Graham Stuart (politician)
{{Short description|British politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Right Honourable
| name = Graham Stuart
| honorific-suffix = MP
| image = Official portrait of Graham Stuart (cropped) 5.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2017
| office = Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero{{efn|Minister of State for Climate and attending Cabinet from September to October 2022; Minister of State for Energy and Climate from October 2022 to February 2023.}}
| primeminister = Liz Truss
Rishi Sunak
| term_start = 6 September 2022
| term_end = 12 April 2024
| predecessor = Greg Hands
| successor = Justin Tomlinson
| office1 = Minister of State for Europe
| primeminister1 = Boris Johnson
| term_start1 = 7 July 2022
| term_end1 = 6 September 2022
| predecessor1 = James Cleverly
| successor1 = Leo Docherty
| office2 = Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exports
| primeminister2 = {{ubl|Theresa May|Boris Johnson}}
| term_start2 = 9 January 2018
| term_end2 = 16 September 2021
| predecessor2 = Mark Garnier
| successor2 = Mike Freer
| office3 = Chair of the Education Select Committee
| term_start3 = 9 June 2010
| term_end3 = 30 March 2015
| predecessor3 = Barry Sheerman
| successor3 = Neil Carmichael
| office4 = Member of Parliament
for Beverley and Holderness
| term_start4 = 5 May 2005
| term_end4 =
| predecessor4 = James Cran
| successor4 =
| majority4 = 124 (0.3%)
| birth_name = Graham Charles Stuart
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|3|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = Carlisle, Cumbria, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Conservative
| spouse = Anne Crawshaw
| children = 2 daughters
| education = Selwyn College, Cambridge
| residence = Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, England
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}
Graham Charles Stuart{{cite web
| title = Parliamentary Candidates
| url = http://www.election.demon.co.uk/cand01.html
| publisher = United Kingdom Election Results
| access-date = 1 May 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171124053813/http://www.election.demon.co.uk/cand01.html
| archive-date = 24 November 2017
| url-status = live
}} (born 12 March 1962) is a British Conservative Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness since 2005. He previously served in various ministerial positions under Prime Ministers Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak between 2018 and 2024.
Born in Carlisle, Stuart attended Glenalmond College and later studied at Selwyn College, Cambridge. He was a member of Cambridge City Council from 1998 to 2004 for the Conservative Party, and unsuccessfully contested the Cambridge constituency in the 2001 general election. He was elected to Parliament in 2005 general election for the constituency Beverley and Holderness, and was reelected in the 2010 general election. On the backbenches, Stuart was the Chair of the Education Select Committee from 2010 to 2015. He was reelected in both the 2015 and 2017 general elections. He joined the government in 2018 as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exports under Prime Minister Theresa May, and was reappointed to the position under Boris Johnson in 2019. He was reelected in the 2019 general election, and later returned to the backbenches after being dismissed by Johnson in 2021.
Stuart returned to the government as Minister of State for Europe following the July 2022 government crisis under Johnson. After Liz Truss became Prime Minister in September 2022, Stuart was appointed to a cabinet attending position as Minister of State for Climate. Following the appointment of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister the following month, Stuart was reappointed to the position with the additional portfolio of Energy but was removed from cabinet. The portfolio was retitled to Energy Security and Net Zero in the February 2023 British cabinet reshuffle, before Stuart stood down from the position in April 2024. He was reelected in the 2024 general election with a reduced majority.
Early life and education
Graham Stuart was born on 12 March 1962 in Carlisle, and went to Glenalmond College, an independent school in Perthshire, before studying at Selwyn College, Cambridge, from 1982 to 1985, where he read Philosophy and Law.{{cite web
| title = Stuart, Graham
| url = http://www.politics.co.uk/mps/party-politics/conservatives/stuart-graham-$452086.htm
| publisher = politics.co.uk
| access-date = 1 May 2010
| archive-date = 16 February 2020
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200216203038/https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/graham-charles-stuart
| url-status = dead
}} Stuart failed his degree, after focusing his efforts on developing his "What's on in Cambridge" guide into a profitable business. He remains a non-executive chairman of the company.
He was Chairman of the Cambridge University Conservative Association in 1985.{{cite web
| title = History
| url = http://www.cuca.org.uk/about/history/
| publisher = Cambridge University Conservative Association
| access-date = 1 May 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110719044931/http://www.cuca.org.uk/about/history/
| archive-date = 19 July 2011
| url-status = live
}}
Political career
Stuart was elected as a member of Cambridge City Council for the Cherry Hinton Ward in the 1998 local elections.{{cite web
|title=Cambridge City Council Elections – Cherry Hinton Ward
|url=http://www.cix.co.uk/~rosenstiel/camelect/citychi.htm
|publisher=Cambridge City Election Results since 1945
|access-date=1 May 2010 |url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606040903/http://www.cix.co.uk/~rosenstiel/camelect/citychi.htm
|archive-date=6 June 2011
}} He contested the Cambridge constituency as the Conservative Party candidate at the 2001 general election, coming in third place with 9,829 votes, 23% of the share.{{cite news
| title = Cambridge
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/politics/constituency/785/cambridge
| newspaper = The Guardian
| access-date = 1 May 2010}} He was re-elected to Cambridge City Council in the 2002 local elections and served until 2004.
Parliamentary career
= 1st term (2005–2010) =
Stuart was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament (MP) for Beverley and Holderness in the 2005 general election with a majority of 2,580.{{cite news
| title = Beverley and Holderness
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/politics/constituency/708/beverley-and-holderness
| newspaper = The Guardian
| access-date = 1 May 2010}} Following his election, he said "I plan to be upfront and have a high profile, not only within the constituency but nationally".{{cite news
| title = Davis sees off Lib Dem challenge
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/england/4519133.stm
| work = BBC News
| date = 6 May 2005
| access-date = 1 May 2010}} He became a member of two select committees: the Environmental Audit Select Committee and the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee.{{cite web
| title = Voting Record — Graham Stuart MP, Beverley & Holderness (11406)
| url = http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Graham_Stuart&mpc=Beverley_%26amp%3B_Holderness&house=commons
| publisher = The Public Whip
| access-date = 1 May 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110605215153/http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Graham_Stuart&mpc=Beverley_&%3B_Holderness&house=commons
| archive-date = 5 June 2011
| url-status = live
}} He was elected a member of the Conservative Party Board in 2006.
In 2005, he founded Beverley and Holderness Pensioners Action Group, Community Hospitals Acting Nationally Together (CHANT), a cross-party campaign group, and Hull and Holderness Opposing the Incinerator (HOTI Group). He is vice-chairman of the GLOBE UK branch of Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment.{{cite web
|title=Composition of GLOBE International Board
|url=http://www.globeinternational.org/content.php?id=7:48:0:0:0
|publisher=Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment
|access-date=1 May 2010 |url-status=usurped
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091208064716/http://www.globeinternational.org/content.php?id=7%3A48%3A0%3A0%3A0
|archive-date=8 December 2009
}} Following the Parliamentary expenses scandal, Stuart defended his expenses in June 2009, which included spending £426 on bed linen and towels.{{cite news
| title = MP defends expenses claims
| url = http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/MP-defends-expenses-claims/article-1040891-detail/article.html
| newspaper = Hull Daily Mail
| date = 2 June 2009
| access-date = 1 May 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110313035537/http://www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk/news/MP-defends-expenses-claims/article-1040891-detail/article.html
| archive-date = 13 March 2011
| url-status = dead
}}
His campaigns in the 2005–10 Parliament included the defeat of legislation on home education and saving the Beverley Pasture Masters. In the following parliament, he was involved in the successful campaign for lower Humber Bridge tolls, and persuaded the government to improve the A164 and construct the Beverley Bypass. In 2012, he defeated a proposed increase in VAT on static caravans, which are largely manufactured in the East Riding of Yorkshire.{{cite web|url=http://www.grahamstuart.com/2012/04/27/graham-stuart-leads-debate-opposing-caravan-tax/#more-2130|title=Graham Stuart MP for Beverley and Holderness – Graham Stuart leads debate opposing caravan tax|publisher=Graham Stuart|date=27 April 2012|access-date=14 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130103070718/http://www.grahamstuart.com/2012/04/27/graham-stuart-leads-debate-opposing-caravan-tax/#more-2130|archive-date=3 January 2013|url-status=live}}
= 2nd term (2010–2015) =
At the 2010 general election Stuart was re-elected, increasing his share of the vote to 47.1% and increasing his majority to 12,987.{{cite web |url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/election/2010-05-06/Results/Location/Constituency/Beverley%20and%20Holderness |title=Beverley and Holderness – 2010 Election Results |website=General Elections Online |publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom |access-date=26 November 2019}}
In June 2010, Stuart was elected by MPs as Chair of the Education Select Committee.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/education-committee/|title=Education Committee|work=UK Parliament|date=16 June 2010|access-date=14 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408182432/http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/education-committee/|archive-date=8 April 2016|url-status=live}} Despite being a Conservative MP, Stuart frequently disagreed with the Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/mar/25/graham-stuart-conservative-education-committee|title=Graham Stuart: 'You can't drive education like a sports car'|first=Peter|last=Wilby|work=The Guardian|access-date=14 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506213729/http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/mar/25/graham-stuart-conservative-education-committee|archive-date=6 May 2016|url-status=live}} His committee produced up to six reports a year ranging from single evidence inquiries{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/education-committee/single-evidence-inquiries/|title=Education Committee – inquiries|work=UK Parliament|access-date=14 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305014919/http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/education-committee/single-evidence-inquiries/|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=live}} to more detailed examinations into Education, Schools and Family policy.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/education-committee/inquiries/|title=Education Committee – inquiries|work=UK Parliament|access-date=14 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408182229/http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/education-committee/inquiries/|archive-date=8 April 2016|url-status=live}}
Stuart supports repealing the 2004 Hunting Act to bring back fox hunting, stating in 2010: "I've always said I would vote to reverse the ban".{{Cite news|url=http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/boxing-day-hunt-attracts-hundreds-snowy-westwood/story-11958525-detail/story.html|title=Festive hunt attracts hundreds to Westwood, despite icy conditions (VIDEO)|date=28 December 2010|work=Hull Daily Mail|access-date=13 June 2017}} {{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
= 3rd term (2015–2017) =
At the 2015 general election Stuart was again re-elected, increasing his vote share to 48.1%, but saw his majority cut from 12,987 to 12,203.{{cite web |url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/election/2015-05-07/Results/Location/Constituency/Beverley%20and%20Holderness |title=Beverley and Holderness – 2015 Election Results |website=General Elections Online |publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom |access-date=26 November 2019}}
On 27 February 2016, Stuart announced his support for Britain continuing to be a member of the European Union.
In an interview with the journalist Peter Wilby for The Guardian, Stuart described himself as socially liberal, a "deficit hawk" who favours faster cuts to public spending, and an end to welfare dependency. He was appointed an Assistant Whip by the new Prime Minister, Theresa May on 18 July 2016.
= 4th term (2017–2019) =
At the snap 2017 general election, Stuart was again re-elected, increasing his vote share to 58.4% and increasing his majority to 14,042.{{cite web |url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/election/2017-06-08/Results/Location/Constituency/Beverley%20and%20Holderness |title=Beverley and Holderness – 2017 Election Results |website=General Elections Online |publisher=Parliament of the United Kingdom |access-date=26 November 2019}}
Stuart was promoted to serve as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exports in the January 2019 government reshuffle. He returned to the backbenches in the September 2021 reshuffle.
= 5th term (2019–2024) =
Stuart was again re-elected at the 2019 general election, increasing his vote share to 62.1% and his majority to 20,448. This was the highest vote share and highest majority ever won by an MP in Beverley and Holderness.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000556 |title=Beverley & Holderness |website=BBC News |access-date=13 December 2019}}
In January 2022 Stuart was appointed as a Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos and held this role until July 2022.{{Cite web |title=Graham Stuart MP |url=https://www.grahamstuart.com/node/5 |access-date=17 August 2022 |website=Graham Stuart |language=en}} He was made Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in July 2022 as part of the caretaker government by outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson.{{Cite web |title=Ministerial appointments: July 2022 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-july-2022 |access-date=7 July 2022 |website=GOV.UK |date=7 July 2022 |language=en}}
He was made Minister of State for Climate in September 2022 as part of the incoming cabinet of Prime Minister Liz Truss.{{Cite web |title=Ministerial appointments: September 2022 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-september-2022 |access-date=7 September 2022 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}[https://twitter.com/grahamstuart Graham Stuart twitter account] In one of his first interviews in his new position with the BBC, Stuart commented that oil and gas exploration in the North Sea would be "good for the environment".{{Cite news |date=2022-10-08 |title=North Sea oil and gas exploration good for the environment – minister |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-63184412 |access-date=2022-11-08}} He attended Charles III's accession council on 10 September.{{cite web|url=https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-09-10-List-of-those-present-at-the-Accession-Council.pdf |publisher=Privy Council Office |title=List of those present at the Accession Council |accessdate=14 September 2022}} He was formally appointed a privy counsellor three days later, granting him the honorific style The Right Honourable.{{cite web |url=https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-09-13-List-of-Business.pdf |publisher=Privy Council Office |title=Business Transacted...13th September 2022 |accessdate=14 September 2022 |page=17 |archive-date=23 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923225901/https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-09-13-List-of-Business.pdf |url-status=dead }} On 19 October 2022, before a controversial vote on fracking that the government had declared a vote of confidence, Stuart suggested that the vote was not actually a confidence vote, apparently communicating a message from a "junior official at 10 Downing Street". The resulting confusion played a significant role in the resignation of Liz Truss the next day.{{Cite news |date=2022-11-24 |title=Wendy Morton: I'll never forget chaotic vote that sank Liz Truss |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-63746602 |access-date=2022-11-24}} On 27 October 2022, upon the appointment of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister he was reappointed to his position and given the additional Energy portfolio but was removed from Cabinet.{{Cite web |title=Ministerial Appointments commencing: 25 October 2022 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-25-october-2022 |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}
In 2023, reports emerged that Stuart had received £10,000 donation towards his campaign from energy company JR Rix & Sons and an additional £2,000 from Bostonair, an aviation company, both based in Hull.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-26 |title=UK climate minister received donations from fuel and aviation companies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jan/26/uk-climate-minister-received-donations-fuel-aviation-companies |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}
In April 2024, Stuart stood down as Energy Minister and Net Zero Minister.{{Cite news |date=2024-04-12 |title=Graham Stuart quits role as energy security and net zero minister |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-68797259 |access-date=2024-04-14 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
= 6th term (2024–) =
At the 2024 general election, Stuart was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 34.5% and a narrow majority of 124.{{cite news |title=Beverley and Holderness results |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001087 |access-date=11 July 2024 }}For notional result data used to calculate changes in percentage values since the 2019 election: {{cite web |title=Notional election for the constituency of Beverley and Holderness on 12 December 2019 |url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/elections/2002 |access-date=11 July 2024 |publisher=UK Parliament}}
In March 2025 Stuart suggested US President Donald Trump was a Russian asset/agent. When later challenged on the BBC he admitted he had "no hard and fast evidence" for the charge but said "well if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck. What we’ve got is a president who is making absolutely no demands of the aggressor, the dictator... And therefore, it’s hard not to have it as a possibility."{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/if-it-walks-like-a-duck-former-tory-minister-defends-claiming-trump-could-be-russian-asset_uk_67cff5f6e4b04dd3a4e5f6ed|last=Schofield|first=Kevin|title='If It Walks Like A Duck': Former Tory Minister Defends Claim Trump Could Be 'Russian Asset'|date=11 March 2025|accessdate=11 March 2025|work=Huffington Post}}
Personal life
Graham Stuart lives in Beverley and separated from his wife in January 2022. He enjoys motorcycling, cycling and cricket.
Electoral results
| class="wikitable" |
| Election
! Seat ! ! Party ! Votes ! % ! Result ! Position |
|---|
| 1998 Cambridge City Council election
|Cherry Hinton Ward | style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party}}" | |893 |46.6 |Elected |1st / 3 candidates |
| 2001 general election
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party}}" | |9,829 |22.9 |Not elected |3rd / 8 candidates |
| 2002 Cambridge City Council election
|Cherry Hinton Ward | style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party}}" | |1,174 |49.3 |Elected |1st / 4 candidates |
| 2005 general election
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party}}" | |20,435 |40.7 |Elected |1st / 4 candidates |
| 2010 general election
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party}}" | |25,063 |47.1 |Elected |1st / 7 candidates |
| 2015 general election
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party}}" | |25,363 |48.1 |Elected |1st / 6 candidates |
| 2017 general election
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party}}" | |32,499 |58.4 |Elected |1st / 5 candidates |
| 2019 general election
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party}}" | |33,250 |62.1 |Elected |1st / 5 candidates |
| 2024 general election
| style="background-color: {{party color|Conservative Party}}" | |15,501 |34.5 |Elected |1st / 8 candidates |
= Most recent election result =
{{transcluded section|source=Beverley and Holderness (UK Parliament constituency)}}{{#section:Beverley and Holderness (UK Parliament constituency)|General Election 2024}}
{{Election box begin
| title = 2024 general election: Beverley and Holderness{{cite web |url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/elections/3293 |title=Election for the constituency of Beverley and Holderness on 4 July 2024 |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=20 July 2024}}{{efn|The changes in percentage values since the 2019 election are based on notional results due to boundary changes.For notional result data used to calculate changes in percentage values since the 2019 election: {{cite web |url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/elections/2002 |title=Notional election for the constituency of Beverley and Holderness on 12 December 2019 |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=11 July 2024}}}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| party = Conservative Party (UK)
| candidate = Graham Stuart
| votes = 15,501
| percentage = 34.5
| change = −26.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Labour Party (UK)
| candidate = Margaret Pinder
| votes = 15,377
| percentage = 34.2
| change = +9.5
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Reform UK
| candidate = Andrew Smith
| votes = 8,198
| percentage = 18.3
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Liberal Democrats (UK)
| candidate = Denis Healy
| votes = 3,386
| percentage = 7.5
| change = −1.8
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Green Party of England and Wales
| candidate = Jonathan Stephenson
| votes = 1,647
| percentage = 3.7
| change = +1.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Yorkshire Party
| candidate = George McManus
| votes = 625
| percentage = 1.4
| change = −1.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| party = Social Democratic Party (UK, 1990–present)
| candidate = Chris Collin
| votes = 89
| percentage = 0.2
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate
| party = Alliance for Democracy and Freedom
| candidate = John Ottaway
| votes = 74
| percentage = 0.2
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box majority
| votes = 124
| percentage = 0.3
| change = −36.0
}}
{{Election box turnout
| votes = 44,897
| percentage = 62.4
| change = −4.8
}}
{{Election box registered electors
| reg. electors = 71,994
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
| winner = Conservative Party (UK)
| swing = −18.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.grahamstuart.com Graham Stuart website]
- {{UK MP links | parliament = mr-graham-stuart/1482 | hansardcurr = 4814 | publicwhip = graham_stuart | theywork = graham_stuart}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-bef|before=James Cran}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness|years=2005–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}{{Chairs of the Education Select Committee}}
{{Ministers for Europe}}{{Conservative Party UK MPs}}{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stuart, Graham}}
Category:People educated at Glenalmond College
Category:Alumni of Selwyn College, Cambridge
Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies