Heather Wheeler

{{Infobox officeholder

| image = Official portrait of Mrs Heather Wheeler MP crop 2.jpg

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Heather Wheeler

| honorific-suffix = OBE

| office = Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office

| primeminister = Boris Johnson

| term_start = 8

February 2022

| term_end =

| predecessor = Julia Lopez

| successor = Brendan Clarke-Smith{{Cite web |title=Parliamentary Secretary - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-secretary--6 |access-date=2022-09-09 |website=www.gov.uk |language=en}}

| office1 = Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Asia and the Pacific

| primeminister1 = Boris Johnson

| term_start1 = 26 July 2019

| term_end1 = 13 February 2020

| predecessor1 = Mark Field

| successor1 = Nigel Adams

| office2 = Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Homelessness

| primeminister2 = Theresa May

| term_start2 = 9 January 2018

| term_end2 = 26 July 2019

| predecessor2 = Marcus Jones

| successor2 = Luke Hall

| office3 = Lord Commissioner of the Treasury

| primeminister3 = Theresa May

| term_start3 = 15 June 2017

| term_end3 = 9 January 2018

| predecessor3 = Guy Opperman

| successor3 = Rebecca Harris

| office4 = Member of Parliament
for South Derbyshire

| predecessor4 = Mark Todd

| successor4 = Samantha Niblett

| term_start4 = 6 May 2010

| term_end4 = 30 May 2024

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1959|05|14|df=yes}}{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/35319.stm |title=Heather Wheeler MP |publisher=BBC |work=BBC Democracy Live |access-date=25 July 2010 |archive-date=2 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110202025722/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/35319.stm |url-status=dead }}

| birth_place = Norwich, Norfolk, England{{cite web |title= Who's Who 2015: WHEELER, Heather |url= http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U251302/ | website = ukwhoswho.com | publisher = Who's Who (UK) }}

| death_date =

| death_place =

| spouse = Robert Wheeler (d. 2018)

| children = 1

| party = Conservative

| website = {{URL|heatherwheeler.org.uk}}

| caption = Official portrait, 2020

| termend = 7 September 2022

}}

Heather Kay Wheeler{{London Gazette |issue=59418 |pages=8740–8740 |date= 13 May 2010 }} {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|OBE}} (née Wilkinson; born 14 May 1959) is a British Conservative Party politician, who was first elected at the 2010 general election as the member of Parliament (MP) for South Derbyshire, taking the seat from the Labour Party after 13 years.{{cite news |url=http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/news/Wheeler-wins-turn-South-Derbys-blue-time-13-years/article-2128809-detail/article.html |title=Election 2010: South Derbyshire |work=thisisderbyshire.co.uk |access-date=7 May 2010 |archive-date=13 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100513213224/http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/news/Wheeler-wins-turn-South-Derbys-blue-time-13-years/article-2128809-detail/article.html |url-status=dead }} In the 2024 general election she lost the seat to the Labour party candidate, Samantha Niblett, on a swing of over 22% {{Cite web |title=Derbyshire South {{!}} General Election 2024 |url=https://election.news.sky.com/elections/general-election-2024/derbyshire-south-185 |access-date=5 July 2024 |publisher=Sky News}}

Early life and local government career

Wheeler was born in Norwich, Norfolk on 14 May 1959. She was brought up in Wandsworth, London. She was educated at Grey Coat Hospital, an all-girls state school in Westminster, London.{{cite web |title=Wheeler, Heather, (born 14 May 1959), MP (C) South Derbyshire, since 2010; an Assistant Government Whip, since 2021 |url=http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whoswho/U251302 |website=Who's Who 2022 |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=20 July 2022 |language=en |date=1 December 2021}}

She was elected a Conservative member for West Hill ward on Wandsworth London Borough Council at the age of 23 in 1982.{{cite web|url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Wandsworth-1964-2010.pdf|title= Wandsworth Council Election Results 1964-2010 |publisher= Plymouth University|access-date=12 July 2018}} After serving a full council term, she married Robert Wheeler, moving in 1986 to Bretby, South Derbyshire.{{cite web |url=https://www.heatherwheeler.org.uk/about-heather-wheeler |title=About Heather Wheeler |access-date=23 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406083647/https://www.heatherwheeler.org.uk/about-heather-wheeler |archive-date=6 April 2017 |url-status=dead }}

After working for Lloyd's insurance brokers for 10 years, qualifying by exam as an Associate, she became a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Wheeler was first elected to South Derbyshire District Council in 1995 for the safe Conservative seat of Repton. She went on to become leader of the council's Conservative group and became Leader of the Council between 2007 and 2010. She was re-elected as a councillor for Repton ward until 2011; her daughter Harriet unsuccessfully stood as a Conservative candidate in Swadlincote ward in 2011, whilst husband Bob successfully defended his marginal Linton ward and continued as Leader of the council.{{cite web|url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/South-Derbyshire-1973-2011.pdf|title= South Derbyshire Council Election Results 1973-2011|publisher= Plymouth University |access-date=12 July 2018}}

Parliamentary career

Wheeler stood unsuccessfully at the 2001 and 2005 general elections as her party's candidate for Coventry South. Wheeler was a member of the Conservative Party's A-List{{cite web | title = Seats and candidates: Where are the original A-Listers now? The 27 who have been selected for target seats | website = conservativehome.blogs.com | publisher = ConservativeHome | url = http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2009/04/where-are-the-original-alisters-now-the-27-who-have-been-selected-for-target-seats.html }} prior to being selected to contest the South Derbyshire constituency. At the 2010 general election, she gained the seat from Labour with a majority of 7,128; there was a 9.8% swing to the Conservatives. Following her election as a Member of Parliament she stood aside as Conservative council group leader. She was re-elected in 2015 and 2017, with the former defying polling that suggested her seat would be vulnerable following the Conservative Government's failure to award a major contract to local train manufacturer Bombardier.{{Cite news|url=http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/heather-wheeler-wins-her-seat-in-south-derbyshire-with-a-comfortable-majority/story-30380598-detail/story.html|title=Heather Wheeler wins her seat in South Derbyshire|date=9 June 2017|work=Burton Mail|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en|archive-date=9 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609073222/http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/heather-wheeler-wins-her-seat-in-south-derbyshire-with-a-comfortable-majority/story-30380598-detail/story.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://conservativehome.blogs.com/goldlist/2011/08/poll-boosts-labour-hopes-of-ousting-heather-wheeler-mp-on-back-of-siemens-trains-deal.html|title=Poll boosts Labour hopes of ousting Heather Wheeler MP on back of Siemens trains deal|publisher=Conservative Home|access-date=12 July 2018}}

In the House of Commons she sat on the Standards and Privileges Committee, the European Scrutiny Committee and the Communities and Local Government Committee.{{cite web|title=Heather Wheeler|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/heather-wheeler/4053|website=Parliament UK|access-date=8 April 2015}} She was also a member of the Public Bill Committee for the Defence Reform Act 2014.{{cite web|url=http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/defencereform/committees/houseofcommonspublicbillcommitteeonthedefencereformbill201314.html|title=House of Commons Public Bill Committee on the Defence Reform Bill 2013-14 |publisher=Parliament.uk |access-date=17 September 2013}}

Wheeler was one of 79 Conservative MPs who supported a 2011 rebel motion calling for a referendum on the European Union.{{cite news|title=Rebel MPs: the full list|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2011/10/north-mps-south-referendum|access-date=8 April 2015 | work = New Statesman|publisher= Progressive Media International |date=25 October 2011}} She also joined a 2013 rebel amendment expressing regret at not including the referendum in the government's plans.{{cite news|title=The 114 Tory rebels in EU protest vote|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/10060827/The-114-Tory-rebels-in-EU-protest-vote.html|access-date=8 April 2015|work= The Daily Telegraph | location = London |date=15 May 2013}} She subsequently backed the government's plans to hold a referendum in 2017 and opposed a proposal to hold it in 2014.{{cite web|title=Craig Whittaker: Referendum on the UK's membership of the EU|url=http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=Craig_Whittaker&mpc=Calder_Valley&house=commons&dmp=1027&display=motions|website=Public Whip|access-date=8 April 2015}} Wheeler backed Leave in the referendum.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-eu-referendum-35616946|title=EU vote: Where the cabinet and other MPs stand|work=BBC News|date=22 June 2016}}

On 9 January 2018, Wheeler was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, with responsibility for homelessness and rough sleeping as well as the private rented and leasehold sectors, in the second May ministry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/heather-wheeler#biography|title=Heather Wheeler MP|website=www.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=18 March 2018}}

In March 2018, following her promotion to a Government position with responsibility for homelessness, Wheeler told The Guardian newspaper that she did not know why the number of rough sleepers had increased in recent years. Wheeler rejected the suggestion that welfare reforms and council cuts relating to her Government had contributed to the rise.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/mar/18/homelessness-minister-heather-wheeler-rough-sleeping-housing-first|title=Homelessness minister: I don't know why rough sleeper numbers are up|last=Brooks|first=Libby|date=18 March 2018|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=18 March 2018}} Earlier in the same month, Wheeler promised to resign if the number of people rough sleeping got worse while she was in office.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-43288585/heather-wheeler-to-resign-if-rough-sleeping-gets-worse|title=Homelessness minister gives herself ultimatum|work=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=18 March 2018}}

On 26 July 2019, Wheeler was appointed as the Parliamentary under-secretary of state for Asia and the Pacific at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the first Johnson ministry. She resigned for family reasons in February 2020.{{cn|date=August 2022}}

In 2021, she unsuccessfully ran for election to become chair of the 1922 Committee.{{Cite news|date=17 June 2021|title=Race to be backbench Tory MPs' champion hots up|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-57514772|access-date=17 June 2021}}

On 17 September 2021, Wheeler was appointed an assistant Government whip in the second cabinet reshuffle of the second Johnson ministry.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-september-2021|title=Ministerial appointments: September 2021|date=16 September 2021}}

Wheeler was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for political and public service.{{London Gazette|issue=64082|supp=y|page=B16|date=17 June 2023}}

In June 2023, she was one of six Conservative MPs to vote against censuring Boris Johnson following the Commons Privileges Committee investigation.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-06-20 |title=The six Conservative MPs who voted against the motion to censure Johnson |url=https://conservativehome.com/2023/06/20/the-six-conservative-mps-who-voted-against-the-motion-to-censure-johnson/ |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=Conservative Home |language=en-GB}}

Controversies

In August 2016, following the 2016 Rio Olympics, the European Union social media account shared a modified medals table showing its combined member states in first place. Wheeler tweeted in response that the British Empire had won the 2016 Rio Olympics along with a map of former imperial territories.{{Cite tweet |author=Heather Wheeler |user=HeatherWheeler |number= 767756321219379201 |title= Now that's what I call winning!!! Well done Team GB & all our Commonwealth friends, now for the Trade Agreements....}}{{citation|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/conservative-mp-heather-wheeler-brexit-british-empire-won-the-olympics-a7204546.html | title = 'British Empire' won the Olympics, claims Conservative MP Heather Wheeler | last = Withnall | first = Adam | date = 23 August 2016 | work = The Independent}}{{cite news|last=Muir|first=Rod|url=https://www.totalpolitics.com/articles/news/conservative-mp-celebrates-performance-%E2%80%98british-empire%E2%80%99-rio|title=Conservative MP celebrates performance of 'British Empire' in Rio|work=Total Politics|date=23 August 2016|access-date=23 August 2016}} Her comments were described by Labour MP David Lammy as "deeply offensive to so many people and their ancestors". Wheeler rejected calls to apologise, stating that her comments were "tongue-in-cheek".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-37163416|work=BBC News|title=MP Heather Wheeler sparks Twitter backlash with British Empire post|access-date=12 July 2018}}

In June 2019, it was revealed that in October 2017, three months before she became minister, and whilst she was the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Homelessness, Wheeler described rough sleepers in her constituency as "the traditional type, old tinkers, knife-cutters wandering through". In response, Wheeler faced calls to resign from Stephen Robertson, the chief executive of the Big Issue Foundation and a representative from a leading national charity which works on behalf of Gypsies, Travellers and Roma described the language as "disgraceful". Wheeler issued an apology for her "inappropriate language", and said it "is not at all representative of the great cultural contribution and rich heritage that the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities make to this country".{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/20/homelessness-minister-accused-of-racist-remarks-in-email|title=Homelessness minister accused of racist remarks about rough sleepers|last1=Greenfield|first1=Patrick|date=20 June 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=20 June 2019|last2=Marsh|first2=Sarah|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|last3=McDevitt|first3=Johnny}}

In June 2022, Wheeler was criticised by Labour for comments made at a lunch in London, in which she described Birmingham and Blackpool as "godawful" places. Wheeler later apologised and said she made an "inappropriate remark that does not reflect my actual view".{{Cite news |date=11 June 2022 |title=Minister sorry for 'godawful' Birmingham and Blackpool comment |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61767856 |access-date=11 June 2022}}{{Cite web |date=10 June 2022 |title='The Mask Has Slipped': Tory Minister Says Blackpool And Birmingham Are 'Godawful' |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/tory-minister-heather-wheeler-blackpool-birmingham-godawful_uk_62a3a987e4b04a61734eb6fe |access-date=11 June 2022 |website=HuffPost UK |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Harry |date=10 June 2022 |title=Tory MP apologises for calling Birmingham and Blackpool 'godawful' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jun/10/tory-minister-calls-birmingham-and-blackpool-godawful |access-date=11 June 2022 |work=The Guardian |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Sabin |first=Lamiat |date=10 June 2022 |title=Minister apologises for describing Birmingham and Blackpool as 'godawful' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/heather-wheeler-birmingham-blackpool-godawful-b2098701.html |access-date=11 June 2022 |work=The Independent |language=en}}

Personal life

Wheeler's late husband Bob was a Conservative councillor who was made leader of South Derbyshire District Council in 2010, after his wife stepped down from the role on becoming an MP. He stood down as Leader of the Council in January 2018; he died in late 2018.{{cite web|url=http://south-derbys.cmis.uk.com/south-derbys/Councillors/tabid/63/ctl/ViewCMIS_Person/mid/383/id/5/ScreenMode/Alphabetical/Default.aspx|title=Cllr Robert Wheeler|publisher=South Derbyshire Council|access-date=12 July 2018}}

References

External links

[http://www.heatherwheeler.org.uk/ Official website]
{{UK MP links | parliament = heather-wheeler/4053 | publicwhip = heather_wheeler | theywork = heather_wheeler}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for South Derbyshire|years=2010–2024}}

{{s-ttl|title=Lord Commissioner of the Treasury|years=2017–2018}}

{{s-ttl|title=Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Homelessness|years=2018–2019}}

{{s-ttl|title=Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Asia and the Pacific|years=2019–2020}}

{{s-ttl|title=Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office|years=2022–present}}

Category:1959 births

Category:Living people

Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies

Category:Councillors in the London Borough of Wandsworth

Category:Councillors in Derbyshire

Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for constituencies in Derbyshire

Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies