Danny Kruger

{{distinguish|Dunning–Kruger effect}}

{{short description|British Conservative politician (born 1974)}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2020}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Danny Kruger

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE|MP}}

| image = Official portrait of Danny Kruger MP crop 2.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2019

| office = Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions

| leader = Kemi Badenoch

| term_start = 5 November 2024

| term_end =

| predecessor = Alison McGovern

| successor =

| office1 = Shadow Minister for Defence

| leader1 = Rishi Sunak
Kemi Badenoch

| term_start1 = 19 July 2024

| term_end1 = 5 November 2024

| predecessor1 = Luke Pollard

| successor1 = Mark Francois

| office2 = Member of Parliament
for East Wiltshire
{{nobold|Devizes (2019–2024)}}

| predecessor2 = Claire Perry O'Neill

| successor2 =

| term_start2 = 12 December 2019

| term_end2 =

| majority2 = 4,716 (10.0%)

| office3 = Political Secretary to the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

| primeminister3 = Boris Johnson

| term_start3 = 23 July 2019

| term_end3 = 12 December 2019

| predecessor3 = Stephen Parkinson

| successor3 = Ben Gascoigne

| birth_name = Daniel Rayne Kruger

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1974|10|23}}

| birth_place = Westminster, London, EnglandEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916–2007

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = British

| spouse =

| party = Conservative Party

| relations =

| children = 3{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/danny-kruger-mp-dog-richmond-park-b1861577.html|title=Tory MP fined after puppy caused stampede of deer in London park|date=8 June 2021|website=The Independent|access-date=7 July 2021|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709205156/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/danny-kruger-mp-dog-richmond-park-b1861577.html|url-status=live}}

| residence =

| education = Eton College

| alma_mater = University of Edinburgh
University of Oxford

| occupation =

| profession =

| father = Rayne Kruger

| mother = Prue Leith

| relatives = Sam Leith (cousin){{cite news |last1=Leith |first1=Sam |title=What it was like to be taught to cook by my aunt – and GBBO judge – Prue Leith |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/foodanddrink/great-british-bake-off-what-it-was-like-to-be-taught-to-cook-by-my-aunt-prue-leith-a3621836.html |accessdate=18 May 2023 |work=Evening Standard|date=29 August 2017}}

| signature =

| website =

| footnotes =

}}

Daniel Rayne Kruger{{cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2019-12-18/debates/2E37F0BD-4DF0-40A6-B9F9-0607212DBFB1/MembersSworn|title=Members Sworn|publisher=parliament.uk|date=18 December 2019|access-date=6 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219003923/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2019-12-18/debates/2E37F0BD-4DF0-40A6-B9F9-0607212DBFB1/MembersSworn|archive-date=19 December 2019|url-status=live}} {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE|size=100%}} (born 23 October 1974){{Cite book|last=Brunskill|first=Ian|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1129682574|title=The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election|date=19 March 2020|isbn=978-0-00-839258-1|pages=168|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers Limited |oclc=1129682574|access-date=8 June 2021|archive-date=9 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109125548/https://www.worldcat.org/title/times-guide-to-the-house-of-commons-2019-the-definitive-record-of-britains-historic-2019-general-election/oclc/1129682574|url-status=live}} is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for East Wiltshire, previously Devizes, since 2019. He became Shadow Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in November 2024.

The son of writer and property developer Rayne Kruger and restaurateur and television presenter Prue Leith, Kruger was educated at Eton College, subsequently studying history at the University of Edinburgh and University of Oxford. After university, he worked at the Centre for Policy Studies think tank, and then became a policy adviser for the Conservative Party.

Kruger became David Cameron's chief speechwriter in 2006, whilst Cameron was Leader of the Opposition. He left this role two years later to work full-time at a youth crime prevention charity that he had co-founded called Only Connect. For his charitable work, Kruger received an MBE in 2017. He was Prime Minister Boris Johnson's political secretary between August and December 2019.

Early life and career

Daniel Kruger was born on 23 October 1974 in Westminster to South African parents, writer and property developer Rayne Kruger,{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/rayne-kruger-0cdqf35r7s9|title=Rayne Kruger|date=1 January 2003|website=www.thetimes.com}} and restaurateur and television presenter Prue Leith.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-50366473|title=Boris Johnson aide chosen as Tory candidate|date=10 November 2019|publisher=BBC News|access-date=4 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213012319/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-wiltshire-50366473|archive-date=13 December 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1418279/Rayne-Kruger.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|title=Rayne Kruger|date=9 January 2003|access-date=6 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214215216/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1418279/Rayne-Kruger.html|archive-date=14 December 2019|url-status=live}} He was privately educated at Eton College.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1530258/Camerons-inner-circle.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|title=Cameron's inner circle|access-date=6 February 2020|date=1 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502003245/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1530258/Camerons-inner-circle.html|archive-date=2 May 2019|url-status=live}} Kruger studied history at the University of Edinburgh.{{cite web|url=https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/events/aspects-conservatism-danny-kruger-country-we-want-be|title=Aspects of Conservatism: Danny Kruger – The Country We Want to Be|publisher=Blavatnik School of Government|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218081920/https://www.bsg.ox.ac.uk/events/aspects-conservatism-danny-kruger-country-we-want-be|archive-date=18 December 2019|url-status=live}} While at the university, he was the editor of the magazine Intercourse, which had a controversial issue featuring three naked students and an advertisement for a massage parlour.{{cite news|title=Focus: Reservoir toffs|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/focus-reservoir-toffs-zzbh6xhcp9x|work=The Sunday Times|date=8 October 2006|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-date=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207123016/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/focus-reservoir-toffs-zzbh6xhcp9x|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}} He obtained a doctorate in history from the University of Oxford in 2000.

After university, he became the director of research at the centre-right think tank Centre for Policy Studies in 2001.{{cite web|url=https://www.centreforlondon.org/person/danny-kruger/|title=Danny Kruger|access-date=6 February 2020|publisher=Centre for London}} Kruger worked as a policy adviser in the Conservative Party's Policy Unit from 2003 to 2005.{{cite web|url=http://www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2005/10/Publication-Whats-Right-Now-Conservative-essays-on-the-role-of-civil-society-markets-and-the-state.pdf|page=6|title=What's Right Now: Conservative essays on the role of civil society , markets, and the state|publisher=The Social Market Foundation|date=October 2005|access-date=6 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925005257/http://www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2005/10/Publication-Whats-Right-Now-Conservative-essays-on-the-role-of-civil-society-markets-and-the-state.pdf|archive-date=25 September 2015|url-status=live}} During this time, he was credited with contributing to then Conservative Party leader Iain Duncan Smith's speech at the 2003 Conservative Party Conference.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1443949/Was-this-the-week-the-Quiet-Man-lost-the-plot.html|work=The Daily Telegraph|title=Was this the week the Quiet Man lost the plot?|access-date=7 February 2020|date=12 October 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171007194505/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1443949/Was-this-the-week-the-Quiet-Man-lost-the-plot.html|archive-date=7 October 2017|url-status=live}} In 2005, Kruger became the chief leader writer of The Daily Telegraph.

Kruger was selected as the Conservative candidate for Sedgefield at the 2005 general election, challenging Labour prime minister Tony Blair.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4352425.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Tory candidate quits over remark|date=15 March 2005|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726223801/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4352425.stm|archive-date=26 July 2008|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/mar/23/election2005.uk1|work=The Guardian|title=Tories pick Iraq veteran to take on Blair|date=23 March 2005|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306145150/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/mar/23/election2005.uk1|archive-date=6 March 2016|url-status=live}} He was forced to drop out of the contest, however, after The Guardian quoted him stating that the party had planned "to introduce a period of creative destruction in the public services".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/mar/11/society.publicservices|work=The Guardian|title=A mission to destroy|last=Toynbee|first=Polly|date=11 March 2005|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209012546/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/mar/11/society.publicservices|archive-date=9 December 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/sep/30/uk.conservatives1|title=The men behind the Cameron effect|work=The Guardian|date=30 September 2006|access-date=6 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925172552/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/sep/30/uk.conservatives1|archive-date=25 September 2014|url-status=live}} Kruger left his position at The Daily Telegraph to become the chief speechwriter to then Conservative Party leader David Cameron in 2006. He wrote Cameron's 2006 address to the think tank Centre for Social Justice, which was later dubbed the "hug-a-hoodie" speech, and was noted as a call to re-brand the party with compassionate conservatism at its core.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/10/david-cameron-danny-kruger-big-society|work=The Guardian|title=David Cameron's vision has been lost, says author of 'hug a hoodie' speech|date=10 August 2013|access-date=7 February 2020|last=Townsend|first=Mark|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104125538/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/aug/10/david-cameron-danny-kruger-big-society|archive-date=4 January 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-13669826/david-cameron-and-hug-a-hoodie-phrase-history|title=David Cameron and hug-a-hoodie phrase history|date=6 June 2011|access-date=7 February 2020|publisher=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130122053/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-13669826/david-cameron-and-hug-a-hoodie-phrase-history|archive-date=30 November 2019|url-status=live}} He defended the policy in 2011 saying that this did not mean the party was "soft on crime".{{Cite news |title=Are Conservatives soft on crime? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-13670225 |access-date=2025-02-23 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}

Kruger co-founded the London-based youth crime prevention charity Only Connect in 2006{{cite web|url=https://onlyconnectuk.org/history|title=Our history|publisher=Only Connect|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218100245/https://onlyconnectuk.org/history|archive-date=18 December 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/article/1668728|title=Charity founder Danny Kruger among the voluntary sector figures to have been elected to parliament|first=Andy|last=Ricketts|publisher=Third Sector|access-date=17 December 2019}} and in 2008 left his position as Cameron's chief speechwriter to work full-time for the charity.{{cite news|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/2008/06/i-wrote-hug-a-hoodie-and-im-proud-of-it/|work=The Spectator|title=I wrote 'hug a hoodie' and I'm proud of it|last=Kruger|first=Danny|date=25 June 2008|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-date=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207123018/https://www.spectator.co.uk/2008/06/i-wrote-hug-a-hoodie-and-im-proud-of-it/|url-status=live}} In 2015, the charity was acquired by Catch22 but continued to operate independently with its own brand.{{cite web|url=https://charitytimes.com/ct/catch22-acquires-only-connect.php|title=Catch22 acquires Only Connect|last=Ritchie|first=Matt|date=13 October 2015|website=Charity Times|access-date=18 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218100249/https://charitytimes.com/ct/catch22-acquires-only-connect.php|archive-date=18 December 2019|url-status=live}} He also founded the charity West London Zone, which aims to provide support to at-risk youth.{{cite web|url=https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/dcms-civil-society-adviser-moves-to-number-10.html|title=DCMS civil society adviser moves to Number 10|date=1 August 2019|access-date=7 February 2020|last=Preston|first=Rob|publisher=Civil Society|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113131231/https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/dcms-civil-society-adviser-moves-to-number-10.html|archive-date=13 January 2020|url-status=live}} Kruger was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to charity in the 2017 Queen's Birthday Honours.{{cite web|title=Members of the Order of the British Empire|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/621349/prime_ministers_list_queens_birthday_honours_2017.pdf|publisher=gov.uk|page=95|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725201407/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/621349/prime_ministers_list_queens_birthday_honours_2017.pdf|archive-date=25 July 2019|url-status=live}} In the same year, he voiced his support for the legalisation of cannabis.{{cite news|url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/03/make-drugs-dull-legalising-cannabis-the-canadian-way/|work=The Spectator|title=Make drugs dull: legalising cannabis the Canadian way|date=11 March 2017|access-date=7 February 2020|last=Kruger|first=Danny|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211202709/https://www.spectator.co.uk/2017/03/make-drugs-dull-legalising-cannabis-the-canadian-way/|archive-date=11 December 2019|url-status=live}}

Kruger supported Brexit in the 2016 UK EU membership referendum.{{cite web|url=https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2020/02/danny-kruger-leaving-the-eu-is-about-more-than-global-britain-it-is-a-response-to-the-call-of-home.html|title=Danny Kruger: 'Leaving the EU is about more than Global Britain. It is a response to the call of home.'|publisher=ConservativeHome|date=3 February 2020|access-date=7 February 2020|last=Kruger|first=Danny|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206104027/https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2020/02/danny-kruger-leaving-the-eu-is-about-more-than-global-britain-it-is-a-response-to-the-call-of-home.html|archive-date=6 February 2020|url-status=live}} He was a senior fellow at the pro-Brexit think-tank Legatum Institute, which he left in 2018 to become an adviser at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.{{cite web|url=https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/dcms-appoints-charity-founder-as-adviser-on-the-civil-society-strategy.html|title=DCMS appoints charity founder to work on civil society strategy|publisher=Civil Society|last=Weakley|first=Kirsty|date=20 March 2018|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113131240/https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/dcms-appoints-charity-founder-as-adviser-on-the-civil-society-strategy.html|archive-date=13 January 2020|url-status=live}} In August 2019, Kruger became the political secretary to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/05/boris-johnson-ushers-in-radical-new-era-of-special-advisers|work=The Guardian|title=Boris Johnson ushers in radical new era of special advisers|date=5 August 2019|access-date=7 February 2020|last=Mason|first=Rowena|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110024404/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/05/boris-johnson-ushers-in-radical-new-era-of-special-advisers|archive-date=10 January 2020|url-status=live}}

Parliamentary career

{{Conservatism UK}}

File:Danny Kruger MP in conversation with John Howard, former Prime Minister of Australia, at ARC Forum 2023, 30 October 2023.jpg, former Prime Minister of Australia, in 2023.]]

Kruger was selected as a parliamentary candidate for the constituency of Devizes, a safe seat for the Conservative Party, on 9 November 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/18026414.danny-kruger-announced-new-chippenham-conservative-parliamentary-candidate-claire-perry-steps/|work=Gazette & Herald|title=Danny Kruger announced as new Devizes Conservative parliamentary candidate after Claire Perry steps down|date=9 November 2019|access-date=6 February 2020|last=Pantall|first=Amy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221021357/https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/18026414.danny-kruger-announced-new-chippenham-conservative-parliamentary-candidate-claire-perry-steps/|archive-date=21 December 2019|url-status=live}} The constituency's incumbent Conservative MP, Claire Perry O'Neill, had previously announced that she would be standing down at the next election to become the president of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, and spend more time with her family.{{cite news|title=Devizes MP's reason for not standing at next election|url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/17886359.devizes-mp-39-s-reason-not-standing-next-election/|work=Gazette and Herald|date=6 September 2019|access-date=6 February 2020|last=Moore|first=Joanne|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190921195925/https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/17886359.devizes-mp-39-s-reason-not-standing-next-election/|archive-date=21 September 2019|url-status=live}}

Kruger was elected as MP for Devizes at the 2019 general election with 63.1% of the vote and a majority of 23,993 over second-place Liberal Democrat candidate Jo Waltham.{{Cite web |title=General Election 12 December 2019 – Wiltshire Council |url=http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/elections-general |access-date=2019-11-16 |website=www.wiltshire.gov.uk}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000665|title=Devizes|publisher=BBC News|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413085948/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000665|archive-date=13 April 2019|url-status=live}} After the election, he was replaced as political secretary to the PM by Benjamin Gascoigne, Baron Gascoigne.{{cite news|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/world/uk/2020/03/whos-charge-inside-no-10-maverick-advisers-running-britain|work=The New Statesman|date=4 March 2020|accessdate=28 June 2022|title=Who's in charge inside No 10: the maverick advisers running Britain|last=Lambert|first=Harry|archive-date=28 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628171326/https://www.newstatesman.com/world/uk/2020/03/whos-charge-inside-no-10-maverick-advisers-running-britain|url-status=live}} He made his maiden speech on 29 January 2020, in which he called for a return to Christian values.{{cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-01-29/debates/FC076C93-9BD1-4277-80E6-55A77EF28B7F/PolicingAndCrime|title=Policing and Crime|access-date=7 February 2020|date=29 January 2020|publisher=parliament.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206104031/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-01-29/debates/FC076C93-9BD1-4277-80E6-55A77EF28B7F/PolicingAndCrime|archive-date=6 February 2020|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.christian.org.uk/news/mp-urges-britain-to-return-to-its-christian-heritage/|title=MP urges Britain to return to its Christian heritage|work=Christian Institute|date=3 February 2020 |access-date=3 February 2020|archive-date=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207125101/https://www.christian.org.uk/news/mp-urges-britain-to-return-to-its-christian-heritage/|url-status=live}}

In May 2020 he tweeted extensively in support of the apparent breach of lockdown by Dominic Cummings and Mary Wakefield, describing them as "old friends".{{cite news |last1=Paessler |first1=Benjamin |title=John Glen, Danny Kruger respond to Dominic Cummings allegations |url=https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/18475526.john-glen-danny-kruger-respond-dominic-cummings-allegations/ |accessdate=27 May 2020 |work=Salisbury Journal |date=26 May 2020 |archive-date=4 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604194742/https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/18475526.john-glen-danny-kruger-respond-dominic-cummings-allegations/ |url-status=live }}

In August 2020 Kruger was photographed breaching the rules on the mandatory wearing of masks on public transport. He apologised and stated that he "simply forgot", but also criticised the photographer for not asking him to put on a mask.{{cite news|title=MP apologises after being pictured not wearing a mask during train journey|url=https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/18735773.devizes-mp-danny-kruger-pictured-train-not-wearing-mask/|access-date=21 September 2020|website=Salisbury Journal|language=en|archive-date=23 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923205045/https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/18735773.devizes-mp-danny-kruger-pictured-train-not-wearing-mask/|url-status=live}} He has also referred to his dislike for "absurd masks" in an interview with local media.{{cite news|url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/18712082.devizes-mp-reacts-new-coronavirus-measures/|title=Devizes MP reacts to new coronavirus measures|work=Wiltshire Gazette and Herald|last=McLaughlin|first=Matthew|date=10 September 2020|access-date=28 June 2021|archive-date=7 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707235513/https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/18712082.devizes-mp-reacts-new-coronavirus-measures/|url-status=live}}

He was appointed as a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities in September 2021, serving under Secretary of State Michael Gove.{{cite web|url=https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/danny-kruger-to-take-up-role-at-new-levelling-up-ministry.html|publisher=Civil Society News|title=Danny Kruger joins Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities|last=Hargrave|first=Russell|date=21 September 2021|accessdate=5 July 2022}}

In June 2022, Kruger supported Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the 2022 Conservative Party vote of confidence in his leadership, stating: "I don't judge people's private morals, or rather I do but I oughtn't. I judge public conduct. And on that, I think we should be forgiving about minor slips".{{Cite web |title=Danny Kruger MP will support Boris Johnson in no-confidence vote |url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/20189903.danny-kruger-mp-will-support-boris-johnson-no-confidence-vote/ |access-date=9 June 2022 |work=The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald |date=6 June 2022 |language=en |archive-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606152743/https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/20189903.danny-kruger-mp-will-support-boris-johnson-no-confidence-vote/ |url-status=live }} In the same month, while speaking during a debate on the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court of the United States which resulted in the removal of pregnant women's constitutional right to abortion, he commented that he did not agree "that women have an absolute right to bodily autonomy" in relation to abortion as "in the case of abortion that right is qualified by the fact that another body is involved".{{cite news|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/mps-urgent-question-roe-v-wade-abortion-rights-diana-johnson|work=PoliticsHome|date=28 June 2022|title=MPs Call For Stronger UK Abortion Rights After Historic US Abortion Bans|last=Langford|first=Eleanor|access-date=28 June 2022|archive-date=28 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628202455/https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/mps-urgent-question-roe-v-wade-abortion-rights-diana-johnson|url-status=live}}

On 6 July 2022, Kruger resigned as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as part of a crisis in confidence in Johnson's leadership.{{Cite tweet |user= danny__kruger| number= 1544782425078878208 |title=Very sorry indeed to hear @michaelgove has been fired by the PM. As I told No 10 earlier today it should be the PM leaving office. I am resigning as PPS at @Dluhc.}} He endorsed Suella Braverman during the subsequent leadership election.{{cite news |last1=Gavaghan |first1=Beth |title=Danny Kruger backs Attorney General Suella Braverman to be Prime Minister |url=https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/20269773.danny-kruger-backs-attorney-general-suella-braverman-prime-minister/ |access-date=12 July 2022 |work=Wiltshire Times |date=11 July 2022}}

In May 2023, at the National Conservatism Conference, Kruger commented in a speech that "the only basis for a safe and successful society" was marriage between men and women, that they should stick "together for the sake of the children", and that this should be recognised and rewarded.{{Cite web |date=16 May 2023 |title="The tension within each of us is between the desire to belong and the desire to be free." Kruger's speech to the National Conservative Conference. Full text. |url=https://conservativehome.com/2023/05/16/the-tension-within-each-of-us-is-between-the-desire-to-belong-and-the-desire-to-be-free-krugers-speech-to-the-national-conservative-conference-full-text/ |access-date=4 September 2023 |website=Conservative Home}} He also bemoaned what he saw as "the radicalisation of a generation. In the name of a new ideology, a new religion – a mix of Marxism and narcissism and paganism, self-worship and nature-worship all wrapped up in revolution." He defended his views on the Planet Normal podcast, arguing that "I do think that society has been built and can only really prosper if the basis of it is the principle that if you have children with somebody fit, the ideal is that you stick together with that person through the whole of your child's life.... but as I say there are many occasions where that is not possible."{{Cite news |last1=Pearson |first1=Allison |last2=Halligan |first2=Liam |last3=Hoe |first3=Cass |last4=Bougeard |first4=Isabelle |date=18 May 2023 |title=Planet Normal: Conservatism should incentivise family stability not family breakdown|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2023/05/18/planet-normal-conservatism-danny-kruger/ |access-date=4 September 2023 |issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite news |last=Freeman |first=Hadley |date=4 September 2023 |title=Whatever your politics, just blame the woman|work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/whatever-your-politics-just-blame-the-woman-q55z5wsj3 |access-date=4 September 2023 |issn=0140-0460}} Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesman distanced himself from Kruger's remarks on the role of marriage in society.{{Cite news |last=Nevett |first=Joshua |date=16 May 2023 |title=Sunak rejects Tory MP's claim about marriage between men and women |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65612836 |access-date=4 September 2023}} Kruger also defended the use of the phrase "cultural Marxism" by fellow MP Miriam Cates at the same conference.{{Cite web |last=Harpin |first=Lee |title=Conservative MP dismisses claims of antisemitism in use of 'cultural Marxism' term |url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/conservative-mp-dismisses-claims-of-antisemitism-in-use-of-cultural-marxism-term/ |access-date=4 September 2023 |website=Jewish News |date=29 June 2023 |language=en-US}}

In October 2023 Kruger said on Sky News that many asylum applicants to the UK were pretending to be gay to increase their chances of remaining.{{Cite web|url=https://x.com/Haggis_UK/status/1709114434545696787?s=20|title=x.com}}

In November 2023 Kruger participated in the inaugural conference of the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship. In an interview there he said: "We can tolerate eccentric ideologues. What we can't tolerate is large numbers of people who hate the country that they live in".{{cite news |title='We can't tolerate large numbers of people who hate the country that they live in' |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESJXt06Cx1U |agency=GB News |publisher=YouTube |date=6 November 2023}}

At the 2024 general election, Kruger was elected to Parliament as MP for East Wiltshire with 35.7% of the vote and a majority of 4,716.{{Cite news |title=East Wiltshire – General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001217 |access-date=2024-07-15 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=General election results declared in Wiltshire |url=https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/article/9718/General-election-results-declared-in-Wiltshire |access-date=2024-07-15 |website=Wiltshire Council |language=en}}

Kruger opposed Kim Leadbeater's bill introducing assisted suicide into law and served on the committee examining the legislation.{{cite web |title=Who are the MPs who will scrutinise the assisted dying bill? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3e34gvzlv0o |website=BBC |date=11 December 2024}}

On 17 March 2025, he replaced Ben Obese-Jecty on the Work and Pensions Select Committee.{{Cite web |title=Business without Debate - Hansard - UK Parliament |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025-03-17/debates/A42663E6-2A98-4ECF-8381-CC2424B02641/BusinessWithoutDebate |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=hansard.parliament.uk |language=en}}

Political philosophy

Kruger has said that his politics are best described as communitarianism.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dannykruger.org.uk/about-me|title=About me|website=Danny Kruger}}{{Cite web|url=https://religionmediacentre.org.uk/news/kruger-report-calls-for-a-new-deal-for-faith-groups-but-is-it-just-hot-air/|title=Kruger report calls for a new deal for faith groups . . . but is it just hot air?|first=Tim|last=Wyatt|date=11 October 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://conservativehome.com/2021/03/31/profile-danny-kruger-defender-of-christian-conservatism-and-traditional-ideas-of-virtue/|title=Profile: Danny Kruger, defender of Christian conservatism and traditional ideas of virtue|first=Andrew|last=Gimson|date=31 March 2021|website=Conservative Home}}

Personal life

Kruger is married to Emma, a former teacher. When they met Emma was an evangelical Christian, and Kruger later converted to this.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/tories-should-beware-post-liberal-politics-rtms7p06j|title=Tory fantasists want to turn back the clock|work=The Times|last=Aaronovitch|first=David|date=5 February 2020|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206101702/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tories-should-beware-post-liberal-politics-rtms7p06j|archive-date=6 February 2020|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}} They have three children. They are both co-founders of the charity Only Connect.{{cite web|url=https://onlyconnectuk.org/people|title=Our people|access-date=7 February 2020|publisher=Only Connect|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218100259/https://onlyconnectuk.org/people|archive-date=18 December 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/aide-who-wrote-camerons-hug-a-hoodie-speech-is-attacked-by-a-hoodie-6881903.html|work=London Evening Standard|title=Aide who wrote Cameron's hug-a-hoodie speech is attacked... by a hoodie|date=3 July 2008|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221214209/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/aide-who-wrote-camerons-hug-a-hoodie-speech-is-attacked-by-a-hoodie-6881903.html|archive-date=21 December 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.onlyconnectuk.org/|title=Only Connect UK | Criminal Justice Charity | 32 Cubitt Street, London, UK|website=Only Connect Kings Cross Coworking Space}}

Kruger was fined £120 after his puppy caused a stampede when it chased a herd of 200 deer in London's Richmond Park in March 2021.{{cite news|url=https://uk.yahoo.com/news/tory-mp-fined-puppy-caused-145417217.html|title=Tory MP fined after puppy caused stampede of deer in London park|work=Yahoo News|last=Vaughan|first=Henry|date=7 June 2021|access-date=28 June 2021}} Kruger apologised and said he would be more careful in future.{{Cite news|date=7 June 2021|title=Danny Kruger MP fined over puppy's Richmond Park deer stampede|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-57327657|access-date=8 June 2021|archive-date=7 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607175722/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-57327657|url-status=live}}

Bibliography

  • {{Cite book |last=Kruger |first=Danny |title=On Fraternity |publisher=Civitas |year=2007 |isbn=1903386578}} Considers the politics of the early 21st century.
  • {{Cite book |last=Kruger |first=Danny |title=Covenant: The New Politics of Home, Neighbourhood and Nation |title-link=Covenant: The New Politics of Home, Neighbourhood and Nation |publisher=Forum Press |year=2023 |isbn=978-1800752115}} Sets out Kruger's political thinking.

References

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