Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

{{For|the MP from Bury St Edmunds|Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Bury St Edmunds MP)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

| honorific-suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|FRICS|MP}}

| image = Official portrait of Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP crop 2.jpg

| caption = Official portrait, 2020

| office2 = Member of Parliament
for North Cotswolds
{{nobold|The Cotswolds (2010–2024)}}
{{nobold|Cotswold (1997–2010)}}
{{nobold|Cirencester and Tewkesbury (1992–1997)}}

| parliament2 = UK

| term_start2 = 9 April 1992

| term_end2 =

| majority2 = 3,357 (6.6%)

| predecessor2 = Nicholas Ridley

| successor2 =

| office = Chair of the Public Accounts Committee

| term_start = 11 September 2024

| term_end =

| predecessor = Dame Meg Hillier

| successor =

| office1 = Treasurer of the 1922 Committee

| termstart1 = N/A

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1953|03|23|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality = British

| spouse = {{marriage|Alexandra Peto-Shepherd|1979|2004|end=divorce}}

| party = Conservative

| relations =

| children = Jacqueline, Edward, Robert

| residence = Gloucestershire

| alma_mater = Royal Agricultural College

| occupation = Member of Parliament

| profession = Politician and Surveyor

| signature =

| website = [https://www.cliftonbrown.co.uk/ cliftonbrown.co.uk]

| footnotes =

}}

Sir Geoffrey Robert Clifton-Brown (born 23 March 1953)Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 1, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, p. 538 is a British Conservative Party politician who has served as a Member of Parliament (MP) since 1992. He has represented North Cotswolds since 2024, having previously represented Cirencester and Tewkesbury, then The Cotswolds.

Early life and career

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown was born on 23 March 1953 in Cambridge, the eldest of four children of farmer Robert Lawrence Clifton-Brown (1929–2016), of Maltings Farmhouse, Haverhill, Suffolk, a councillor and mayor of St Edmundsbury, Suffolk,{{cite news|url=https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/sudbury/news/tributes-to-dedicated-st-edmundsbury-councillor-and-devoted-family-man-1-7627398/|title = Tributes to 'dedicated' St Edmundsbury councillor and 'devoted' family man| newspaper=Suffolk News |date = 13 October 2016}} and (Florence) Elizabeth Lindsay (1926–2006), granddaughter of Sir Edmund Hoyle Vestey, 1st Baronet.

He was privately educated, first at Tormore School, in Deal, Kent and then at Eton College. He then studied at the Royal Agricultural College where he qualified as a chartered surveyor in 1975. He began his career as a graduate estate surveyor at the Property Services Agency in Dorchester and, later in 1975, became an investment surveyor with Jones Lang Wootton. He became the vice chairman of the Norfolk North Conservative Association in 1984. He was elected as Constituency Chairman in 1986, a position he held until he resigned in 1991 in order to stand for election as a Conservative candidate.

Parliamentary career

During 1991, Clifton-Brown was selected as the candidate for the then Conservative parliamentary constituency of Cirencester and Tewkesbury, following the retirement of the former Cabinet minister Nicholas Ridley. He won the seat at the 1992 general election with 55.6% of the vote and a majority of 16,058,{{cite web|title=Election Data 1992|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|accessdate=28 June 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054418/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt|archivedate=15 October 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm|title=Politics Resources|date=9 April 1992|work=Election 1992|publisher=Politics Resources|accessdate=6 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724020412/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm|archive-date=24 July 2011|url-status=dead}} both slightly higher than at the 1987 general election.{{cite web|title=Election Data 1987|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|accessdate=28 June 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054243/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt|archivedate=15 October 2011|url-status=dead}} Clfiton-Brown made his maiden speech on 12 June 1992.{{cite web| url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1992-06-12/Debate-4.html| title=Hansard report. Cirencester and Tewkesbury 1992| publisher=publications.parliament.uk| access-date=16 December 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205192337/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1992-06-12/Debate-4.html| archive-date=5 December 2014| url-status=live}}

When newly elected Clifton-Brown became a member of the Environment Select Committee, where he remained until 1995. He was then appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Douglas Hogg, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The constituency of Cirencester and Tewkesbury was abolished, but Clifton-Brown contested and was elected for the newly drawn constituency of Cotswold at the 1997 general election. He won with 46.4% of the vote, a decrease of 8% from 1992, and a majority of 11,965, down from 16,058.{{cite web|title=Election Data 1997|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054424/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt|archive-date=15 October 2011}}{{efn|Percentage change and swing for 1997 is calculated relative to the Rallings and Thrasher 1992 notional constituency result, not actual 1992 result. See C. Rallings & M. Thrasher, The Media Guide to the New Parliamentary Constituencies (Plymouth: LGC Elections Centre, 1995)}} He was again re-elected at the 2001 general election with an increased vote share of 50.3% and an increased majority of 11,983.{{cite web|title=Election Data 2001|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt|archive-date=15 October 2011}}

In 2002, after Iain Duncan Smith became leader of the Conservative party, Clifton-Brown became the Shadow Minister for Local and Devolved Government Affairs.{{cite web| url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/geoffrey-clifton-brown/249| title=Geoffrey Clifton-Brown biography| publisher=parliament.uk| access-date=16 December 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141216192025/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/geoffrey-clifton-brown/249| archive-date=16 December 2014| url-status=live}}

Clifton-Brown was re-elected at the 2005 general election with a decreased vote share of 49.3% and a decreased majority of 9,688.{{cite web|title=Election Data 2005|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=18 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt|archive-date=15 October 2011}} He returned to Westminster as assistant Chief Conservative Whip. On the accession of David Cameron as Leader of the Conservative Party, he was appointed the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment.

During the parliamentary expenses scandal in 2009, Clifton-Brown switched his main residence from his house in the Cotswolds to a London flat.{{cite news |last1=Tilley |first1=Emma |title=Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown is latest to be embroiled in expenses scandal |url=https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/4382609.cotswold-mp-geoffrey-clifton-brown-is-latest-to-be-embroiled-in-expenses-scandal/ |access-date=2 May 2021 |work=Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard |date=20 May 2009 |archive-date=13 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213083300/https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/4382609.cotswold-mp-geoffrey-clifton-brown-is-latest-to-be-embroiled-in-expenses-scandal/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Watt |first1=Holly |title=Geoffrey Clifton-Brown 'flips' to £2.7m house: MPs' expenses |url-access=subscription |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5331742/Geoffrey-Clifton-Brown-flips-to-2.7m-house-MPs-expenses.html |access-date=2 May 2021 |work=The Telegraph |url-status=live|date=15 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212115133/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5331742/Geoffrey-Clifton-Brown-flips-to-2.7m-house-MPs-expenses.html |archive-date=12 February 2024}}{{cite news |title=MPs' expenses in detail |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8104383.stm#cliftonbrown_geoffrey |work=BBC News|access-date=2 May 2021 |archive-date=28 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128034828/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8104383.stm#cliftonbrown_geoffrey |url-status=live }} The Cotswolds Conservative Party Association said that Clifton-Brown had acted within the rules.

Clifton-Brown was again re-elected at the 2010 general election, increasing his vote share to 53% and his majority to 12,864.{{cite web|title=Election Data 2010|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt|archive-date=26 July 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/e66.stm|title=BBC News | Election 2010 | Constituency | Cotswolds, The|website=news.bbc.co.uk}}

Percentage change and swing for 2010 is calculated relative to the PA (Rallings and Thrasher) 2005 notional result, not actual 2005 result {{cite web |title=Press Association Elections |url=http://election.pressassociation.com/Constituencies/general.php |publisher=Press Association |access-date=17 July 2017 |archive-date=13 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613160529/http://election.pressassociation.com/Constituencies/general.php |url-status=dead }} After the formation of the subsequent coalition government, he returned as a backbencher, making overseas visits in his role as Chairman of the Conservative Party's International Office. At this time he became the Parliamentary Chairman of the Conservative Friends of the Chinese. In 2014, he received critical attention in the media following a visit to China paid for by the Chinese authorities.{{cite news|last=McFadden|first=Brendan|date=6 June 2014|title=Cotswold MP defends trip to China paid for by Chinese communists|work=Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard|url=https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/11262895.cotswold-mp-defends-trip-to-china-paid-for-by-chinese-communists/|url-status=live|access-date=24 August 2020|archive-date=30 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630013311/https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/11262895.cotswold-mp-defends-trip-to-china-paid-for-by-chinese-communists/}} In a 2015 interview with CNN, Clifton-Brown stated that his family has been doing business in China since the 1920s.{{cite news|date=20 October 2015|title=U.K. aims to be 'China's best' trade partner in the West|work=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/10/20/china-intv-amanpour-pleitgen-geoffrey-clifton-brown.cnn|url-status=live|access-date=24 August 2020|archive-date=28 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151028174440/http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/10/20/china-intv-amanpour-pleitgen-geoffrey-clifton-brown.cnn}} Clifton-Brown has remained engaged with the Chinese authorities.{{cite web|date=7 August 2018|title=Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Speaks about BRI|url=https://www.britishchamber.cn/en/sir-geoffrey-clifton-brown-speaks-about-bri/|access-date=25 August 2020|website=British Chamber of Commerce in China {{!}} Beijing|archive-date=25 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825021855/https://www.britishchamber.cn/en/sir-geoffrey-clifton-brown-speaks-about-bri/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|date=31 July 2020|title=Guo Yezhou Exchanges Views with Chairman of the Conservative Parliamentary China Group of the U.K. via Videolink|url=https://www.idcpc.org.cn/english/news/202008/t20200805_139415.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200823230345/https://www.idcpc.org.cn/english/news/202008/t20200805_139415.html|archive-date=23 August 2020|access-date=24 August 2020|website=International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party}}

Clifton-Brown was again re-elected at the 2015 general election with an increased vote share of 56.5% and an increased majority of 21,477.{{cite web|title=Election Data 2015|url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt|publisher=Electoral Calculus|access-date=17 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt|archive-date=17 October 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cotswold.gov.uk/media/1178863/Declaration-of-result-PARLIAMENTARY-ELECTION-2015.pdf|title=Declaration Of Result Of Poll Election of a Member of Parliament for The Cotswolds Constituency on Thursday 7 May 2015 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110129/https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/media/1178863/Declaration-of-result-PARLIAMENTARY-ELECTION-2015.pdf |author=Nigel Adams Acting Returning Officer|date=8 May 2015 |access-date=19 June 2015|work=Cotswold District Council}} He was again re-elected at the snap 2017 general election with an increased vote share of 60.1% and an increased majority of 25,499.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000991|title=Cotswolds, The parliamentary constituency – Election 2017|work=BBC News}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cotswold.gov.uk/media/1510200/Declaration-of-result-Parliamentary-election-8-June-2017.pdf|title=Declaration Of Result Of Poll UK Parliamentary Election The Cotswolds Constituency Thursday 8 June 2017 |author=Andrew Tabor Returning Officer |work=Cotswold District Council|date=9 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506035131/https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/media/1510200/Declaration-of-result-Parliamentary-election-8-June-2017.pdf |archive-date=6 May 2018 |url-status=dead}}

In the 2018 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Bachelor for political and public service.{{London Gazette |issue=62150 |date=30 December 2017 |page=N2 |supp=y}}

In 2019, Clifton-Brown was asked to leave the Conservative Party Conference being held in Manchester, following a dispute with security staff who prevented him from entering a meeting room with a guest who did not have a relevant identification pass. He later apologised and described the incident as a "minor verbal misunderstanding".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-49898209|title=Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: MP kicked out of Tory conference after clash|work=BBC News|date=1 October 2019|access-date=1 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001154648/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-49898209|archive-date=1 October 2019|url-status=live}}

He was again re-elected at the 2019 general election, with a decreased vote share of 58% and a decreased majority of 20,214.{{cite web|url=https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/media/1760757/SOPN-and-NOP.pdf|title=Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll Election of a Member of Parliament The Cotswolds Constituency Thursday 12 December 2019 |date=14 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116231549/https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/media/1760757/SOPN-and-NOP.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 November 2019 |author=Nigel Adams Acting Returning Officer |work=Cotswold District Council}}

He has previously been voted as the worst MP in parliament in a survey of constituents ranking MPs on categories such as attendance and helping constituents.{{cite web | url=https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/read-this/every-uk-mp-has-been-ranked-from-best-to-worst-in-new-people-power-index-this-is-how-yours-scored-1334442 | title=Every UK MP has been ranked from best to worst in new 'People-Power Index' – this is how yours scored | date=6 December 2019 |first=Claire |last=Schofield |via=Blackpool Gazette |location=89 Caxton Road, Fulwood Preston, Lancashire PR2 9ZB England|archive-date=12 February 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240212112957/https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/read-this/every-uk-mp-has-been-ranked-from-best-to-worst-in-new-people-power-index-this-is-how-yours-scored-1334442 |work=Yorkshire Evening Post}}

Due to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, Clifton-Brown's constituency of The Cotswolds was abolished, and replaced with North Cotswolds. At the 2024 general election, Clifton-Brown was elected to Parliament as MP for North Cotswolds with 34.7% of the vote and a majority of 3,357.{{cite news |title=North Cotswolds – General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001386 |access-date=16 July 2024 |work=BBC News}} Following the general election, he ran against Bob Blackman to become chairman of the 1922 Committee, of which he had previously been treasurer; he lost by 28 votes.{{cite web |title=Conservatives choose new 1922 Committee chair in key step towards next leadership battle |url=https://news.sky.com/story/conservatives-choose-new-1922-committee-chair-in-key-step-towards-next-leadership-battle-13175638 |access-date=9 July 2024 |website=Sky News }}

On 11 September 2024, Clifton-Brown was elected Chair of the Public Accounts Committee.https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/127/public-accounts-committee/news/202843/sir-geoffrey-cliftonbrown-elected-chair-of-the-public-accounts-committee/

Personal life

In 1979, Clifton-Brown married Alexandra, daughter of Wing Commander Denis Noel Peto-Shepherd, RAF. They have one son and one daughter. They divorced in 2004.{{cite book|url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-11232|publisher=UK Who's Who|title=Clifton-Brown, Sir Geoffrey|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U11232|isbn=978-0-19-954088-4|access-date=1 October 2019|archive-date=25 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825021857/https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-11232?rskey=Mx1vNq&result=2|url-status=live}} He is now married to Kym Clifton-Brown.{{cite web |last=Hughes |first=Janet |date=21 March 2021 |title=Reports that Sir Geoffrey-Clifton Brown has wed for second time |url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/cotswolds-mp-geoffrey-clifton-brown-5195237 |access-date=2 November 2023 |website=Gloucestershire Live }} He is a Freeman of the City of London.{{cite web |title=Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey |url=https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/geoffrey-clifton-brown/ |publisher=politics.co.uk |access-date=27 June 2021}}

Clifton-Brown is related to seven other previous members of Parliament, including his grandfather Geoffrey Benedict Clifton-Brown, and his great-uncle Douglas Clifton Brown and his son-in-lawBurke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 1, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, p. 539 Harry Hylton-Foster (married to Audrey Clifton-Brown) who both became Speaker of the House of Commons. His great-uncle Howard Clifton Brown was elected as member of Parliament on several occasions.{{cite book |last=Craig |first=F. W. S. |author-link=F. W. S. Craig |title=British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 |publisher=Parliamentary Research Services |year=1983 |isbn=0-900178-06-X |edition=3rd |location=Chichester |page=293 |orig-year=1969}} He is also a descendant of the Army officer and MP James Clifton Brown.Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 1, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, pp. 484, 538

References

Notes

External links

[http://www.cliftonbrown.co.uk Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP] Official constituency website
[http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Clifton-Brown_Geoffrey.aspx Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP] Conservative Party profile
[https://www.northcotswoldconservatives.org.uk/ Northcotswold Conservatives]{{UK MP links | parliament = geoffrey-clifton-brown/249 | hansardcurr = 2637 | hansard = mr-geoffrey-clifton-brown | guardian = 1003/geoffrey-clifton-brown | publicwhip = Geoffrey_Clifton-Brown | theywork = geoffrey_clifton-brown | record = Geoffrey-Clifton-Brown/The-Cotswolds/665 | bbc = 25708.stm | journalisted = }}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20151222130130/http://www.conservativefriendsofthechinese.co.uk/parliamentary-chairman/ Profile Conservative Friends of the Chinese profile]
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