Crispin Blunt

Blunt was born on 15 July 1960 in West Germany, one of three sons of English parents Adrienne (née Richardson) and Major-General Peter Blunt (1923–2003).{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1439692/Major-General-Peter-Blunt.html |title=Major-General Peter Blunt (obituary) |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=25 August 2003 |access-date=29 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524014826/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1439692/Major-General-Peter-Blunt.html |archive-date=24 May 2019 |url-status=live }} He was educated at Wellington College, an independent school in Berkshire. He then attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where he won the Queen's Medal, following which he gained a regular commission in the British Army. As an in-service degree, he studied politics at University College, Durham between 1981 and 1984, where he was elected president of the Durham Union Society in 1983.{{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2016-10-21/debates/DD6089AE-523C-4707-9773-4262BB9415BD/SexualOffences(PardonsEtc)Bill |title=Sexual Offences (Pardons Etc) Bill |publisher=Hansard |date=21 October 2016 |access-date=1 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107024759/https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2016-10-21/debates/DD6089AE-523C-4707-9773-4262BB9415BD/SexualOffences(PardonsEtc)Bill |archive-date=7 November 2017 |url-status=live }} He graduated with an upper second-class honours degree.{{cite news |url= http://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-scotsman/20100828/283326108664998 |title= I'm gay and my marriage is over, admits Tory minister |work= The Scotsman |location= Edinburgh |date= 28 August 2010 |access-date= 1 November 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171107025706/http://www.pressreader.com/uk/the-scotsman/20100828/283326108664998 |archive-date= 7 November 2017 |url-status= live }} In 1991, he gained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at the Cranfield School of Management.{{cite book |title=The Almanac of British Politics |publisher=Taylor & Francis |date=1983 |page=565 |edition=sixth|title-link=The Almanac of British Politics }}

Blunt was commissioned as an officer in the British Army on 4 August 1979 as a second lieutenant.{{London Gazette |issue= 47996 |date= 5 November 1979 |pages= 13896-13897 |supp= y }} Having been commissioned into the General List, he transferred to the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) on 8 March 1980, and his regular commission was confirmed.{{London Gazette |issue= 48176 |date= 2 May 1980 |page= 6684 |supp= y }} He was promoted to lieutenant on 4 August 1981,{{London Gazette |issue= 48710 |date= 17 August 1981 |page= 10650 |supp= y }} and to captain on 4 February 1986.{{London Gazette |issue= 50440 |date= 24 February 1986 |page= 2709 |supp= y }} During the 1980s, he was stationed in Cyprus, Germany, and Britain, serving as a troop leader, regimental operations officer and armoured reconnaissance squadron commander.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2995523.stm |title=Profile: Crispin Blunt |publisher=BBC |date=2 May 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040421112036/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2995523.stm |archive-date=21 April 2004 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1491876/Whos-who-in-this-campaign-of-stealth.html |title=Who's who in this campaign of stealth |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |date=12 June 2005 |first=Melissa |last=Kite |access-date=2 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617125853/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1491876/Whos-who-in-this-campaign-of-stealth.html |archive-date=17 June 2018 |url-status=live }} He resigned his commission on 24 September 1990, and was appointed to the Reserve of Officers.{{London Gazette |issue= 52280 |date= 24 September 1990 |page= 15106 |supp= y }}

Blunt contested his first Parliamentary seat at the 1992 general election, as the Conservative candidate in West Bromwich East.{{cite web |url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/i21.htm |title=UK General Election results April 1992 (part 21) |work=Richard Kimber's Political Science resources |access-date=19 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508153914/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/i21.htm |archive-date=8 May 2015 |url-status=dead }} From 1991 to 1992, Blunt was a representative of the Forum of Private Business.{{cite web | title=Crispin Blunt MP |publisher=UK Government| date=21 September 2023| url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/crispin-blunt | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528173901/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/crispin-blunt | archive-date=28 May 2022 | url-status=live}} In 1993, he was appointed a special adviser to Malcolm Rifkind, the Secretary of State for Defence, and worked in the same capacity when Rifkind became Foreign Secretary from 1995 to 1997.

At the 1997 general election, Blunt was elected to Parliament as Member for Reigate in Surrey, succeeding the long-serving strongly Eurosceptic MP Sir George Gardiner, who had been deselected by the local Conservative Party. Blunt was subsequently appointed to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee.

In July 1997, he was elected as Secretary of the Conservative Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Committee and the Conservative Middle East Council. In May 2000, he joined the House of Commons Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee and in July 2003 he was elected Chairman of the Conservative Middle East Council, a position he still occupies.

The new Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith appointed Blunt to the Opposition front bench as Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland in September 2001. In July 2002, he was appointed as deputy to Tim Yeo, Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.{{cite web |url=https://www.rbca.org.uk/crispin-blunt-mp-reigate |title=Crispin Blunt – MP for Reigate |publisher=TReigate & Banstead Conservative Association |access-date=25 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708121908/https://www.rbca.org.uk/crispin-blunt-mp-reigate |archive-date=8 July 2017 |url-status=live }} On 1 May 2003 he resigned his position on the front bench, saying that Duncan Smith was a "handicap" to the Conservatives.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/may/01/conservatives.uk1 |title=IDS a 'handicap' warns quitting MP |work=The Guardian |date=1 May 2003 |access-date=25 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026002647/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2003/may/01/conservatives.uk1 |archive-date=26 October 2017 |url-status=live }} He decided to resign at that time in the expectation that the Conservative Party would make over 500 gains in the 2003 local government elections, but in the belief that these would be achieved in spite of, rather than because of, Duncan Smith's leadership. Blunt timed his resignation so that it became public after the polls closed but before the results were declared.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2993791.stm |title=Tory frontbencher quits post |work=BBC News |date=2 May 2003 |access-date=25 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060211000520/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2993791.stm |archive-date=11 February 2006 |url-status=live }}

The following day he was unanimously reselected by his local party as their prospective parliamentary candidate, but in May 2003, he failed to persuade 25 of his fellow Conservative MPs to call for a vote of confidence. He accepted that no challenge for the party leadership would be immediately forthcoming and returned to the back benches.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1430800/Blunt-ends-campaign-to-oust-Tory-leader.html |title=Blunt ends campaign to oust Tory leader |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=22 May 2003 |access-date=2 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520071149/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1430800/Blunt-ends-campaign-to-oust-Tory-leader.html |archive-date=20 May 2018 |url-status=live }} In November 2003, Michael Howard replaced Duncan Smith after a vote of no confidence.

Blunt became a party whip under Howard, but on 9 June 2005, he took a leave of absence from that role to support the expected leadership bid of Malcolm Rifkind. However, when Rifkind was knocked out of the party leadership contest, Blunt returned to the Whips' office and wrote to all party members in his constituency asking them to rank the remaining contenders in order of preference so he could best represent his constituents.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/jun/09/uk.conservatives |title=Tory whip quits to champion Rifkind |work=The Guardian |date=9 June 2005 |access-date=25 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026002503/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/jun/09/uk.conservatives |archive-date=26 October 2017 |url-status=live }}

Blunt is a former joint chair of the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding.{{cite web|title=CAABU Chair quoted in Financial Times|date=18 March 2006|url=http://www.caabu.org/press/CAABU_in_the_media/blunt_wadi_fuqin/|work=website of the Council for the Advancement of Arab-British Understanding|access-date=10 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703083244/http://www.caabu.org/press/CAABU_in_the_media/blunt_wadi_fuqin/|archive-date=3 July 2010|df=dmy-all}} When the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Coalition formed a government in 2010, Blunt was appointed as the first Minister of State for Prisons at the Ministry of Justice. His responsibilities included prisons and probation, youth justice, criminal law and sentencing policy, and criminal justice. He is also a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group.{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/memi358.htm |title=Register of All-Party Groups |access-date=16 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803201000/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/memi358.htm |archive-date=3 August 2009 }}

In November 2013, Blunt was re-selected to stand in the 2015 general election for the Conservative Party, having undergone a postal ballot of constituency members. The postal ballot was triggered when the executive council came to a vote with a majority decision not to endorse his candidacy. Having won the postal ballot Blunt called for the executive council to consider their position.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-24993541|title=Crispin Blunt wins re-selection|access-date=18 November 2013|work=BBC News|date=18 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122185231/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-24993541|archive-date=22 November 2018|url-status=live}} The lack of support from a majority of the executive council was partly attributed to the allegedly homophobic views of some older Conservative voters in the area. Roger Newstead, the chairman of the Reigate South and Earlswood Branch, wrote a private letter to Ben Mearns, who had resigned from the branch committee after protesting the decision to force a postal ballot. In the letter, Newstead said: "I do not know what motivated my executive colleagues but I suspect that Crispin has been the author of his own misfortune. There is no doubt in my mind that his very public and totally unnecessary announcement that he was 'gay' was the final straw for some members, particularly those in the north of the borough, with whom there had been a number of previous disagreements on policy matters. A number of lady members were very offended by the manner in which his marriage broke down. Apparently Victoria's version was very different from Crispin's".{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/18/gay-tory-crispin-blunt-defeats-campaign-deselect |title=Crispin Blunt defeats attempt to deselect him |work=The Guardian |location=London |date=18 November 2013 |access-date=18 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131119103133/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/18/gay-tory-crispin-blunt-defeats-campaign-deselect |archive-date=19 November 2013 |url-status=live }}

Later clarifying his views to The Guardian, Newstead said: "I still say it was unnecessary [for Crispin Blunt to come out]. To me it was an error of judgment. I wouldn't have done anything like that. I would have just said if anyone had asked me: politicians have a unique lifestyle, it doesn't suit everybody and there is a long history of parliamentary marriages breaking down. You don't have to go out and tell people you have got homosexual tendencies. It is a private matter and it shouldn't have been put in the public domain. He put it in the public domain".

In May 2014, Blunt was one of seven unsuccessful candidates for the chairmanship of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/defence/Defence-Committee-chair-election-final-results.pdf|publisher=parliament.uk|access-date=17 May 2014|title=Defence Committee Chair election: Rory Stewart MP elected|date=14 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518063408/http://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/defence/Defence-Committee-chair-election-final-results.pdf|archive-date=18 May 2014|url-status=live}} On 19 June 2015, it was announced that Blunt had been elected to the chairmanship of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee,{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2015/june/winning-candidates-for-select-committee-chairs-announced/|date=18 June 2015|access-date=19 June 2015|title=Winning candidates for select committee Chairs announced|publisher=UK Parliament|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802162923/https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2015/june/winning-candidates-for-select-committee-chairs-announced/|archive-date=2 August 2018|url-status=live}} a post he held until 12 July 2017 when he was defeated by Conservative candidate Tom Tugendhat.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2017/july/winning-candidates-for-select-committee-chairs//|date=12 July 2017|access-date=29 July 2017|title=Winning candidates for select committee Chairs announced|publisher=UK Parliament|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729180846/http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2017/july/winning-candidates-for-select-committee-chairs//|archive-date=29 July 2017|url-status=live}}

Prior to the 2016 EU Referendum, Blunt supported Brexit.

In September 2017, Blunt was elected chair of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, the cross-party group which represents humanists in Parliament.{{cite web|url=https://humanism.org.uk/2017/09/13/crispin-blunt-and-joan-bakewell-elected-as-chair-and-co-chair-of-humanists-in-parliament/|title=Crispin Blunt and Joan Bakewell elected as Chair and Co-Chair of humanists in Parliament|publisher=Humanists UK|date=13 September 2017|access-date=14 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914220725/https://humanism.org.uk/2017/09/13/crispin-blunt-and-joan-bakewell-elected-as-chair-and-co-chair-of-humanists-in-parliament/|archive-date=14 September 2017|url-status=live}} In 2018, he became an honorary associate of the National Secular Society.{{Cite journal|date=Spring 2018|title=National Secular Society Bulletin Spring 2018|url=https://www.secularism.org.uk/uploads/nss-bulletin-67-spring-2018.pdf|journal=NSS Bulletin|pages=8|access-date=4 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504095625/https://www.secularism.org.uk/uploads/nss-bulletin-67-spring-2018.pdf|archive-date=4 May 2019|url-status=live}}

On 11 April 2022, after fellow MP Imran Ahmad Khan was found guilty of a child sex offence, Blunt issued a statement in defence of Ahmad Khan which criticised the verdict, describing it as an "international scandal, with dreadful wider implications for millions of LGBT+ Muslims around the world" and said that it "relied on lazy tropes about LGBT+ people". He also said that he hoped for Ahmad Khan to return to public service.{{Cite news |date=12 April 2022 |title=Crispin Blunt deletes criticism of MP Imran Ahmad Khan's sex offence conviction |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-61075923 |access-date=12 April 2022 |archive-date=12 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412023927/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-61075923 |url-status=live }} Blunt's intervention was strongly condemned and members of the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on global LGBT+ affairs which was chaired by Blunt, resigned in protest.{{cite news |last1=Woodcock |first1=Andrew |title=Tory MP branded 'disgraceful' after defending colleague convicted of child sex offence |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/imran-khan-sex-attack-crispin-blunt-b2055939.html |access-date=11 April 2022 |work=The Independent |date=11 April 2022 |archive-date=11 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411214606/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/imran-khan-sex-attack-crispin-blunt-b2055939.html |url-status=live }} Blunt later apologised for his comments and resigned as chair of the APPG.{{Cite news |date=12 April 2022 |title=Crispin Blunt apologises for defending sex offender MP Imran Ahmad Khan |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-61077747 |access-date=12 April 2022 |archive-date=4 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231104071706/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-61077747 |url-status=live }} In May 2022, Blunt backtracked on this apology and described Ahmad Khan's conviction as a "serious miscarriage of justice".{{cite news |last1=Wright |first1=Charlotte |title=Crispin Blunt says sex offender's conviction is 'miscarriage of justice' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-61470697 |access-date=22 May 2022 |work=BBC News |date=22 May 2022 |archive-date=22 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522093533/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-61470697 |url-status=live }}

On 1 May 2022, he announced he would not seek re-election at the 2024 general election.

On 16 October 2022, he became the first Conservative MP to publicly call for Liz Truss to resign, calling it "blindingly obvious" that she must go.{{Cite web |title='Blindingly obvious' that Liz Truss 'must' go, says Conservative MP Crispin Blunt |url=https://news.sky.com/video/blindingly-obvious-that-liz-truss-must-go-says-conservative-mp-crispin-blunt-12722380 |access-date=16 October 2022 |website=Sky News |language=en |archive-date=16 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016180139/https://news.sky.com/video/blindingly-obvious-that-liz-truss-must-go-says-conservative-mp-crispin-blunt-12722380 |url-status=live }}

A long-term Eurosceptic, Blunt issued a pamphlet in 1998 when first elected to parliament which called for an in-out referendum.{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/crispin-blunt-only-brexit-offers-a-positive-vision-for-britain-s-role-in-the-world-a3243351.html |title=Crispin Blunt: Only Brexit offers a positive vision for Britain's role in the world |work=The Standard |date=9 May 2016 |access-date=3 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107011719/https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/comment/crispin-blunt-only-brexit-offers-a-positive-vision-for-britain-s-role-in-the-world-a3243351.html |archive-date=7 November 2017 |url-status=live }} In 1998, Blunt argued against the equal age of consent for homosexuals and heterosexuals, stating that "It is also clear that there is a much greater strand of homosexuality than of heterosexuality which depends for its gratification on the exploitation of youth".{{cite web |title= Reduction In Age At Which Certain Sexual Acts Are Lawful |date= 22 June 1998 |publisher= Hansard |url= https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1998-06-22/debates/3cf7e60e-29d7-4b86-bcb5-dcb9ddb8b373/ReductionInAgeAtWhichCertainSexualActsAreLawful |access-date= 27 February 2024 |archive-date= 8 December 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20231208224804/https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1998-06-22/debates/3cf7e60e-29d7-4b86-bcb5-dcb9ddb8b373/ReductionInAgeAtWhichCertainSexualActsAreLawful |url-status= live }} In 2004, he was also absent for votes on legalising (same-sex) civil partnerships and allowing marriages to remain valid if they became a same-sex marriage after the granting of a Gender Recognition Certificate.{{cite web | url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/10051/crispin_blunt/reigate/divisions?policy=826 | title=Crispin Blunt MP, Reigate | access-date=8 December 2023 | archive-date=8 December 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208171518/https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/10051/crispin_blunt/reigate/divisions?policy=826 | url-status=live }} In June 2016, Blunt championed LGBT rights, during the campaigning of the EU referendum, stating that the UK would be the "world's leading proponents of LGBTI rights, in or out of the EU".{{cite news |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/06/08/crispin-blunt-dont-be-taken-for-a-mug-voting-for-brexit-wont-put-lgbt-rights-at-risk/ |title=Crispin Blunt: Don't be taken for a mug – voting for Brexit won't put LGBT rights at risk |work=PinkNews |date=8 June 2016 |access-date=3 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108173841/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/06/08/crispin-blunt-dont-be-taken-for-a-mug-voting-for-brexit-wont-put-lgbt-rights-at-risk/ |archive-date=8 November 2017 |url-status=live }}

Blunt has been described as "a long-term critic of Israel".{{Cite news |last=Harpin |first=Lee |date=16 June 2020 |title=Prime Minister 'strongly objects' to Israeli annexation plans |work=The Jewish Chronicle |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/prime-minister-strongly-objects-to-israeli-annexation-plans-1.500709 |access-date=16 June 2020 |archive-date=16 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616212458/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/prime-minister-strongly-objects-to-israeli-annexation-plans-1.500709 |url-status=live }} He is a co-director of the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians, and in October 2023 he announced the group's intention to prosecute UK government leaders for "aiding and abetting war crimes in Gaza" amid the Gaza war, warning his colleagues in Westminster of the peril of guilt through complicity.{{cite web |title=Israel-Hamas war: UK could be complicit in Gaza war crimes, Tory MP warns |url=https://news.sky.com/story/israel-hamas-war-uk-could-be-complicit-in-gaza-war-crimes-tory-mp-warns-12984255 |website=Sky News |access-date=15 October 2023 |language=en |date=14 October 2023 |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015024207/https://news.sky.com/story/israel-hamas-war-uk-could-be-complicit-in-gaza-war-crimes-tory-mp-warns-12984255 |url-status=live }}

He voted against the Cameron–Clegg coalition government in 2013 on the issue of British military intervention in the Syrian civil war."[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/03/tory-mps-syria-vote-assad-hospitality Nine Tory MPs who did not back Syria strike received Assad's hospitality] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103060654/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/sep/03/tory-mps-syria-vote-assad-hospitality |date=3 November 2021 }} The Guardian September 2013

Blunt has called attention to the presence of prayers as part of Parliament's formal business. He put forward an Early Day Motion on the issue in 2019, arguing that the practice was discriminatory against non-religious MPs since those MPs who choose to pray are able to reserve a seat for parliamentary business that day and are more likely to ask questions; there are 650 elected MPs in the UK Parliament, but only enough seating for 427 at any one time.{{Cite journal|date=March 2019|title=WE MUST NOT BAN PARLIAMENTARY PRAYERS|url=https://www.premierchristianity.com/Blog/Prayers-have-been-said-in-Parliament-for-centuries.-My-colleagues-should-not-abolish-it|journal=Premier Christianity|pages=17|access-date=6 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406121208/https://www.premierchristianity.com/Blog/Prayers-have-been-said-in-Parliament-for-centuries.-My-colleagues-should-not-abolish-it|archive-date=6 April 2019|url-status=live}} In 2020, he again raised the issue in the House, with new speaker Lindsay Hoyle expressing sympathy with the need for reform.{{cite web|url=https://humanism.org.uk/2020/01/15/prayers-stop-access-to-commons-seats-protests-parliamentary-humanist-group-chair/|title=Prayers stop access to Commons seats, protests Parliamentary Humanist Group Chair|work=Humanists UK|date=15 January 2020|access-date=16 January 2020|archive-date=16 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116111933/https://humanism.org.uk/2020/01/15/prayers-stop-access-to-commons-seats-protests-parliamentary-humanist-group-chair/|url-status=live}}

Blunt is one of the most prominent Conservative advocates of transgender rights. He argues that supporting transgender individuals is an extension of the party's tradition of supporting individual liberty.{{Cite web|date=28 September 2020|title=After His Furious Public Spat With Liz Truss Over Trans Rights, Crispin Blunt Says He Will Not Let The Issue Go|url=https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/after-his-furious-public-spat-crispin-blunt-liz-truss-trans-rights|access-date=30 September 2020|website=Politics Home|language=en|archive-date=4 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004012047/https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/after-his-furious-public-spat-crispin-blunt-liz-truss-trans-rights|url-status=live}}

Blunt's voting record in Parliament had previously been broadly unsympathetic towards gay rights.[http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpid=40496&dmp=826 Crispin Blunt compared to 'Homosexuality – Equal Rights'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119044513/http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpid=40496&dmp=826 |date=19 January 2012 }}, They Work For You. He later stated regret for that part of his voting record. In January 2016, he stated that he uses poppers, during a parliamentary debate that discussed banning them along with other legal highs.{{cite news|title=Tory MP Crispin Blunt 'outs himself' as popper user|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35363865|work=BBC News|access-date=20 January 2016|date=20 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120181526/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35363865|archive-date=20 January 2016|url-status=live}}

On 16 October 2022, Blunt stated in his opinion that Liz Truss would have to resign as Prime Minister. Blunt said, "I think the game is up and it's now a question as to how the succession is managed. If there is such a weight of opinion in the parliamentary party that we have to have a change, then it will be effected."[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2022/oct/16/liz-truss-tax-conservatives-tories-jeremy-hunt-kwasi-kwarteng-chancellor-latest-updates 'Game is up for Liz Truss' – Tory MP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016135919/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2022/oct/16/liz-truss-tax-conservatives-tories-jeremy-hunt-kwasi-kwarteng-chancellor-latest-updates |date=16 October 2022 }} The Guardian He was the first Conservative MP to openly call for Truss's resignation.{{cite news |last1=Wheeler |first1=Caroline |last2=Yorke |first2=Harry |title=New chancellor Jeremy Hunt takes full control as Crispin Blunt says time's up for Liz Truss |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/new-chancellor-jeremy-hunt-takes-full-control-as-plotters-circle-wounded-truss-r7nk6qtv7 |access-date=16 October 2022 |work=The Times |date=16 October 2022 |language=en |archive-date=16 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016002120/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/new-chancellor-jeremy-hunt-takes-full-control-as-plotters-circle-wounded-truss-r7nk6qtv7 |url-status=live }}

Blunt married Victoria Jenkins in September 1990 in Kensington and they have a daughter and son. His niece is the actress Emily Blunt. In August 2010, he announced that he was leaving his wife in order "to come to terms with his homosexuality". They remain separated but have not divorced.{{cite news|title=Crispin Blunt Story: The Evolution of a Gay Conservative in Parliament|url=http://www.advocate.com/news/2011/09/02/crispin-blunt-story-evolution-gay-conservative-parliament|access-date=13 October 2016|work=The Advocate|date=2 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013222457/http://www.advocate.com/news/2011/09/02/crispin-blunt-story-evolution-gay-conservative-parliament|archive-date=13 October 2016|url-status=live}}[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11115182 Conservative minister Crispin Blunt reveals he is gay] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122190242/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11115182 |date=22 November 2018 }}, BBC News Online, 27 August 2010.

Blunt is a cricketer, a former member of the Parliamentarians team.{{cite web |url=https://www.jeremylefroy.org.uk/news/parliamentarians-narrowly-beat-lichfield-diocese |title=Parliamentarians narrowly beat Lichfield Diocese |publisher=Jeremy Lefroy |date=11 June 2011 |access-date=25 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023230945/https://www.jeremylefroy.org.uk/news/parliamentarians-narrowly-beat-lichfield-diocese |archive-date=23 October 2017 |url-status=live }} He is a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club.{{cite web |url=https://www.blunt4reigate.com/about-crispin-blunt |title=Who's who in this campaign of stealth |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171026002301/https://www.blunt4reigate.com/about-crispin-blunt |archive-date=26 October 2017 |url-status=live }}

In October 2023, Blunt was arrested by Surrey Police on suspicion of rape and possession of drugs.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-67233090 |title=MP Crispin Blunt arrested on suspicion of rape |work=BBC News |first=Sam |last=Frances}} He was released on police bail pending further investigation. He had the Conservative Party whip removed and subsequently sat as an independent MP for the remainder of the parliamentary session. Blunt said that he expected to be cleared, and that he had previously reported an attempt of extortion to the police.{{cite news | last=Mason | first=Rowena | title=Minister denies 'cultural issue' among Tory MPs after Crispin Blunt's arrest | newspaper=The Guardian | date=27 October 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/27/minister-denies-cultural-issue-among-tory-mps-after-crispin-blunts-arrest | access-date=27 October 2023 | archive-date=27 October 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027175101/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/oct/27/minister-denies-cultural-issue-among-tory-mps-after-crispin-blunts-arrest | url-status=live }} In April 2024, it was reported that Blunt had not had his bail extended and the police were continuing with their investigation.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czq5gne425eo |title=Crispin Blunt released under investigation |work=BBC News |date=23 October 2023 |first=Emily |last=Coady-Stemp}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons}}

• [http://www.blunt4reigate.com Crispin Blunt MP] official constituency website
• {{UK MP links | parliament = mr-crispin-blunt/104 | hansard = mr-crispin-blunt | hansardcurr = 4045 | guardian = 478/crispin-blunt | publicwhip = Crispin_Blunt | theywork = crispin_blunt | record = Crispin-Blunt/Reigate/59 | bbc = 25811.stm | journalisted = }}
• [http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/200806412303527 Resignation statement], 1 May 2003
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2995523.stm Profile: Crispin Blunt], BBC News, 2 May 2003
• {{C-SPAN|1000662}}

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