Julian Knight (politician)
{{short description|British politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Julian Knight
| honorific-suffix =
| image = Official portrait of Julian Knight MP crop 2.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2019
| office = Chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
| predecessor = Damian Collins
| successor = Damian Green (acting)
| term_start = 29 January 2020
| term_end = 25 April 2023{{efn|Damian Green was Acting Chair from 10 January 2023 to 31 March 2023 while Knight temporarily stood aside.}}
| office1 = Member of Parliament
for Solihull
| term_start1 = 7 May 2015
| term_end1 = 30 May 2024
| predecessor1 = Lorely Burt
| successor1 = Constituency abolished
Neil Shastri-Hurst (as MP for Solihull West and Shirley)
| majority1 =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|1|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Chester, Cheshire, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| residence = Solihull, West Midlands, England
| party = Independent
| otherparty = Conservative (until 7 December 2022)
| spouse = Philippa Harrison
| alma_mater = University of Hull
| website = {{URL|www.julianknight.org.uk|Official website}}
| prior_term = Conservative
}}
Julian Knight{{London Gazette |issue=61961 |date=19 June 2017 |page=11779}} (born 5 January 1972) is a British politician, author and former journalist who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Solihull from 2015 to 2024. He is a member of the Conservative Party, but sat as an independent from December 2022 until the end of his term.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000931 | title= Solihull Parliamentary constituency | publisher=BBC | access-date=9 May 2015| work= BBC News }}
In the 2024 election, he stood as an independent candidate in Solihull West and Shirley, the newly created successor seat to his old Solihull constituency. He came last out of six candidates with 594 votes.{{Cite web |date=30 May 2024 |title=Fresh disaster for Rishi Sunak as former Tory MP Julian Knight set to stand as independent |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1905620/julian-knight-independent-general-election-2024 |access-date=31 May 2024 |publisher=Daily Express |language=en}}
Early life and career
Julian Knight was born on 5 January 1972 in Chester. He grew up in a single-parent family.{{cite web|last1=Knight|first1=Julian|title=About|url=http://www.julianknight.org.uk/about-julian|website=Julian Knight|access-date=20 September 2015}} He graduated with a degree in history from the University of Hull.{{cite news |url=https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/julian-knight-to-make-public-service-broadcast-relevant-it-needs-to-reflect-the-entire-country |title=Julian Knight MP: 'To stay relevant, public service broadcasting must reflect the entire country' |publisher=The House |date=16 March 2020 |first=Georgian |last=Bailey |accessdate=29 February 2024}}
After university, Knight returned to Chester where he worked for a number of electrical retailers before moving to London to sell advertising for The Sun newspaper. He later worked for the BBC as personal finance and consumer affairs reporter for five years until 2007, working across television, radio and online. In 2007 he became the Money and Property Editor of The Independent on Sunday.{{cite web|url=https://pressgazette.co.uk/former-bbc-journalist-who-backs-licence-fee-reform-elected-dcms-committee-chairman/|title=Former BBC journalist who backs licence fee reform elected DCMS Committee chairman|first=Charlotte|last=Tobitt|date=30 January 2020|work=Press Gazette}}
In April 2015, Knight was criticised by Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, for a book he authored eleven years earlier on tax avoidance.{{Cite web |date=23 April 2015 |title=Tory candidate for Solihull under fire over book on tax avoidance |url=http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/23/tory-candidate-julian-knight-solihull-criticised-book-tax-avoidance |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/apr/23/tory-candidate-julian-knight-solihull-criticised-book-tax-avoidance | title= Tory candidate for Solihull under fire over book on tax avoidance | work=The Guardian | date= 23 April 2015 | access-date=20 November 2019}}
Knight has written books on a variety of subjects for the For Dummies series, including the Euro crisis, Retiring Wealthy and The Royal Wedding.{{cite web |date=8 May 2015 |title=Who is Julian Knight |url=http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/who-julian-knight---five-9212326 |access-date=20 September 2015 |website=Birmingham Mail}}
Parliamentary career
In 2014, Knight was selected to be the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Solihull.{{Cite web|url=https://www.solihullboroughconservatives.org.uk/news/solihull-conservatives-select-julian-knight-our-candidate|title=Solihull Conservatives select Julian Knight as our Parliamentary Candidate|website=Solihull Borough|date=20 March 2013 |language=en|access-date=9 September 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.westmidlandsconservatives.com/news/julian-knight-selected-solihull-0|title=Julian Knight selected for Solihull|website=West Midlands|language=en|access-date=9 September 2018|archive-date=10 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910014758/https://www.westmidlandsconservatives.com/news/julian-knight-selected-solihull-0|url-status=dead}} At the 2015 general election Knight was elected as MP for Solihull with 49.2% of the vote and a majority of 12,902, defeating the incumbent Liberal Democrat MP Lorely Burt.{{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=Solihull Results |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000931/ |work=bbc.co.uk}}
Prior to the 2016 UK referendum on European Union membership, Knight stated he would vote to remain in the EU.{{Cite news|url=https://solihullobserver.co.uk/news/solihulls-conservative-mp-julian-knight-will-vote-stay-europe/|title=Solihull's Conservative MP Julian Knight will vote to stay in Europe|work=Solihull Observer|date =24 February 2016|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB}}
At the 2017 general election, Knight was re-elected as MP for Solihull with an increased vote share of 58.1% and an increased majority of 20,571.{{cite web |date=11 May 2017 |title=Statement of persons nominated and notice of poll |url=http://www.solihull.gov.uk/Portals/0/VotingAndElections/Notice_of_poll_Solihull.pdf |access-date=6 June 2017 |publisher=Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council}}{{Cite news |title=Solihull parliamentary constituency - Election 2017 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000931 |access-date=9 September 2018 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
In January 2018, Knight was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Ministry of Justice.{{Cite news|url=https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2018/01/list-of-ppss.html|title=List of PPS's|work=Conservative Home|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-US}} In September 2018 he moved to the Department for Work and Pensions before moving to HM Treasury in January 2019.
Knight also served as the Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy to Mongolia, where he formed part of a network of parliamentarians with the role of strengthening relations with foreign countries, and helping British businesses in accessing foreign markets.{{Cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/trade-envoys|title=Trade envoys|work=GOV.UK|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en}} In April 2018, Knight made his first visit to the country as Trade Envoy.{{Cite news|url=https://president.mn/en/2018/04/06/president-receives-uk-trade-envoy-julian-knight/|title=PRESIDENT RECEIVES UK TRADE ENVOY JULIAN KNIGHT - President of Mongolia|date=6 April 2018|work=President of Mongolia|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB}} Knight made his final visit in September 2018, and left the post at a later date.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thecea.org.uk/trade-mission-mongolia-16th-21st-september-2018/|title=Trade Mission to Mongolia 16th – 21st September 2018 - CEA: Construction Equipment Association|date=15 August 2018|work=CEA: Construction Equipment Association|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-US}}
At the 2019 general election, Knight was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 58.4% and an increased majority of 21,273 votes.{{cite news |title=Solihull Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000931 |access-date=30 November 2019 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC}}
In December 2021, Knight said there was a "real sense of palpable loss" over the death of six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes in Solihull. Knight said the sentences given to the killers of the boy were too lenient and he would be referring the sentences to the Attorney General's Office for review under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.{{cite news |title=Arthur Labinjo-Hughes: Jail terms of boy's killers to be reviewed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-59532071 |work=BBC News |date=4 December 2021}}
In July 2022, Knight supported Liz Truss in her campaign to become Conservative leader.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-13 |title=Julian Knight MP backs Liz Truss in the Conservative Party leadership election |url=https://www.julianknight.org.uk/news/julian-knight-mp-backs-liz-truss-conservative-party-leadership-election |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Julian Knight MP |language=en}}
In April 2023, Knight announced that he would not seek re-election as an MP at the 2024 general election.{{Cite news |date=21 April 2023 |title=MP Julian Knight to stand down at next election |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65349957 |access-date=21 April 2023}} He later chose to stand for the new Solihull West and Shirley constituency as an independent candidate. He finished in 6th place with 594 votes.{{Cite web |title=Ex-Tory MP Julian Knight to stand as independent |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgll1e84j34o |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
=Committees=
From July 2015 to April 2017, Knight served as a member of the Communities and Local Government Committee,{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/julian-knight/4410|title=Julian Knight MP|website=UK Parliament|language=en|access-date=9 September 2018}} during which time he co-sponsored the Government's Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://solihullobserver.co.uk/news/solihull-mp-julian-knight-has-pledged-to-support-solihull-council-in-its-new-effort-to-tackle-homelessness-in-the-borough/|title=Solihull MP Julian Knight has pledged to support Solihull Council in its new effort to tackle homelessness in the borough|work=Solihull Observer|date=18 January 2017|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB}}
He was a member of the Culture, Media, and Sport Select Committee, later the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee from December 2016 until April 2023. In that role he made several interventions, including on the BBC gender pay row{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/02/01/sarah-montague-gobsmacked-bbc-gender-pay-report/|title=Sarah Montague: I was gobsmacked by BBC gender pay report|last=Singh|first=Anita|date=1 February 2018|work=The Telegraph|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/31/world/europe/bbc-gender-pay-carrie-gracie.html|title=BBC Managers Face Barrage of Criticism in Gender Pay Dispute|work=The New York Times |date=31 January 2018 |access-date=9 September 2018|language=en|last1=Tsang |first1=Amie }} and against Facebook and digital company Cambridge Analytica during the committee's inquiry into 'fake news'.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/apr/26/facebook-morality-free-zone-executive-mps-cambridge-analytica|title='Facebook is a morality-free zone': tech chief lambasted by MP|last=Waterson|first=Jim|date=26 April 2018|work=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=9 September 2018}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/facebook-mp-parliament-hearing-cambridge-analytica-mike-schroepfer-mark-zuckerberg-a8323926.html|title=MPs laugh at Facebook boss during intense grilling in parliament|work=The Independent|access-date=9 September 2018|language=en-GB}}
In January 2020, Knight was elected as Chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCSM) Select Committee. Knight replaced Damian Collins as chairman.
In April 2023, Knight resigned as Chair of the DCMS Select Committee as he was recusing himself from Parliament until a complaint made about him to the Metropolitan Police had been resolved.{{Cite web|url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/378/culture-media-and-sport-committee/news/175329/damian-green-mp-chosen-as-acting-chair-of-dcms-committee/|title=Damian Green MP chosen as acting Chair of DCMS Committee - Committees - UK Parliament}}
Police investigation
In December 2022, Knight had the Conservative Party whip suspended after the Metropolitan Police received a referral involving allegations of sexual assault.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63897387|title=Senior Tory MP suspended after complaint to police|date=7 December 2022|work=BBC News}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/dec/07/conservatives-remove-whip-from-mp-julian-knight-after-complaint-to-met |title=Conservatives remove whip from MP Julian Knight after complaint to Met |date=7 December 2022 |work=The Guardian |first=Nadeem |last=Badshah |accessdate=29 February 2024}} Knight criticised the manner in which the suspension was carried out.{{cite news |url=https://www.itv.com/news/central/2022-12-08/julian-knight-solihull-mp-says-removal-of-tory-whip-wrong-and-unjustified |title=Senior Tory MP Julian Knight says removal of whip 'wrong and unjustified' |publisher=ITV News |date=8 December 2022 |accessdate=29 February 2024}} Essex Police investigated these allegations.{{Cite web |date=16 May 2023 |title=Essex Police investigate Solihull MP Julian Knight accused of serious sexual assault |url=https://www.itv.com/news/central/2023-05-16/police-investigate-mp-julian-knight-accused-of-serious-sexual-assault }} The Metropolitan Police said that it had received a report of "allegations of sexual assault against unnamed victims" on 28 October 2022 and after a further referral on 7 December 2022 had started an investigation. Knight stated he was "entirely innocent of any wrongdoing whatsoever".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63904774|work=BBC News|date=8 December 2022|title=Tory MP Julian Knight suspended after sex assault allegation made to police}} Knight was never arrested or interviewed by the police and on 29 March 2023, he was cleared of any wrongdoing by the Metropolitan Police. However he was not reinstated to the parliamentary Conservative Party following "further complaints".{{Cite news |date=2023-03-29 |title=Julian Knight: Met Police drop sexual assault investigation into Tory MP |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65115208 |access-date=2023-04-10}} The Metropolitan Police transferred the case to Essex Police.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-65608678 |title=Julian Knight: Police to investigate MP accused of sexual assault |publisher=BBC News |date=16 May 2023 |accessdate=29 February 2024}} In February 2024, Essex Police announced that following an investigation, no further criminal action would take place.{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/police-drop-sexual-assault-investigation-into-mp-julian-knight/ |title=Police drop sexual assault investigation into MP Julian Knight |publisher=Politico |date=29 February 2024 |first=Esther |last=Webber |accessdate=29 February 2024}}
Personal life
Knight lives in Solihull. He is married to Philippa, a former nurse.{{cite web|url=https://www.westmidlandsconservatives.com/people/julian-knight-mp|publisher=West Midlands Conservatives|accessdate=11 December 2022|title=Julian Knight MP}}
Notes
{{notelist|group=efn}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Works
- Retiring Wealthy For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons, 2006) {{ISBN|978-0470026328}}
- Cricket for Dummies (John Wiley & Sons, 2006) {{ISBN|978-0470034545}}
- The British Citizenship Test For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons, 2007) {{ISBN|978-0470723395}}
- Wills, Probate and Inheritance Tax For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons, 2008) {{ISBN|978-0470756294}}
- British Politics For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons, 2010) {{ISBN|978-0470686379}}
- The Royal Wedding For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons, 2011) {{ISBN|978-1119970309}}
External links
{{commons category}}
{{UK MP links |parliament=julian-knight/4410 |publicwhip=Julian_Knight |theywork=julian_knight}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-bef|before=Lorely Burt}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament
for Solihull|years=2015–2024}}
{{s-non | reason = Constituency abolished }}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knight, Julian}}
Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
Category:The Independent people
Category:Alumni of the University of Hull
Category:Independent members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom