Brandon Lewis

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Right Honourable

| name = Sir Brandon Lewis

| honorific-suffix = CBE

| image = Brandon Lewis Official Cabinet Portrait, September 2022 (cropped).jpg

| office1 = Secretary of State for Justice
Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain

| term_start1 = 6 September 2022

| term_end1 = 25 October 2022

| primeminister1 = Liz Truss

| predecessor1 = Dominic Raab

| successor1 = Dominic Raab

| office2 = Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

| primeminister2 = Boris Johnson

| term_start2 = 13 February 2020

| term_end2 = 7 July 2022

| predecessor2 = Julian Smith

| successor2 = Shailesh Vara

| office3 = Minister of State for Security and Deputy for EU Exit and No Deal Preparation

| primeminister3 = Boris Johnson

| term_start3 = 24 July 2019

| term_end3 = 13 February 2020

| predecessor3 = Ben Wallace{{efn|As Minister of State for Security and Economic Crime.}}

| successor3 = James Brokenshire{{efn|As Minister of State for Security.}}

| office4 = Chairman of the Conservative Party

| leader4 = Theresa May

| term_start4 = 8 January 2018

| term_end4 = 24 July 2019

| predecessor4 = Patrick McLoughlin

| successor4 = James Cleverly

| office5 = Minister without Portfolio

| primeminister5 = Theresa May

| term_start5 = 8 January 2018

| term_end5 = 24 July 2019

| predecessor5 = Robert Halfon{{efn|Office vacant between 17 July 2016 and 8 January 2018.}}

| successor5 = James Cleverly

| office6 = Minister of State for Immigration

| primeminister6 = Theresa May

| term_start6 = 11 June 2017

| term_end6 = 8 January 2018

| predecessor6 = Robert Goodwill

| successor6 = Caroline Nokes

| office7 = Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service

| primeminister7 = Theresa May

| term_start7 = 16 July 2016

| term_end7 = 11 June 2017

| predecessor7 = Mike Penning

| successor7 = Nick Hurd

| office8 = Minister of State for Housing and Planning{{efn|Known as Minister of State for Housing and Local Government from 2014 to 2015.}}

| primeminister8 = David Cameron

| term_start8 = 15 July 2014

| term_end8 = 16 July 2016

| predecessor8 = Kris Hopkins

| successor8 = Gavin Barwell

| office9 = Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

| primeminister9 = David Cameron

| term_start9 = 4 September 2012

| term_end9 = 15 July 2014

| predecessor9 = Bob Neill

| successor9 = Kris Hopkins

| office10 = Member of Parliament
for Great Yarmouth

| term_start10 = 6 May 2010

| term_end10 = 30 May 2024

| predecessor10 = Tony Wright

| successor10 = Rupert Lowe

{{Collapsed infobox section begin |Local government offices

|titlestyle=border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}{{Infobox officeholder |embed=yes

| office = Leader of Brentwood Borough Council

| term_start = 23 June 2004

| term_end = 18 March 2009

| predecessor = Vicky Cook

| successor = Louise McKinlay

| office1 = Member of Brentwood Borough Council
for Hutton South

| term_start1 = 7 May 1998

| term_end1 = 2009

| predecessor1 = E. Nicholson

| successor1 = Roger Hirst

}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|6|20|df=y}}

| birth_place = Harold Wood, London, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| signature =

| party = Conservative

| spouse = {{marriage|Justine Rappolt|1999}}

| children = 2

| alma_mater = University of Buckingham
King's College London
Inns of Court School of Law
Inner Temple

| caption = Official portrait, 2022

| website = {{URL|brandonlewis.co}}

| birth_name = Brandon Kenneth Lewis

}}

Sir Brandon Kenneth Lewis {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CBE}} (born 20 June 1971) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor from September to October 2022.{{Cite web |title=UK Prime Minister twitter |url=https://twitter.com/10downingstreet/status/1567223375205916681 |access-date=2022-09-06 |website=Twitter |language=en |archive-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906185637/https://twitter.com/10DowningStreet/status/1567223375205916681 |url-status=live }} He previously served as Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2018 to 2019 and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from 2020 to 2022. A member of the Conservative Party, he was Member of Parliament (MP) for Great Yarmouth from 2010 to 2024.

Born in Harold Wood, Lewis attended the independent Forest School. He studied economics at the University of Buckingham, switching to King's College London for his master's degree. He then began a career as a barrister. He was a councillor on Brentwood Borough Council from 1998 to 2009 and served as leader of the council from 2004 to 2009. He was elected as the MP for Great Yarmouth at the 2010 general election.

Lewis served under Prime Minister David Cameron as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government from 2012 to 2014 and Minister of State for Housing and Planning from 2014 to 2016. Lewis served under Cameron’s successor, Theresa May, as Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service from 2016 to 2017 and Minister of State for Immigration from 2017 to 2018. He was appointed to May’s Cabinet as Chairman of the Conservative Party and Minister without Portfolio in the 2018 cabinet reshuffle. After May resigned in 2019, Lewis was appointed Minister of State for Security and Deputy for EU Exit and No Deal Preparation by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In the 2020 cabinet reshuffle, he was promoted by Johnson to Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. He resigned from this post during the July 2022 government crisis. Following the appointment of Liz Truss as Prime Minister, Lewis was appointed as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. He returned to the backbenches the following month after being dismissed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and stood down from parliament at the 2024 general election.

Early life and career

Lewis was born on 20 June 1971 in Harold Wood in London. He was educated at Forest School in Walthamstow.'LEWIS, Brandon', Who's Who 2013, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2013; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012; online edn, Nov 2012 [http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U251125, accessed 2013-05-28] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200606180434/http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U251125, |date=6 June 2020 }}. He received a BSc degree in Economics from the University of Buckingham, an LLB honours degree in Law from the same institution, and an LLM in commercial law from King's College London.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/brandon-lewis|title=The Rt Hon Brandon Lewis MP|work=Government UK|access-date=8 January 2018|archive-date=30 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330165432/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/brandon-lewis|url-status=live}} He was called to the bar by the Inner Temple.

He was a director of Woodlands Schools Limited, a provider of private primary schools based in Hutton, Essex, until September 2012 when he resigned his position.[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/130507/lewis_brandon.htm Lewis, Brandon (Great Yarmouth), Register of Members' Financial Interests: Part 1. As of 7 May 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101135902/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/130507/lewis_brandon.htm |date=1 January 2018 }}, www.parliament.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2013.

Local government

In May 1998 Lewis was first elected as a representative of the Conservative Party when he became a Borough Councillor for Hutton South on Brentwood Borough Council.[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/person/6099/brandon-lewis Brandon Lewis: Electoral history and profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219023206/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/person/6099/brandon-lewis |date=19 February 2014 }} The Guardian. Retrieved 28 May 2013

He stood unsuccessfully as the Conservative Party candidate for election in the Sherwood constituency in the 2001 general election; he lost to Paddy Tipping, the Labour Party candidate, with 34% of the vote.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/515.stm |title=Vote 2001: Sherwood |year=2001 |work=BBC News Online |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=14 January 2010 |archive-date=24 December 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031224221014/http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/515.stm |url-status=live }}

He was re-elected to Brentwood Borough Council 2002 and 2006 with an increased vote share.{{cite web|url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Brentwood-1973-2012.pdf|title=Brentwood Council Election Results 1973-2012|publisher=Plymouth University|access-date=24 October 2018|archive-date=24 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024232232/http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Brentwood-1973-2012.pdf|url-status=live}} He later became Conservative Group leader in 2002 and leader of the council in 2004, after his party took control of the local authority. He remained in this position until 2009, when he resigned as a councillor in Essex to focus on seeking election as an MP in Norfolk.

During his time as leader of the council he co-hosted The Eric and Brandon Show with local MP Eric Pickles on Phoenix FM, a local radio station in Brentwood.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/the-couch-surfer-if-political-parties-insist-on-invading-pop-culture-they-wont-reengage-anybody-1813058.html|title=The Couch Surfer: 'If political parties insist on invading pop culture, they won't re-engage anybody'|last=Walker|first=Tim|date=2 November 2009|work=The Independent|publisher=Independent News and Media Limited|access-date=14 January 2010|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925015316/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/the-couch-surfer-if-political-parties-insist-on-invading-pop-culture-they-wont-reengage-anybody-1813058.html|url-status=live}}

Parliamentary career

=Early parliamentary career=

In 2006, Lewis was selected as Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate in the Great Yarmouth constituency; he was elected at the 2010 general election, defeating sitting Labour MP Tony Wright with a majority of just over 4000 – a swing to the Conservatives of 8.7% in the seat which was number 66 on their list of target seats.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/england/8652011.stm Election rivals fight for support in Great Yarmouth] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020130133/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/england/8652011.stm |date=20 October 2022 }}, BBC Election 2010, 29 April 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2013.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b89.stm Great Yarmouth] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823074850/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b89.stm |date=23 August 2017 }}, BBC Election 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2013. Lewis had stood for Parliament on a "clean expenses pledge", pledging to be "completely open about my expenses".[http://www.brandonlewis.co/about/about-my-parliamentary-expenses/ About my Parliamentary expenses] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130504000525/http://www.brandonlewis.co/about/about-my-parliamentary-expenses/ |date=4 May 2013 }}, Brandon Lewis. Retrieved 28 May 2013.

Lewis served on the Work and Pensions Select Committee and the Regulatory Reform Select Committee from his election until 2012.[http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/brandon-lewis/4009 Brandon Lewis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425185542/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/brandon-lewis/4009 |date=25 April 2013 }}, www.parliament.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2012. He has been a member of a number of all-party parliamentary groups, including time as the chair of the Local Growth group and co-chair of a group discussing coastal erosion. A report by the Local Growth group in September 2012, when it was chaired by Lewis, criticised the Government for an "uncoordinated" approach to its Local Enterprise Partnership policy which, according to Lewis, left "gaps and weaknesses".[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/businessclub/9534140/Impartiality-of-local-enterprise-partnerships-at-risk.html Impartiality of local enterprise partnerships 'at risk'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181121120326/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/businessclub/9534140/Impartiality-of-local-enterprise-partnerships-at-risk.html |date=21 November 2018 }}, Daily Telegraph, 11 September 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2013.[https://www.theguardian.com/local-government-network/2012/sep/13/lep-report-barrier-departments-business 'Unco-ordinated' government is a barrier to business engagement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308065243/http://www.theguardian.com/local-government-network/2012/sep/13/lep-report-barrier-departments-business |date=8 March 2016 }}, Guardian - Local government network, 13 September 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2013.

In 2010–2011 Lewis claimed just over £15,000 in accommodation expenses and in 2011–12 and 2012–13 he claimed just under £21,500 for accommodation.[http://www.parliamentary-standards.org.uk/MPAndConstituencyData.aspx?conId=96e03891-6d59-4d61-a837-686b9278c8a6 Brandon Lewis, Conservative, Great Yarmouth CC], Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. Retrieved 28 May 2013. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518071914/http://www.parliamentary-standards.org.uk/MPAndConstituencyData.aspx?conId=96e03891-6d59-4d61-a837-686b9278c8a6 |date=18 May 2015 }}

In the House of Commons he previously sat on the Work and Pensions Committee and the Regulatory Reform Committee.{{cite web|title=Brandon Lewis|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/brandon-lewis/4009|website=Parliament UK|access-date=24 October 2018|archive-date=24 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024233726/https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/brandon-lewis/4009|url-status=live}}

Lewis has run a variety of campaigns as Member of Parliament for Great Yarmouth. Campaigns have included opposing the removal of free bus passes for school children in Belton & Burgh Castle,{{cite web|title=Belton Burgh Castle School Bus Services|url=http://www.brandonlewis.co/belton-burgh-castle-school-bus-services/|publisher=Brandon Lewis|access-date=15 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105102115/http://www.brandonlewis.co/belton-burgh-castle-school-bus-services/|archive-date=5 November 2013}} cutting fuel duty,{{cite web|title=Fair Fuel UK|url=http://www.brandonlewis.co/fair-fuel-uk/|publisher=Brandon Lewis|access-date=15 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105102121/http://www.brandonlewis.co/fair-fuel-uk/|archive-date=5 November 2013}} protecting Norfolk bus services,{{cite web|title=Fair Fares Protecting our buses|url=http://www.brandonlewis.co/fair-fares-protecting-our-buses/|publisher=Brandon Lewis|access-date=15 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105102118/http://www.brandonlewis.co/fair-fares-protecting-our-buses/|archive-date=5 November 2013}} and improving Great Yarmouth railway station.{{cite web|title=Fix Great Yarmouth Station|url=http://www.brandonlewis.co/fix-great-yarmouth-station/|publisher=Brandon Lewis|access-date=15 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105102112/http://www.brandonlewis.co/fix-great-yarmouth-station/|archive-date=5 November 2013}}

=Early ministerial career=

In September 2012 Lewis was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government, working under Eric Pickles. In July 2014, Lewis was promoted to Minister of State for Housing and Planning, when the prime minister brought the portfolios of Housing and Planning together for the first time under his premiership.{{cite news|last1=Kelly|first1=Liam|title=Brandon Lewis promoted to housing and planning minister in reshuffle|url=https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2014/jul/15/brandon-lewis-housing-planning-minister-reshuffle|access-date=20 August 2014|work=The Guardian|date=15 July 2014|archive-date=16 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716053127/http://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2014/jul/15/brandon-lewis-housing-planning-minister-reshuffle|url-status=live}} He said that there had been a "dramatic swing" in public opinion – with almost half of people now in favour of new housing in their area.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10991867/New-planning-minister-suggests-Nimbys-have-had-their-day.html|title=New planning minister suggests Nimbys have had their day|last=Hope|first=Christopher|date=25 July 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=27 July 2014|archive-date=26 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726153717/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10991867/New-planning-minister-suggests-Nimbys-have-had-their-day.html|url-status=live}} This related to the new National Planning Policy Framework, the primary framework for town planning in the country, which some argued made it substantially easier for developers to build on greenfield land.

As the local MP, Lewis declined initially to support local campaigners who were fighting against the Conservative run county council's controversial plans for the proposed King's Lynn incinerator. By 2012 he had joined all fellow local MPs in expressing concern with the proposal and, after a change in leadership of the county council, the plans for the incinerator were dropped in 2014.{{cite news|title=Six Norfolk MPs urge communities secretary Eric Pickles to call in King's Lynn incinerator plan|url=http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/six-norfolk-mps-urge-communities-secretary-eric-pickles-to-call-in-king-s-lynn-incinerator-plan-1-1384336|work=Eastern Daily Press|access-date=24 October 2018|date=22 May 2012|archive-date=25 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025071518/https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/six-norfolk-mps-urge-communities-secretary-eric-pickles-to-call-in-king-s-lynn-incinerator-plan-1-1384336|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=All nine Norfolk MPs back King's Lynn incinerator call-in|url=https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/all-nine-norfolk-mps-back-king-s-lynn-incinerator-call-in-1-1424034|work=Eastern Daily Press|access-date=24 October 2018|date=28 June 2012|archive-date=24 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024232456/https://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/all-nine-norfolk-mps-back-king-s-lynn-incinerator-call-in-1-1424034|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-26925831|publisher=BBC|title=King's Lynn incinerator: Plans for £500m scheme abandoned|work=BBC News|access-date=24 October 2018|archive-date=29 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129000846/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-26925831|url-status=live}}

Lewis previously sat on the House of Commons Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission.

In 2013 Lewis was critical of local councils, including many Conservative run councils, planning council tax rises in 2013 against the wishes of the Government, saying that there was "still massive scope" for councils to cut "waste and inefficiency".[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9871824/Defiant-councils-planning-tax-rises.html Defiant councils planning tax rises] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024232303/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9871824/Defiant-councils-planning-tax-rises.html |date=24 October 2018 }}, Daily Telegraph, 14 February 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9870956/One-in-three-town-halls-to-defy-Eric-Pickles-and-hike-council-tax-in-April.html One in three town halls to defy Eric Pickles and hike council tax in April] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024232300/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9870956/One-in-three-town-halls-to-defy-Eric-Pickles-and-hike-council-tax-in-April.html |date=24 October 2018 }}, The Daily Telegraph, 14 February 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9898477/Four-in-10-English-councils-to-increase-council-tax.html Council tax revolt forces up bills] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024232258/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9898477/Four-in-10-English-councils-to-increase-council-tax.html |date=24 October 2018 }}, The Daily Telegraph, 28 February 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013. He has also criticised the Local Government Association for producing proposals to give local councils more freedom over their levels of council tax in the future.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/10045159/Minister-attacks-councils-for-pushing-for-tax-hikes.html Minister attacks councils for pushing for tax hikes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025031246/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/10045159/Minister-attacks-councils-for-pushing-for-tax-hikes.html |date=25 October 2018 }}, The Daily Telegraph, 9 May 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2013.

Labour MPs called upon IPSA to investigate whether Lewis was using taxpayer funds for inappropriate political purposes after it was revealed that he had claimed £37,000 for "research briefing and other parliamentary associated assistance" to a political campaign consultancy.{{cite news|last1=Fisher|first1=Lucy|title=Row over £37,000 expenses engulfs housing minister|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/row-over-37-000-expenses-engulfs-housing-minister-pf72l6wkf23|access-date=7 May 2015|work=The Times|date=10 March 2015|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091725/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article4377514.ece|url-status=live}}{{needs update|date=December 2020}}

In August 2015, it was reported that Lewis claimed £31,000 of hotel expenses over a two-year period following stays at the Park Plaza hotel near Parliament. Lewis stated that he opted to stay in London rather than travel home to Essex and all the claims complied with parliamentary rules.{{cite news|last1=Sinclair|first1=Andrew|title=Housing Minister Brandon Lewis defends £31,000 hotel claims|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-34042547|access-date=25 August 2015|work=BBC News|date=24 August 2015|archive-date=27 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150827001911/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-34042547|url-status=live}}

He supported the United Kingdom remaining a member of the European Union in the 2016 EU membership referendum.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35616946|work=BBC News|date=22 June 2016|title=EU vote: Where the cabinet and other MPs stand|access-date=13 September 2019|archive-date=3 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003020914/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35616946|url-status=live}} In July 2016, Lewis was promoted to be the minister of state for the Home Office with a portfolio including Police and Fire services, as well as Europol and Interpol.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/brandon-lewis|title=The Rt Hon Brandon Lewis MP - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=25 February 2013|archive-date=30 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330165432/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/brandon-lewis|url-status=live}}

Following the Grenfell disaster, Lewis was criticised for having rejected calls to increase fire safety regulations in his former role as housing minister. He had argued that legislating to mandate sprinklers in high rise buildings was the wrong approach as water-based sprinklers were inappropriate for electrical fires.{{cite news|title=Grenfell Tower: Tory minister urged against including sprinklers in fire safety rules as it could discourage house building|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/grenfell-tower-fire-safety-rules-sprinklers-brandon-lewis-warn-house-building-social-housing-tory-a7790921.html|work=Independent|access-date=24 October 2018|date=15 June 2017|archive-date=25 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025035802/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/grenfell-tower-fire-safety-rules-sprinklers-brandon-lewis-warn-house-building-social-housing-tory-a7790921.html|url-status=live}}

=Chairman of the Conservative Party=

In a January 2018 cabinet reshuffle, Lewis was promoted to Chairman of the Conservative Party, succeeding Patrick McLoughlin. Lewis was also appointed Minister without Portfolio.{{Cite web|url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/great-yarmouth-mp-promoted-1-5346490|title=Lewis promoted in reshuffle|date=8 January 2018 |access-date=8 January 2018|archive-date=8 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108163104/http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/politics/great-yarmouth-mp-promoted-1-5346490|url-status=live}}

On 19 July, Government Chief Whip Julian Smith was reported to be resisting calls to resign his position, following allegations that he had instructed five Conservative Party MPs to break "pairing" agreements in an important parliamentary vote the previous day. Lewis was the only one to comply with the instruction. Subsequent reports indicated that Smith had given similar instructions to five MPs, but that Lewis had been the only one willing to break what one commentator described later as "a centuries old 'code of honour'". Before it became known that the affair had involved approaches by Smith to more than one MP, the prime minister Theresa May backed Lewis by stating that "The breaking of the pair was done in error. It wasn't good enough and will not be repeated."{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/tory-chief-whip-julian-smith-urged-to-quit-over-pairing-deal-error-a3891301.html|title=Tory chief whip Julian Smith urged to quit over pairing deal 'error'|author1=Joe Murphy|author2=Nicholas Cecil|publisher=Evening Standard, London|access-date=19 July 2018|date=19 July 2018|archive-date=19 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719233316/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/tory-chief-whip-julian-smith-urged-to-quit-over-pairing-deal-error-a3891301.html|url-status=live}}

In 2019, Lewis voted for May's Brexit withdrawal agreement.{{cite news|url=https://ig.ft.com/brexit-exit-deal-vote/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902092554/https://ig.ft.com/brexit-exit-deal-vote/|archive-date=2 September 2019|date=29 March 2019|title=How MPs voted on May's withdrawal deal defeat|work=Financial Times}}

In July 2019, Lewis was appointed Minister of State for Security and Deputy for EU Exit and No Deal Preparation by new Prime Minister Boris Johnson.{{citation|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state--50|title=Minister of State for Security and Deputy for EU Exit and No Deal Preparation - GOV.UK|access-date=18 August 2019|archive-date=18 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818085937/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state--50|url-status=live}}

=Secretary of State for Northern Ireland=

In February 2020 he moved to be the secretary of state for Northern Ireland as part of a cabinet reshuffle under Johnson.{{cite web |title=Brandon Lewis named new NI Secretary of State |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/uk/2020/0213/1114964-uk-cabinet-reshuffle/ |website=www.rte.ie |date=13 February 2020 |access-date=13 February 2020 |archive-date=13 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213130031/https://www.rte.ie/news/uk/2020/0213/1114964-uk-cabinet-reshuffle/ |url-status=live }}

He robustly defended the Government's support for the Northern Ireland Protocol. Lewis also responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in Northern Ireland.{{cite news |last1=McClafferty |first1=Edna |last2=Simpson |first2=Mark |title=Brandon Lewis: Ex-NI secretary's term will be remembered as 'specific and limited' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-62076130 |access-date=31 July 2022 |work=BBC News |date=7 July 2022 |archive-date=31 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731012434/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-62076130 |url-status=live }}

In September 2020, Lewis provoked controversy when he conceded that a bill designed to amend the United Kingdom's withdrawal agreement with the European Union would "break international law" in a "specific and limited way".{{Cite news|date=8 September 2020|title=Minister: New bill will 'break international law'|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54073836|access-date=9 September 2020|archive-date=17 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917164632/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-54073836|url-status=live}}

On 6 July 2022, Lewis told Johnson he needed to step down from office due to a loss in support, during the July 2022 government crisis.{{cite news |title=Boris Johnson: Shailesh Vara replaces Brandon Lewis as NI Secretary |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-62071165 |access-date=31 July 2022 |work=BBC News |date=7 July 2022 |archive-date=31 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731012436/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-62071165 |url-status=live }} Lewis resigned on 7 July, after turning down offers of promotion from Johnson, saying the Government was no longer upholding "honesty, integrity and mutual respect".{{cite news |last1=Hazell |first1=Will |title=Brandon Lewis: Rishi Sunak was too focused on keeping EU happy over Northern Ireland Protocol |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/07/30/brandon-lewis-rishi-sunak-focused-keeping-eu-happy-northern/ |access-date=30 July 2022 |work=The Telegraph |date=30 July 2022 |archive-date=30 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730195729/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2022/07/30/brandon-lewis-rishi-sunak-focused-keeping-eu-happy-northern/ |url-status=live }}

=Between Ministries=

Lewis ran Nadhim Zahawi's campaign in the July 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.{{cite news |last1=Wheeler |first1=Caroline |last2=Yorke |first2=Harry |title=Tory leadership race: Senior Tories add momentum to Liz Truss bandwagon |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/tory-leadership-race-former-ministers-add-momentum-to-liz-truss-bandwagon-jrv982dhz |access-date=30 July 2022 |work=The Sunday Times |date=30 July 2022 |archive-date=20 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020130134/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tory-leadership-race-former-ministers-add-momentum-to-liz-truss-bandwagon-jrv982dhz |url-status=live }} After Zahawi was eliminated from the contest, Lewis endorsed Liz Truss's leadership bid.

=Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice=

Lewis was appointed Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice on 6 September 2022 after Liz Truss became the prime minister.{{cite news |title=Liz Truss appoints top team - see who is in and out |url=https://news.sky.com/story/liz-truss-appoints-top-team-with-kwasi-kwarteng-as-chancellor-12691228 |access-date=7 September 2022 |work=Sky news |date=6 September 2022 |archive-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906233818/https://news.sky.com/story/liz-truss-appoints-top-team-with-kwasi-kwarteng-as-chancellor-12691228 |url-status=live }}

On 29 September, Lewis negotiated a deal with the Criminal Bar Association to end the 2022 British barristers' industrial action.{{Cite web |title=New Justice Secretary agrees deal to get criminal barristers back to work |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-justice-secretary-agrees-deal-to-get-criminal-barristers-back-to-work |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=GOV.UK |language=en |archive-date=15 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015073539/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-justice-secretary-agrees-deal-to-get-criminal-barristers-back-to-work |url-status=live }} The deal included a 15% increase in legal aid fees to cases in the Crown Court, £3,000,000 of funding for case preparation and £4,000,000 for prerecorded cross-examinations of vulnerable victims and witnesses.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-10 |title=Criminal barristers in England and Wales vote to end strike action |url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2022/oct/10/barristers-in-england-and-wales-vote-to-end-strike-action |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=the Guardian |language=en |archive-date=15 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015073539/https://www.theguardian.com/law/2022/oct/10/barristers-in-england-and-wales-vote-to-end-strike-action |url-status=live }} On 10 October, 57% of barristers voted to end the strike and Crown Court cases began to be heard as normal from 11 October.{{Cite news |date=2022-10-10 |title=Criminal barristers vote to end strike over pay |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63198892 |access-date=2022-10-15 |archive-date=20 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020130133/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63198892 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Kirk |first=Tristan |date=2022-10-10 |title=Criminal barristers vote to suspend strike after accepting Government pay offer |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/criminal-barristers-end-strike-accept-government-pay-offer-b1031412.html |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=Evening Standard |language=en |archive-date=15 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015073524/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/criminal-barristers-end-strike-accept-government-pay-offer-b1031412.html |url-status=live }}

= Return to the backbenches =

On 25 October 2022, Lewis resigned from the front bench upon the ascension of Rishi Sunak to the Prime Ministership and returned to the backbenches.{{Cite web |title=The Rt Hon Brandon Lewis CBE MP |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/brandon-lewis |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}} He was succeeded as Justice Secretary by Dominic Raab.

Lewis was criticized in a September 2023 Eastern Daily Express article for charging nearly £10,000 in expenses for social media content produced by external production companies Westminster Digital and Millbank Creative.{{cite web|url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23808440.brandon-lewis-criticised-spending-marketing-agencies/|work=Eastern Daily Press|title=Brandon Lewis criticised for spending on marketing agencies|first=George|last=Thompson|date=28 September 2023|access-date=23 March 2024}}

In October 2023, Lewis was appointed to a part-time role as leader of the Chair's Advisory Council of the international investment firm LetterOne.{{cite web |last1=Parker |first1=George |title=Former Tory chair to advise company founded by sanctions-hit Russians |url=https://www.ft.com/content/d606bdf5-cba0-44f8-a3b8-b7d4414f3d89 |website=Financial Times |access-date=13 November 2023 |date=24 October 2023}}{{cite web |title=Ex-Tory chair Brandon Lewis joins firm with sanctioned oligarch links |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67219550 |website=BBC News |access-date=13 November 2023 |date=25 October 2023}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-16 |title=REVEALED: Norfolk MP to earn £250,000 a year for just one day work a week |url=https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/23929341.yarmouth-mp-brandon-lewis-earn-250-000-letterone/ |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=Eastern Daily Press |language=en}}

In March 2024, Lewis announced he would not seek re-election at the 2024 general election.{{cite web |title=Great Yarmouth MP Sir Brandon Lewis to stand down at next election |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-68568429 |website=BBC News |access-date=15 March 2024 |date=14 March 2024}} Lewis took five new part-time jobs paying £410,000 a year while still an MP.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/21/tory-mps-lucrative-second-jobs-stand-down-commons |title=Outgoing Tory MPs take lucrative second jobs and 'swan off on jollies |last=Kersley |first=Andrew |newspaper=The Observer |date=21 April 2024 |access-date=22 April 2024}}

Personal life

Lewis married Justine Rappolt in 1999; the couple have two children. He completed the London Marathon in 2005 and 2008 and lists triathlon as an interest.[http://www.politics.co.uk/reference/brandon-lewis Brandon Lewis] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101194424/http://www.politics.co.uk/reference/brandon-lewis |date=1 January 2018 }}, Biography, politics.co.uk. Retrieved 28 May 2013. He is a member of the Carlton Club.

In 2023, Lewis told GB News that since turning 50 he had lost nearly five stone, (approximately 30 Kg) which he credited to beating a chocolate addiction.{{cite web |last1=Gibbons |first1=Amy |title=Ex-Cabinet minister beats 'chocolate addiction' to lose almost five stone |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/07/06/brandon-lewis-cabinet-minister-chocolate-addiction-weight/ |website=The Telegraph |access-date=13 November 2023 |date=6 July 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Tunney |first1=Liam |title=Ex-NI Secretary Brandon Lewis beats 'chocolate addiction' to lose almost five stone |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/ex-ni-secretary-brandon-lewis-beats-chocolate-addiction-to-lose-almost-five-stone/a955926894.html |website=Belfast Telegraph |access-date=13 November 2023 |date=7 July 2023}}

Honours

On 29 September 2016, Lewis was sworn in to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, giving him the honorific title "The Right Honourable" for life.{{cite web|title=Privy Council appointments: Oliver Heald, Brandon Lewis and John McDonnell|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/privy-council-appointments-oliver-heald-brandon-lewis-and-john-mcdonnell|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street|access-date=29 September 2016|date=29 September 2016|archive-date=3 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003141435/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/privy-council-appointments-oliver-heald-brandon-lewis-and-john-mcdonnell|url-status=live}} In the 2019 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours, he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for political and public service in September 2019.{{London Gazette|issue=62807|supp=y|pages=19278|date=28 October 2019}}

Lewis was knighted on 16 June 2023 in the 2023 Political Honours for public and political service.{{cite web |title=Political Honours conferred: June 2023 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/political-honours-conferred-june-2023 |website=Gov.uk |access-date=18 June 2023 |date=16 June 2023}}{{London Gazette|issue=64213|pages=21730|date=30 October 2023}}

Notes

References

External links

[http://www.brandonlewis.co/ Official website]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20081203151700/http://www.greatyarmouthconservatives.com/ Great Yarmouth Conservatives]
{{UK MP links | parliament = brandon-lewis/4009 | publicwhip = brandon_lewis | theywork = brandon_lewis}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Minister of State for Housing and Local Government|years=2014–2015}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Minister of State for Immigration|years=2017–2018}}