Gavin Shuker
{{Short description|British Independent politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Gavin Shuker
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Official portrait of Mr Gavin Shuker crop 2.jpg
| term_start1 = 25 February 2019
| term_end1 = 4 June 2019
| office1 = Convener of Change UKThe Independent Group (March–April 2019)
| leader1 = Heidi Allen (Acting)
| predecessor1 = Office established
| successor1 = Office abolished
| office2 = Member of Parliament
for Luton South
| term_start2 = 6 May 2010
| term_end2 = 6 November 2019
| predecessor2 = Margaret Moran
| successor2 = Rachel Hopkins
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1981|10|10}}
| birth_place = Luton, England
| party = Parliamentary affiliation:
The Independents (2019)
Party membership:
Independent (2019–present)
| otherparty = Change UK (Feb–Jun 2019)
Labour and Co-operative (Until Feb 2019)
| spouse = Lucie Shuker (Divorced 2016)
| children = 1 daughter
| education = Girton College, Cambridge
| website = {{url|gavinshuker.org|Official website}}
| caption = Official portrait, 2017
}}
Gavin Shuker (born 10 October 1981){{cite news |title= Democracy Live: Gavin Suker MP |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/83624.stm |work= BBC News |access-date= 22 June 2010 |archive-date= 29 November 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141129010830/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/83624.stm |url-status= dead }} is a British former politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Luton South from 2010 to 2019. Shuker was a Labour and Co-operative Party MP before defecting to form Change UK. He then left Change UK to become an Independent politician and was defeated at the 2019 election, coming third with 9.3% of the vote.
Shuker successfully defended the seat as the Labour candidate in 2010, after his predecessor Margaret Moran stood down following controversy over her expenses.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/election2010/results/constituency/c74.stm|title=Luton South|date=7 May 2010|publisher=BBC News}} Shuker was appointed as a Shadow International Development Minister by Ed Miliband in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://labourlist.org/2013/10/confirmed-labours-new-frontbench-team-in-full/|title=Confirmed: Labour's new frontbench team in full - LabourList|date=8 October 2013}} He left the Opposition Frontbench in September 2015, with the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Party Leader, citing "political differences" with him.{{cite news |url=http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/politics/gavin-shuker-steps-back-from-labour-frontbench-due-to-political-differences-with-jeremy-corbyn-1-6966167 |title=Gavin Shuker steps back from Labour frontbench due to political differences with Jeremy Corbyn |author=Adam Parris-Long |newspaper=Luton Today |date=18 September 2015 |access-date=12 September 2016 |archive-date=6 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106185449/http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/politics/gavin-shuker-steps-back-from-labour-frontbench-due-to-political-differences-with-jeremy-corbyn-1-6966167 |url-status=dead }} In 2018, he lost a motion of no confidence by his constituency party. Shuker resigned from Labour on 18 February 2019 with six other MPs, and they formed Change UK.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47278902 |title=Seven MPs leave Labour Party in protest at Jeremy Corbyn's leadership|work=BBC News|date=18 February 2019}} In June 2019, he left Change UK to sit as an independent MP.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48515505|title=Change UK loses six of its 11 MPs|date=2019-06-04|work=BBC News|access-date=2019-06-04|language=en-GB}} He stood as an independent in the 2019 United Kingdom general election but lost his seat.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000801|title=Luton South parliamentary constituency - Election 2019|access-date=2019-12-23|language=en-GB}}
Education and early life
A Lutonian, Shuker was educated at two state schools: Icknield Primary and Icknield High School. He was head boy at the latter. He then attended Luton Sixth Form College before going on to acquire a degree in Social and Political Sciences{{cite web |url=http://www2.labour.org.uk/mp/gavin_shuker/854 |title=About Gavin Shuker |publisher=Labour Party |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514173809/http://www2.labour.org.uk/mp/gavin_shuker/854 |archive-date=14 May 2010}} at Girton College, Cambridge.
Shuker became leader and pastor of the City Life Church in Luton{{cite web |url=http://www.loveluton.org/Groups/15512/City_Life_Church/about_us/leadership/leadership.aspx |title=City Life Church Luton |publisher=City Life Church |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510194845/http://www.loveluton.org/Groups/15512/City_Life_Church/about_us/leadership/leadership.aspx |archive-date=10 May 2010}}{{cite news |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/07/08/god%E2%80%99s-politicians/ |title=God's Politicians |author=Paul Richards |publisher=Progress Online |date=8 July 2011 |access-date=12 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928013944/http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2011/07/08/god%E2%80%99s-politicians/ |archive-date=28 September 2016 |url-status=dead }} until he stood for parliament.
Political career
In May 2010 he was elected in Luton South, with a majority of 2,329 votes (5.5%) over the Conservative candidate Nigel Huddleston, and with the journalist and broadcaster Esther Rantzen a distant fourth.{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/07/esther-rantzen-fails-luton | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Helen | last=Pidd | title=UK election results 2010: Esther Rantzen fails to win Luton South | date=7 May 2010}} In October 2010, he was appointed PPS to the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, Sadiq Khan, and was also appointed to the transport select committee. In March 2011 he was promoted again to become Shadow Minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with responsibility for water and waste.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/83624.stm|title=BBC Democracy Live:Gavin Shuker MP|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2 December 2012|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129010830/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/83624.stm|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/deborahmcgurran/2011/03/promotion_for_shuker.html|title=BBC - Politics Points East: Promotion for Shuker|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}
He was a member of Christians on the Left[http://www.christiansontheleft.org.uk/they_came_expecting_fireworks They came expecting fireworks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219015646/http://www.christiansontheleft.org.uk/they_came_expecting_fireworks |date=19 February 2019 }} from Christians on the Left. and a Vice-Chair of Christians in Parliament.{{cite web|url=https://www.christiansinparliament.org.uk/members-stories/gavin-shuker-mp/|title=Gavin Shuker MP - Members' Stories - Christians in Parliament|website=www.christiansinparliament.org.uk|access-date=18 February 2019|archive-date=19 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219015738/https://www.christiansinparliament.org.uk/members-stories/gavin-shuker-mp/|url-status=dead}}
Contrary to a newspaper piece{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/labour-s-u-turn-equal-marriage-why-equality-minority-groups-matter-conscience-8405578.html|title=Labour's U-turn on equal marriage: why is equality for minority groups|date=16 May 2013|website=The Independent}} written about Shuker, he was not opposed to the introduction of same-sex marriage. He wrote he had "misgivings about how legally robust safeguards [which were put in place to prevent religious groups from being forced to carry out ceremonies] were in legislation", but he did not block the legislation and indeed voted for its implementation in later divisions.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/gavinshuker/status/1097277116813660160|title=There's an odd Owen Jones tweet doing the rounds tonight. Let me try to unpick it. It's absolutely absurd to state, as he does, that I'm a bigot. I've never voted against same-sex marriage. This is pretty thin gruel.|last=Shuker|first=Gavin|date=2019-02-17|website=@gavinshuker|language=en|access-date=2019-12-18}}
In the October 2013 reshuffle, he was shifted to the Shadow International Development team as a Shadow Minister of State. His brief covered policy on Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, in addition to responsibility for policy on climate change, inequality, violence against women and girls and the post-2015 SDG agenda. As part of his Shadow Ministerial role, Shuker visited Palestine, Pakistan, El Salvador and the United Nations at Geneva and New York.{{cite web|url=http://www.gavinshuker.org/international-development/|title=Email updates|access-date=21 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328042834/http://gavinshuker.org/international-development/|archive-date=28 March 2015|url-status=dead}}
Alongside his frontbench activities, Shuker has served as Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Prostitution and the Global Sex Trade, Vice-Chair of the Polar Regions All-Party Parliamentary Group, Vice-Chair of the Christians in Parliament APPG and Vice-Chair of the Thameslink Route APPG. He was a member of other APPGs, including the group on Kashmir, East-West Rail and Human Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery.{{Cite web| title=Register of all-party groups | date=2009-05-08 | url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/register.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619074722/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/register.pdf | archive-date=2009-06-19}}
In March 2014 under Shuker's chairmanship, the APPG on Prostitution and the Global Sex Trade published a new report on the legal state of prostitution in England and Wales. The result of a year-long consultation it was the first major cross-party report on the issue since the mid-1990s. The report called for a wholesale review of the existing legal settlement on prostitution, advocating consideration of a move towards the so-called 'Nordic model'.{{Cite web|url=http://www.luton-dunstable.co.uk/Parliamentary-group-chaired-Luton-South-MP-Gavin-Shuker-releases-report-prostitution/story-21702546-detail/story.html|title=Latest Bedford News news - Beds On Sunday|date=24 November 2023 }}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} In the foreword to the APPG's report, Shuker wrote: "In short, we recommend a shift in the burden of criminality from those who are the most marginalised and vulnerable – to those that create the demand in the first place."[https://appgprostitution.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/shifting-the-burden1.pdf 'Shifting the burden'] from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Prostitution and the Global Sex Trade
In March 2012, Shuker was one of three MPs who signed a letter sent to the Advertising Standards Authority asking it to reverse its decision to stop the Christian group "Healing on the Streets of Bath" from making explicit claims that prayer can heal. The letter called for the ASA to provide indisputable scientific evidence that such healing did not work.{{Cite news| url= http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/03/29/tim-farron-prayer-can-heal-letter-was-a-mistake_n_1387187.html | work= Huffington Post UK | title= Tim Farron: 'Prayer Can Heal' Letter Was A Mistake | access-date= 30 March 2012 | date=29 March 2012}}
Shuker has been a critic of right-wing nationalist groups such as Britain First, the English Defence League (EDL) and Liberty GB, condemning what he calls their repeated "targeting" of Luton.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-31145062|title=Luton MP Gavin Shuker tells EDL 'stop targeting town'|date=5 February 2015|work=BBC News}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/crime/far-right-group-britain-first-announce-luton-march-after-staging-mosque-invasions-1-6753462|title=Far-right group Britain First announce Luton march after staging mosque 'invasions'}} He has drawn attention to the high costs of policing demonstrations by the EDL,{{Cite web|url=https://www.politics.co.uk/news/2011/02/09/pm-negligent-over-multiculturalism-speech/|title=PM 'negligent' over multiculturalism speech|date=9 February 2011|website=Politics.co.uk}} and has spoken at rallies opposing the EDL's presence in Luton.{{Cite web|url=https://demotix.com/|title=DemotiX - Global Magazine 2021|website=DemotiX}}{{better source needed|date=August 2021}}
Following the May 2015 general election, Shuker announced his intention to support Liz Kendall's campaign to be Labour leader.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/gavinshuker/status/601327084112367616|title=Gavin Shuker on Twitter}}{{cite web|url=http://labourlist.org/2015/05/supporters-bullish-about-kendalls-chances-as-toby-perkins-named-campaign-chair/|title=Supporters bullish about Kendall's chances as Toby Perkins named campaign chair - LabourList|date=21 May 2015}}
File:Freedom of religion or belief (30429025025).jpg in London on October 19, 2016.]]
On 6 September 2018, a meeting of the Luton South Constituency Labour Party passed a vote of no confidence in Shuker.{{cite news|date=21 September 2018|title=Jeremy Corbyn: Gavin Shuker vote 'not start of deselection'|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-45599393|access-date=28 September 2018}} Luton South CLP passed their motion with 33 votes in favour of the motion with five abstentions and only three voting to support the MP.{{cite news | last = Carr| first = Stewart|url=https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/rumours-abound-after-luton-south-clp-passes-no-confidence-motion-in-mp-gavin-shuker-1-8628367 |title='Rumours abound' after Luton South CLP passes no confidence motion in MP Gavin Shuker |work=Luton Today |date=7 September 2018 |access-date= 28 September 2018}} After the vote, Shuker stated on Twitter: "At a local Labour Party meeting last night a motion of no confidence in me was passed. It's not part of any formal procedure, so it changes nothing about my role as Labour MP for Luton South".{{cite web |title=twitter.com/gavinshuker |url=https://twitter.com/gavinshuker/status/1037962321321226240 |website=Twitter}}
= The Independent Group and The Independents=
On 18 February 2019, Shuker and six other MPs – Chuka Umunna, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Mike Gapes, Luciana Berger, and Ann Coffey – quit Labour in protest at Jeremy Corbyn's leadership to form the Independent Group of MPs.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-47278902|title=Seven MPs leave Labour in Corbyn protest|date=2019-02-18|access-date=2019-02-19|language=en-GB}} The Independent Group cited disagreements over the handling of Brexit and anti-Semitism within the Labour Party as key reasons for leaving.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/02/19/independent-group-luciana-berger-chuka-umunna-labour-mps-have/|title=What is 'The Independent Group' and who are Luciana Berger, Chuka Umunna and the other Labour MPs who have resigned?|last=Maidment|first=Jack|date=2019-02-19|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2019-02-19|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}
In June 2019, he left Change UK (The Independent Group) to sit as an independent MP. In July 2019, Shuker was a founding member of a grouping of MPs called The Independents.{{cite news|url=https://www.cityam.com/take-two-ex-change-uk-mps-set-up-new-organisation-called-the-independents/|title=Take two: Ex-Change UK MPs forge new alliance called the Independents|last=McCarthy|first=Sebastian|date=10 July 2019|work=City A.M.}} He stood as an independent candidate in the 2019 United Kingdom general election, but lost his seat, polling 9.3% of the vote and coming third.
=Political interests=
Later career
In 2020 he became a director and chief executive officer of Cardeo Ltd,{{Cite web|title=CARDEO LTD - Officers (free information from Companies House)|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12712807/officers|access-date=2020-12-16|website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk|language=en}} a UK based financial technology startup company.{{Cite web|title=Cardeo - Easy credit card management app|url=https://cardeo.com/|access-date=2020-12-16|website=Cardeo|language=en-GB}} In June 2021 the company [https://web.archive.org/web/20210610135203/https://cardeo.com/news/cardeo-to-test-in-fca-sandbox announced] it had closed a £2.1m funding round to take its robo-advisor credit card app to market.
Personal life
He was married to Lucie, whom he met at the University of Cambridge but announced in 2016 that they had divorced.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gavinshuker.org/2015/05/01/some-sad-news/|title=Some sad news|last=MP|first=Gavin Shuker|date=20 March 2017|website=Gavin Shuker MP|access-date=20 March 2017}} They have a daughter, born 16 June 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2013-07-04a.1059.0&s=speaker:24847#g1071.0|title=Business of the House: 4 Jul 2013: House of Commons debates|publisher=TheyWorkForYou}}{{cite news|url=https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/mp-s-baby-is-born-on-father-s-day-1-5200161|title=MP's baby is born on Father's Day|date=18 June 2013|website=Luton Today|access-date=29 October 2019|archive-date=29 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029212113/https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/mp-s-baby-is-born-on-father-s-day-1-5200161|url-status=dead}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
- {{UK MP links | parliament = Gavin-Shuker/4013 | hansardcurr = | guardian = 11816/gavin-shuker | publicwhip = Gavin_Shuker | theywork = Gavin_Shuker | record = Gavin-Shuker/Luton-South/1293 | bbc = 83624.stm }}
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{{s-bef|before=Margaret Moran}}
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|title=Member of Parliament for Luton South
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{{s-aft|after=Rachel Hopkins}}
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{{Change UK}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shuker, Gavin}}
Category:Independent members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
Category:English Christian socialists
Category:People educated at Icknield High School
Category:Alumni of Girton College, Cambridge