At the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|May 2005 general election]], she was the Conservative [[prospective parliamentary candidate|candidate]] for the [[Holborn and St. Pancras (UK Parliament constituency)|Holborn and St. Pancras constituency]]; James was the first ever openly lesbian Conservative candidate to stand in a British general election.<ref name="LonStan1">{{cite news| last = Saner | first = Emine |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-9473424-details/I+can%27t+be+%27outed%27/article.do|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505124250/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-9473424-details/I+can't+be+'outed'/article.do|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 May 2013|title=I can't be 'outed'|work=[[London Evening Standard]]|date=4 March 2004|access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> She came third behind the sitting MP, [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]'s [[Frank Dobson]], and the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] candidate Jill Fraser.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/vote2005/html/323.stm|title=BBC NEWS {{!}} Election 2005 {{!}} Results {{!}} Holborn & St Pancras|date=6 May 2005|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref>


In May 2006, James was elected a local councillor for the [[Brompton, London|Brompton]] ward of [[Kensington & Chelsea Borough Council|Kensington & Chelsea]],<ref name="rbkc060504">{{cite web |url=http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/councilanddemocracy/localdemocracyandelections/electionresultsarchive/localelectionsmay2006/brompton.aspx |title=Brompton ward: local election results |publisher=Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea |date=4 May 2006 |access-date=21 November 2012 |archive-date=25 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225064820/https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/councilanddemocracy/localdemocracyandelections/electionresultsarchive/localelectionsmay2006/brompton.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> becoming one of the Conservative Party's few "out" lesbian office holders.<ref name="Hoggard">{{cite news | last = Hoggard | first = Liz | title = Cameron's girl| url = https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jan/22/interviews.conservatives | work = The Guardian | date = 22 January 2006 | access-date = 29 June 2013}}</ref> She resigned from the council in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/2008/03/forthcoming-byelections-42/|title=Forthcoming byelections {{!}} LocalCouncils.co.uk|last=Boothroyd|first=David|date=31 March 2008|website=www.localcouncils.co.uk|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref>
In May 2006, James was elected a local councillor for the [[Brompton, London|Brompton]] ward of [[Kensington & Chelsea Borough Council|Kensington & Chelsea]],<ref name="rbkc060504">{{cite web |url=http://www.rbkc.gov.uk/councilanddemocracy/localdemocracyandelections/electionresultsarchive/localelectionsmay2006/brompton.aspx |title=Brompton ward: local election results |publisher=Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea |date=4 May 2006 |access-date=21 November 2012 |archive-date=25 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225064820/https://www.rbkc.gov.uk/councilanddemocracy/localdemocracyandelections/electionresultsarchive/localelectionsmay2006/brompton.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> becoming one of the Conservative Party's few "out" lesbian office holders.<ref name="Hoggard">{{cite news | last = Hoggard | first = Liz | title = Cameron's girl| url = https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jan/22/interviews.conservatives | work = The Guardian | date = 22 January 2006 | access-date = 29 June 2013}}</ref> She resigned from the council in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/2008/03/forthcoming-byelections-42/|title=Forthcoming byelections {{!}} LocalCouncils.co.uk|last=Boothroyd|first=David|date=31 March 2008|website=www.localcouncils.co.uk|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref>


James was placed on the "[[A List (Conservative)|A-List]]" of Conservative Party parliamentary candidates ahead of the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]],<ref>{{cite web | title = Who is on the A-list? | url = http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2006/05/as_promised_thi.html | publisher = ConservativeHome | date = May 2006 | access-date = 2 July 2009}}</ref> and was selected as the candidate for the [[Marginal seat|marginal]] Labour-held constituency of [[Stourbridge (UK Parliament constituency)|Stourbridge]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/politics_show/8385220.stm|title=Election spending row breaks out in Stourbridge|date=29 November 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=1 October 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref> from where she was elected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/e51.stm|title=BBC News {{!}} Election 2010 {{!}} Constituency {{!}} Stourbridge|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref> This made her the first openly lesbian MP in the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/05/07/margot-james-becomes-the-second-out-lesbian-in-parliament/|title=Margot James becomes the second out lesbian in parliament|last=Staff writer|date=7 May 2010|work=Pink News|access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref> second "out" lesbian in the House of Commons, after [[Angela Eagle]], and the first to have come out before her election.<ref name="Hoggard"/> In her maiden speech she paid tribute to Stourbridge's history of glass making.<ref>{{cite hansard|house=[[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2010-06-07/debates/1006079000001/ConstitutionAndHomeAffairs#contribution-10060714000055 |date=7 June 2010 |column_start=60|column_end=62 |title= Constitution and Home Affairs|speaker=Margot James |position=[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] for [[Stourbridge (UK Parliament constituency)|Stourbridge]]}}</ref>
James was placed on the "[[A List (Conservative)|A-List]]" of Conservative Party parliamentary candidates ahead of the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]],<ref>{{cite web | title = Who is on the A-list? | url = http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2006/05/as_promised_thi.html | publisher = ConservativeHome | date = May 2006 | access-date = 2 July 2009}}</ref> and was selected as the candidate for the [[Marginal seat|marginal]] Labour-held constituency of [[Stourbridge (UK Parliament constituency)|Stourbridge]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/politics_show/8385220.stm|title=Election spending row breaks out in Stourbridge|date=29 November 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=1 October 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref> from where she was elected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/e51.stm|title=BBC News {{!}} Election 2010 {{!}} Constituency {{!}} Stourbridge|website=news.bbc.co.uk|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref> This made her the first openly lesbian MP in the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/05/07/margot-james-becomes-the-second-out-lesbian-in-parliament/|title=Margot James becomes the second out lesbian in parliament|last=Staff writer|date=7 May 2010|work=Pink News|access-date=29 June 2013}}</ref> second "out" lesbian in the House of Commons, after [[Angela Eagle]], and the first to have come out before her election.<ref name="Hoggard"/> In her maiden speech she paid tribute to Stourbridge's history of glass making.<ref>{{cite hansard|house=[[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2010-06-07/debates/1006079000001/ConstitutionAndHomeAffairs#contribution-10060714000055 |date=7 June 2010 |column_start=60|column_end=62 |title= Constitution and Home Affairs|speaker=Margot James |position=[[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] for [[Stourbridge (UK Parliament constituency)|Stourbridge]]}}</ref>


She was the [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to [[Stephen Green, Baron Green of Hurstpierpoint]], during his period as [[UK Trade & Investment|Minister for Trade and Investment]] from 2011 to 2013.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2016/jul/29/margot-james-mp-appointed-minister-small-business-owner|title=Margot James appointed as minister for small business|last=Featherstone|first=Emma|date=29 July 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=1 October 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> From 2014 to 2015, James served as [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to William Hague, the then Leader of the House of Commons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/ministers-reflect/margot-james|title=Interview: Margot James|website=Institute for Government|date=8 January 2021 |access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref>
She was the [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to [[Stephen Green, Baron Green of Hurstpierpoint]], during his period as [[UK Trade & Investment|Minister for Trade and Investment]] from 2011 to 2013.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2016/jul/29/margot-james-mp-appointed-minister-small-business-owner|title=Margot James appointed as minister for small business|last=Featherstone|first=Emma|date=29 July 2016|work=The Guardian|access-date=1 October 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> From 2014 to 2015, James served as [[Parliamentary Private Secretary]] to William Hague, the then Leader of the House of Commons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/ministers-reflect/margot-james|title=Interview: Margot James|website=Institute for Government|date=8 January 2021 |access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref>
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In January 2016, the Labour Party unsuccessfully proposed an amendment in Parliament that would have required private landlords to make their homes "fit for human habitation".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm160112/debtext/160112-0003.htm#16011280001195|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 12 Jan 2016|date=12 January 2016|website=publications.parliament.uk|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref> According to Parliament's register of interests, James was one of 72 Conservative MPs who voted against the amendment who personally derived an income from renting out property.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/151214/151214.pdf|title=Register of Members' Financial Interests as at 14 December 2015|website=Parliament Publications|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://propertyindustryeye.com/tory-mp-landlords-vote-down-proposal-to-outlaw-unfit-homes/|title=Tory MP landlords named after voting down proposal to outlaw unfit homes|last=Renshaw|first=Rosalind|date=15 January 2016|website=Property Industry Eye|language=en-US|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref> The Conservative Government had responded to the amendment that they believed homes should be fit for human habitation but did not want to pass the new law that would explicitly require it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tories-vote-down-law-requiring-landlords-make-their-homes-fit-for-human-habitation-a6809691.html|title=Tories vote down law requiring landlords make their homes fit for human habitation|first=Jon|last=Stone|newspaper=The Independent|date=13 January 2016 |access-date=1 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://fullfact.org/economy/did-mps-vote-against-homes-having-be-made-fit-live-in/|title=Did MPs vote against forcing homes to be made fit to live in?|work=Full Fact|access-date=14 September 2018}}</ref>
In January 2016, the Labour Party unsuccessfully proposed an amendment in Parliament that would have required private landlords to make their homes "fit for human habitation".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm160112/debtext/160112-0003.htm#16011280001195|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 12 Jan 2016|date=12 January 2016|website=publications.parliament.uk|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref> According to Parliament's register of interests, James was one of 72 Conservative MPs who voted against the amendment who personally derived an income from renting out property.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/151214/151214.pdf|title=Register of Members' Financial Interests as at 14 December 2015|website=Parliament Publications|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://propertyindustryeye.com/tory-mp-landlords-vote-down-proposal-to-outlaw-unfit-homes/|title=Tory MP landlords named after voting down proposal to outlaw unfit homes|last=Renshaw|first=Rosalind|date=15 January 2016|website=Property Industry Eye|language=en-US|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref> The Conservative Government had responded to the amendment that they believed homes should be fit for human habitation but did not want to pass the new law that would explicitly require it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tories-vote-down-law-requiring-landlords-make-their-homes-fit-for-human-habitation-a6809691.html|title=Tories vote down law requiring landlords make their homes fit for human habitation|first=Jon|last=Stone|newspaper=The Independent|date=13 January 2016 |access-date=1 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://fullfact.org/economy/did-mps-vote-against-homes-having-be-made-fit-live-in/|title=Did MPs vote against forcing homes to be made fit to live in?|work=Full Fact|access-date=14 September 2018}}</ref>


James was opposed to leaving the European Union prior to the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 referendum]].<ref name="thespectatorwhichtorympsbackbrexit">{{cite news|last1=Goodenough|first1=Tom|title=Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?|url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/|access-date=11 October 2016|work=The Spectator|date=16 February 2016}}</ref>
James was opposed to leaving the European Union prior to the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 referendum]].<ref name="thespectatorwhichtorympsbackbrexit">{{cite news|last1=Goodenough|first1=Tom|title=Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?|url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/|access-date=11 October 2016|work=The Spectator|date=16 February 2016|archive-date=22 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022111657/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/|url-status=dead}}</ref>


James was made [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility]] at the [[Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy]] by [[Theresa May]], in her [[First May ministry|first ministry]] in July 2016.
James was made [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility]] at the [[Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy]] by [[Theresa May]], in her [[First May ministry|first ministry]] in July 2016.
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==Other activities==
==Other activities==
James served on the board of [[Parkside, Cambridge|Parkside]] [[NHS Trust]], and worked as a Mental Health Manager.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/question_time/8148110.stm|title=Question Time: This week's panel|date=15 July 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=1 October 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref> She spent ten years as a trustee of [[ABANTU]], an African women's charity, during which time she trained women from more than 40 different African countries in communications and lobbying skills.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pharmafile.com/news/margot-james-tories-nudge-change-nhs|title=Margot James: Tories to 'nudge' change in NHS|date=5 July 2010|website=www.pharmafile.com|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref> She has also worked as a mentor for [[The Prince's Trust]] and [[Young Enterprise]].<ref name="Margot"/> She sits on the Court of Governors at LSE.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/Secretarys-Division/Archive/Governance/Court-of-Governors|title=Court of Governors|website=info.lse.ac.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001181415/https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/Secretarys-Division/Archive/Governance/Court-of-Governors|archive-date=1 October 2019|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref>
James served on the board of [[Parkside, Cambridge|Parkside]] [[NHS Trust]], and worked as a Mental Health Manager.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/question_time/8148110.stm|title=Question Time: This week's panel|date=15 July 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=1 October 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref> She spent ten years as a trustee of [[ABANTU]], an African women's charity, during which time she trained women from more than 40 different African countries in communications and lobbying skills.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pharmafile.com/news/margot-james-tories-nudge-change-nhs|title=Margot James: Tories to 'nudge' change in NHS|date=5 July 2010|website=www.pharmafile.com|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref> She has also worked as a mentor for [[The Prince's Trust]] and [[Young Enterprise]].<ref name="Margot"/> She sits on the Court of Governors at LSE.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/Secretarys-Division/Archive/Governance/Court-of-Governors|title=Court of Governors|website=info.lse.ac.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001181415/https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/Secretarys-Division/Archive/Governance/Court-of-Governors|archive-date=1 October 2019|access-date=1 October 2019}}</ref>


She is a vice-president of the Debating Group.<ref name="Debating Group website">{{cite web |url=http://debatinggroup.org.uk |title=Debating Group |publisher=Debating Group |access-date=5 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405041029/http://debatinggroup.org.uk/ |archive-date=5 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and in 2019, was named the 50th 'Most Influential Woman in UK Tech' by [[Computer Weekly]] magazine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252471156/Computer-Weekly-announces-the-Most-Influential-Women-in-UK-Tech-2019|title=Computer Weekly announces the Most Influential Women in UK Tech 2019|website=ComputerWeekly.com|language=en|access-date=19 October 2019}}</ref>
She is a vice-president of the Debating Group.<ref name="Debating Group website">{{cite web |url=http://debatinggroup.org.uk |title=Debating Group |publisher=Debating Group |access-date=5 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405041029/http://debatinggroup.org.uk/ |archive-date=5 April 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and in 2019, was named the 50th 'Most Influential Woman in UK Tech' by [[Computer Weekly]] magazine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252471156/Computer-Weekly-announces-the-Most-Influential-Women-in-UK-Tech-2019|title=Computer Weekly announces the Most Influential Women in UK Tech 2019|website=ComputerWeekly.com|language=en|access-date=19 October 2019}}</ref>
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*{{UK MP links | parliament = margot-james/4115 | hansard = <!-- ms-margo-james --> | guardian = 9254/margot-james | publicwhip = Margot_James | theywork = margot_james | record = Margot-James/Stourbridge/857 | bbc = 35371.stm | journalisted = }}
*{{UK MP links | parliament = margot-james/4115 | hansard = <!-- ms-margo-james --> | guardian = 9254/margot-james | publicwhip = Margot_James | theywork = margot_james | record = Margot-James/Stourbridge/857 | bbc = 35371.stm | journalisted = }}
* Liz Hoggard, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jan/22/interviews.conservatives Cameron's girl], ''[[The Observer]]'', 22 January 2006
* Liz Hoggard, [https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/jan/22/interviews.conservatives Cameron's girl], ''[[The Observer]]'', 22 January 2006
* Brian Wheeler, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7644851.stm Gays 'have a duty to vote Tory'], ''[[BBC News]]'', 30 September 2008
* Brian Wheeler, [https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7644851.stm Gays 'have a duty to vote Tory'], ''[[BBC News]]'', 30 September 2008
* [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-iiosi-pink-list-2008-852032.html The IoS Pink List 2008] ''[[The Independent]]'', 22 June 2008, Margot James named no. 27
* [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/the-iiosi-pink-list-2008-852032.html The IoS Pink List 2008] ''[[The Independent]]'', 22 June 2008, Margot James named no. 27
* [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/the-iiosi-pink-list-2009-1721869.html?action=Popup&ino=46 The IoS Pink List 2009] ''[[The Independent]]'', 28 June 2009, Margot James named no. 46
* [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/the-iiosi-pink-list-2009-1721869.html?action=Popup&ino=46 The IoS Pink List 2009] ''[[The Independent]]'', 28 June 2009, Margot James named no. 46

Latest revision as of 07:44, 15 September 2025

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Use British English Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters". Margot Cathleen James (born 28 August 1957) is a British politician who served as Minister of State for Digital and Creative Industries from 2018 to 2019. She was Member of Parliament (MP) for Stourbridge from 2010 to 2019. Elected as a Conservative, she had the whip removed in September 2019 and, after having the whip restored, stood down as an MP prior to the upcoming general election.

Early life

The younger daughter of a self-made businessman, James was born in Coventry.[1] Educated privately in Leamington Spa, she then attended the sixth form at Millfield School in Street, Somerset.[2] James is a graduate of the London School of Economics (LSE) with a degree in Economics and Government.[3]

James joined the Conservative Party aged 17, and chaired the LSE Conservative Association.[1] During her studies, she acted as a researcher for MP Sir Anthony Durant, and after graduation spent a gap year working in the press office of Conservative Central Office.[1]

Professional career

James worked in sales and marketing for her father's business, Maurice James Industries (MJI), a haulage, waste management, and property group based around Birmingham.[4][5] After working for a consulting firm, in 1986 she co-founded Shire Health Group, a public relations and clinical trials organisation.[6] Shire Health was voted "Consultancy of the Year" three times in the Communiqué Awards for 1998, 1999 and 2001, while James was voted Communicator of the Year in 1997.[7] The company was sold to WPP Group in 2004, with James appointed Head of European Healthcare for WPP subsidiary Ogilvy & Mather.[8]

Political career

James had resigned from the Conservative Party after Margaret Thatcher was ousted as Prime Minister. She rejoined the Conservative Party early in 2003.[2]

At the May 2005 general election, she was the Conservative candidate for the Holborn and St. Pancras constituency; James was the first ever openly lesbian Conservative candidate to stand in a British general election.[2] She came third behind the sitting MP, Labour's Frank Dobson, and the Liberal Democrat candidate Jill Fraser.[9]

In May 2006, James was elected a local councillor for the Brompton ward of Kensington & Chelsea,[10] becoming one of the Conservative Party's few "out" lesbian office holders.[11] She resigned from the council in 2008.[12]

James was placed on the "A-List" of Conservative Party parliamentary candidates ahead of the 2010 general election,[13] and was selected as the candidate for the marginal Labour-held constituency of Stourbridge,[14] from where she was elected.[15] This made her the first openly lesbian MP in the Conservative Party,[16] second "out" lesbian in the House of Commons, after Angela Eagle, and the first to have come out before her election.[11] In her maiden speech she paid tribute to Stourbridge's history of glass making.[17]

She was the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Stephen Green, Baron Green of Hurstpierpoint, during his period as Minister for Trade and Investment from 2011 to 2013.[18] From 2014 to 2015, James served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to William Hague, the then Leader of the House of Commons.[19]

In January 2016, the Labour Party unsuccessfully proposed an amendment in Parliament that would have required private landlords to make their homes "fit for human habitation".[20] According to Parliament's register of interests, James was one of 72 Conservative MPs who voted against the amendment who personally derived an income from renting out property.[21][22] The Conservative Government had responded to the amendment that they believed homes should be fit for human habitation but did not want to pass the new law that would explicitly require it.[23][24]

James was opposed to leaving the European Union prior to the 2016 referendum.[25]

James was made Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy by Theresa May, in her first ministry in July 2016.

James served as Minister of State for Digital and the Creative Industries from 9 January 2018,[26] resigning on 18 July 2019 to vote against the Government on an amendment; rebelling in an attempt to prevent the prorogation of Parliament which could have been used to force through a no-deal Brexit.[27]

James endorsed Rory Stewart during the 2019 Conservative leadership election.[28]

James had the Conservative whip removed on 3 September 2019.[29][30] On 29 October 2019, she was one of ten Conservative MPs to have the whip restored,[31] but announced on 3 November her intention to stand down as an MP at the 2019 general election, following disagreements with her local party.[32][33]

Other activities

James served on the board of Parkside NHS Trust, and worked as a Mental Health Manager.[34] She spent ten years as a trustee of ABANTU, an African women's charity, during which time she trained women from more than 40 different African countries in communications and lobbying skills.[35] She has also worked as a mentor for The Prince's Trust and Young Enterprise.[1] She sits on the Court of Governors at LSE.[36]

She is a vice-president of the Debating Group.[37] and in 2019, was named the 50th 'Most Influential Woman in UK Tech' by Computer Weekly magazine.[38]

Personal life

James lives in South Kensington and Stourbridge with her partner, Jay Hunt, previously a producer and presenter with the BBC and now managing director of a video production company, Violet Productions.[39][40][41] She ranked in the top 50 on The IndependentTemplate:'s "Pink List" of the 101 most influential British gay men and women in 2009.[42]

References

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  1. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Template:Cite hansard
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

Template:Error
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check Member of Parliament
for Stourbridge
2010–2019 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded byas Minister of State for Small Business Template:S-bef/check Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility
2016–2018 Template:S-ttl/check 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

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