Jake Berry

James Berry was born on 29 December 1978 in Liverpool and privately educated at Liverpool College, before studying for a law degree at Sheffield University. He trained to be a solicitor in Chester{{cite news |last=Thorp |first=Liam |title=The surprising number of Tory MPs from Liverpool and who they all are |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/surprising-number-tory-mps-merseyside-18735005 |access-date=14 February 2021 |work=Liverpool Echo |date=9 August 2020 |archive-date=12 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212165601/https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/surprising-number-tory-mps-merseyside-18735005 |url-status=live }} and in the City of London, qualifying as a solicitor in 2003.{{cite web |url=http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Berry_Jake.aspx |title=Jake Berry |website=Conservative Party |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127052447/http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Berry_Jake.aspx |access-date=30 November 2012 |archive-date=27 November 2012 |url-status=live}} He worked for a number of legal practices, specialising in planning law.

Berry was first elected as MP for Rossendale and Darwen at the 2010 general election, winning with 41.8% of the vote and a majority of 4,493.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2010 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-date=26 July 2013 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}

In 2010, he was appointed Parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Grant Shapps, the Minister for Housing and Local Government at the Department of Communities and Local Government, following Shapps to the Cabinet Office in 2012.{{cite web |title=Jake Berry |url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/jake-berry/62817 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102222504/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/jake-berry/62817 |archive-date=2 January 2013 |access-date=30 November 2012 |website=Parliament of the United Kingdom}}

In April 2013, the prime minister, David Cameron, asked Berry to join the Number 10 Policy Unit, headed by Jo Johnson. His roles in this position included advising the Prime Minister on housing, regional growth and local government.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10016467/David-Cameron-recruits-Boriss-brother-for-Number-10.html |location=London |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |first=Robert |last=Winnett |title=David Cameron recruits Boris's brother for Number 10 |date=24 April 2013 |access-date=3 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501152509/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10016467/David-Cameron-recruits-Boriss-brother-for-Number-10.html |archive-date=1 May 2018 |url-status=dead }}

Berry sponsored the Local Government (Religious etc. Observances) Act 2015, which gave councils the right to hold religious prayers at the start of meetings.{{cite web|title=Local Government (Religious etc. Observances) Bill 2014–15|url=http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2014-15/localgovernmentreligiousetcobservances.html|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=17 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204054058/http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2014-15/localgovernmentreligiousetcobservances.html|archive-date=4 February 2015|url-status=live}}

At the 2015 general election, Berry was re-elected as MP for Rossendale and Darwen with an increased vote share of 46.6% and an increased majority of 5,654.{{cite web|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/darwen/12938480.Jake_Berry_retains_Rossendale_and_Darwen_seat_for_Conservatives/?ref=rss|title=VIDEO: Jake Berry retains Rossendale and Darwen seat for Conservatives|website=Lancashire Telegraph|date=8 May 2015 |access-date=8 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518081208/http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/darwen/12938480.Jake_Berry_retains_Rossendale_and_Darwen_seat_for_Conservatives/?ref=rss|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}{{cite news |title=Rossendale & Darwen |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000902 |access-date=7 May 2015 |publisher=BBC News}}

From July 2015 until January 2017, Berry served on the Parliamentary Finance Committee.{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/jake-berry/4060|title=Jake Berry MP|publisher=GOV.UK|access-date=30 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501005037/https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/jake-berry/4060|archive-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live}}

In May 2016, it emerged that Berry was one of a number of Conservative MPs being investigated by police in the 2015 general election party spending investigation, for allegedly spending more than the legal limit on constituency election campaign expenses.{{cite news|date=23 June 2016|title=Election Expenses Exposed|work=Channel 4 News|url=https://news.channel4.com/livepages/2016/election-expenses/|url-status=live|access-date=30 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501093140/https://news.channel4.com/livepages/2016/election-expenses/|archive-date=1 May 2018}} However, in April 2017, Lancashire Police confirmed that no further action would be taken.{{cite web|date=27 April 2017|title=Rossendale MP Jake Berry in the cleared in election expenses investigation|url=https://www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk/news/rossendale-mp-jake-berry-cleared-12953801|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501004641/https://www.rossendalefreepress.co.uk/news/rossendale-mp-jake-berry-cleared-12953801|archive-date=1 May 2018|access-date=30 April 2018|publisher=Rossendale Free Press}}

Berry was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 referendum.{{cite news|last1=Goodenough|first1=Tom|title=Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?|url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/|access-date=11 October 2016|work=The Spectator|date=16 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502030758/https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/|archive-date=2 May 2019|url-status=live}}

At the snap 2017 general election Berry was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 50.8% and a decreased majority of 3,216.{{cite news |title=Rossendale & Darwen parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000902 |work=BBC News}}

Following the 2017 election, Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Berry as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth, making him the third Northern Powerhouse minister in the space of two years.{{cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/northern-powerhouse-minister-interview-documents-13295645|author=Lucy Roue|work=Manchester Evening News|title=I went to interview the Northern Powerhouse minister – but ended up in a room with secret documents|access-date=30 April 2018|date=7 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501093010/https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/northern-powerhouse-minister-interview-documents-13295645|archive-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live}} In March 2018, he described campaigners who forced the aerospace firm BAE Systems to withdraw as a sponsor of a flagship arts festival in North East England as "subsidy addicted artists" and "snowflakes".{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/mar/09/great-exhibition-of-the-north-bae-systems-northern-powerhouse-jake-berry|title=Minister criticises 'snowflake' artists who opposed arms firm sponsorship|last=Perraudin|first=Frances|date=2018-03-09|work=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709010327/https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/mar/09/great-exhibition-of-the-north-bae-systems-northern-powerhouse-jake-berry|archive-date=9 July 2018|url-status=live}}

After Boris Johnson became prime minister, Berry was promoted to Minister of State, with attendance at cabinet meetings. He was appointed to the Privy Council the next day.{{cite web |url=http://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019-07-25-List-of-Business.pdf |date=2019 |title=ORDERS APPROVED AND BUSINESS TRANSACTED AT THE PRIVY COUNCIL HELD BY THE QUEEN AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE ON 25TH JULY 2019 |publisher=Privy Council Office |access-date=30 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730112009/http://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019-07-25-List-of-Business.pdf |archive-date=30 July 2019 |url-status=live }}

At the 2019 general election Berry was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 56.5% and an increased majority of 9,522.{{cite web |title=Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll |url=https://www.rossendale.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/15682/statement_of_persons_nominated_and_notice_of_poll.pdf}}

He resigned from government in February 2020 after refusing a move to a ministerial office at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in a cabinet reshuffle.{{Cite web |last=Schofield |first=Kevin |date=2020-02-25 |title=Boris Johnson ally quits government after turning down Foreign Office job |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/boris-johnson-ally-quits-government-after-turning-down-foreign-office-job |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=Politics Home |language=en |archive-date=6 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906212353/https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/boris-johnson-ally-quits-government-after-turning-down-foreign-office-job |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Beaney |first=Abigail |date=3 February 2022 |title=Rossendale and Darwen MP would say 'yes, yes, yes' if asked to return to cabinet |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/19894823.jake-berry-mp-yes-asked-return-cabinet/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=Lancashire Telegraph |language=en |archive-date=15 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715200214/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/19894823.jake-berry-mp-yes-asked-return-cabinet/ |url-status=live }}

On 6 September 2022, following the Conservative Party leadership election, the new prime minister Liz Truss appointed Berry to her government.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62796077 |title=New cabinet: Who is in Liz Truss's top team? |date=7 September 2022 |work=BBC News |access-date=2022-10-03 |archive-date=2 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002181441/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-62796077 |url-status=live }} He joined the Cabinet as Minister without Portfolio,{{cite news |url=https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2022-09-07/who-is-jake-berry-and-what-is-a-minister-without-portfolio |title=Prime Minister Liz Truss appoints Jake Berry as Minister without Portfolio |date=7 September 2022 |work=ITV News |access-date=2022-10-03 |archive-date=7 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220907140016/https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2022-09-07/who-is-jake-berry-and-what-is-a-minister-without-portfolio |url-status=live }} and he was also appointed to the party role of Chairman of the Conservative Party.{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/minister-without-portfolio-jake-berry-cabinet-b1023753.html |title=What is a Minister without Portfolio? Jake Berry appointed Cabinet role |first=Nuray |last=Bulbul |date=7 September 2022 |newspaper=Evening Standard |place=London |access-date=2022-10-03 |archive-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908194416/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/minister-without-portfolio-jake-berry-cabinet-b1023753.html |url-status=live }}

Speaking on Sky News on 2 October 2022 about the approach the Liz Truss government was taking to enable households to afford their utility bills, Berry said that people could either cut their consumption or get a higher-paid job.{{Cite web |title=Outrage as East Lancs MPs says those struggling with bills should 'get a new job' |first=Joe |last=Harrigan |date=2022-10-02 |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23008757.jake-berry-darwen-rossendale-mp-says-struggling-bills-get-new-job/ |access-date=2022-10-02 |newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph |place=Blackburn |language=en-GB |archive-date=2 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002225956/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23008757.jake-berry-darwen-rossendale-mp-says-struggling-bills-get-new-job/ |url-status=live }} He later apologised, describing his remarks as "clumsy".{{cite news |last1=Forrest |first1=Adam |title=Tory chair apologises for telling struggling people to just 'get better-paid job' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tory-apologies-better-job-jake-berry-b2196807.html |access-date=7 October 2022 |work=The Independent |date=6 October 2022}}

On 25 October 2022, Berry stood down as Chairman of the Conservative Party upon the ascension of Rishi Sunak to the premiership. Berry returned to the backbenches.

Berry lives in Rossendale and London.{{cite web|title=Statement of Persons Nominated|url=http://www.rossendale.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/2320/statement_of_parliamentary_candidates_and_notice_of_poll|website=Rossendale Borough Council|access-date=13 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413210900/http://www.rossendale.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/2320/statement_of_parliamentary_candidates_and_notice_of_poll|archive-date=13 April 2015|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rdca.co.uk/jake-berry-mp|publisher=Jake Berry|access-date=30 April 2018|title=About Jake|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501093052/https://www.rdca.co.uk/jake-berry-mp|archive-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live}} He married Charlotte Alexa in 2009. They divorced in September 2016.{{cite news|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/14753835.Rossendale_and_Darwen_MP_Jake_Berry_in_divorce_from_wife/ | title=Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry in divorce from wife | newspaper=Lancashire Telegraph | date=20 September 2016 | first=Jon | last=Robinson | access-date=2 February 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203162151/http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/14753835.Rossendale_and_Darwen_MP_Jake_Berry_in_divorce_from_wife/ | archive-date=3 February 2017 | url-status=live }} He has been married to Alice Robinson since May 2018.{{cite news|url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/17189154.rossendale-darwen-mp-jake-thrilled-second-baby-son/|title=Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake thrilled with second baby son|work=Lancashire Telegraph|date=30 October 2018|last=Jacobs|first=Bill|access-date=1 November 2020|archive-date=6 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906212351/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/17189154.rossendale-darwen-mp-jake-thrilled-second-baby-son/|url-status=live}} She was previously Boris Johnson's parliamentary office manager. The couple have three children.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/society/article/jake-berry-i-have-one-political-job-left-in-me-and-its-to-help-the-north-rise-again-030m8nls0|work=The Times|title=Jake Berry: 'I have one political job left in me . . . and it's to help the north rise again'|date=1 November 2020|last1=Thomson|first1=Alice|last2=Swinford|first2=Steven|access-date=1 November 2020|archive-date=2 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102012123/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/jake-berry-i-have-one-political-job-left-in-me-and-its-to-help-the-north-rise-again-030m8nls0|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}} On 14 October 2022 it was announced that Berry had been knighted.{{Cite web |title=Political Honours conferred: October 2022 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/political-honours-conferred-october-2022 |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.facebook.com/JakeBerryMP Jake Berry's Facebook page]
• [https://twitter.com/JakeBerry Jake Berry on Twitter]
• [http://jakeberry.org Jake Berry's website]
• [http://www.rdca.co.uk/ Rossendale and Darwen Conservative Association website]
• {{UK MP links | parliament = jake-berry/4060 | hansardcurr = 5576 | guardian = 12680/jake-berry | publicwhip = Jake_Berry | theywork = jake_berry}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Minister of State for the Northern Powerhouse and Local Growth|years=2019–2020}}

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Category:1978 births

Category:Living people

Category:People educated at Liverpool College

Category:Alumni of the University of Sheffield

Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies

Category:UK MPs 2010–2015

Category:UK MPs 2015–2017

Category:UK MPs 2017–2019

Category:UK MPs 2019–2024

Category:English solicitors

Category:Lawyers from Liverpool

Category:Knights Bachelor

Category:Alumni of the University of Chester

Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom

Category:Chairmen of the Conservative Party (UK)