Martin Vickers
{{short description|British Conservative politician}}
{{distinguish|Matt Vickers}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Martin Vickers
| honorific-suffix = MP
| image = Official portrait of Martin Vickers MP crop 2, 2024.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2024
| office = Member of Parliament
for Brigg and Immingham
{{nobold|Cleethorpes (2010–2024)}}
| parliament =
| majority = 3,243 (7.6%)
| predecessor = Shona McIsaac
| successor =
| term_start = 6 May 2010
| term_end =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1950|09|13|df=yes}}{{cite web|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/40371.stm
|title=Martin Vickers MP
|publisher=BBC |work=BBC Democracy Live |date= |accessdate=25 July 2010}}
| birth_place = Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England
| birthname = Martin John Vickers
| nationality = British
| spouse = Ann Gill
| party = Conservative
| relations =
| children = 1
| residence = Cleethorpes
| alma_mater = University of Lincoln
| occupation =
| profession =
| religion =
| signature =
| website = [http://www.martinvickers.org.uk www.martinvickers.org.uk]
| footnotes =
}}
Martin John Vickers{{cite web
|title = 2010 Parliamentary Elections
|url = http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/councillors--democracy-and-elections/elections-results/2010-parliamentary-elections/
|publisher = North East Lincolnshire Council
|accessdate = 7 May 2010
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100511202238/http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/councillors--democracy-and-elections/elections-results/2010-parliamentary-elections
|archivedate = 11 May 2010
|df = dmy-all
}} (born 13 September 1950) is a British Conservative Party politician. He was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Brigg and Immingham since the 2024 general election. He previously represented the Cleethorpes constituency from 2010 until its abolition in 2024.
Early life
Born in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, Vickers was educated at Havelock School and Grimsby College.{{cite news |title = Martin Vickers |url = http://ukpolitics.telegraph.co.uk/Cleethorpes/Martin+Vickers|newspaper = The Daily Telegraph|accessdate = 7 May 2010|url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110831204414/http://ukpolitics.telegraph.co.uk/Cleethorpes/Martin+Vickers |archivedate = 31 August 2011 |df = dmy-all}} He gained a politics degree at the University of Lincoln after six years as a part-time student in 2004.{{cite web
| title = Vickers, Martin
| url = http://www.politics.co.uk/ppc/party-politics/conservatives/vickers-martin-$1268274.htm
| publisher = Politics.co.uk
| accessdate = 7 May 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120223075447/http://www.politics.co.uk/ppc/party-politics/conservatives/vickers-martin-$1268274.htm
| archive-date = 23 February 2012
| url-status = dead
}} His father, Norman Vickers of 140 Heneage Road in Grimsby, died, aged 71, in May 1988, having worked for 42 years with British United Trawlers, and served in World War II in the Army.Grimsby Evening Telegraph Friday 13 May 1988, page 5
In 1979, he stood as a Conservative candidate for the Cromwell ward on Great Grimsby Borough Council, but was not successful. In 1980, he was elected as a councillor for the Weelsby ward on that council.Grimsby Evening Telegraph Wednesday 7 October 1981, page 12 Having only narrowly held his seat in 1986 by just 74 votes, he changed seats in 1990 to the Scartho ward (even then, only winning by an even narrower 30 votes) while Labour comfortably gained his old seat. In May 1994, he lost his seat in Scartho to the Liberal Democrats.Grimsby Evening Telegraph Friday 6 May 1994, page 2{{Cite web|url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Great-Grimsby-1973-1994.pdf|title=Great Grimsby Borough Council Elections 1973-1994}}
In 1995, he stood for the Scartho ward (with boundaries similar to the former Humberside County Council division) on the then-newly created unitary authority North East Lincolnshire Council which replaced the Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes borough councils, but was unsuccessful. He did, however, gain the seat from Labour in May 1999Grimsby Evening Telegraph Friday 7 May 1999, page 6 and remained on the authority until 2011.{{cite web
|title = Cllr Vickers, Martin
|url = http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/councillors--democracy-and-elections/councillors-information-and-advice/cllr-martin-vickers/
|publisher = North East Lincolnshire Council
|accessdate = 7 May 2010
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110130132642/http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/councillors--democracy-and-elections/councillors-information-and-advice/cllr-martin-vickers/
|archivedate = 30 January 2011
|df = dmy-all
}}
Before being elected an MP, he served as full-time Conservative agenthttps://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/roads-rail-links-jobs-top-9405521 for Edward Leigh.{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} He had a newsagents on Freeman Road,Grimsby Evening Telegraph Saturday 15 June 1991, page 9 the Card Cabin.Grimsby Evening Telegraph Wednesday 3 July 1991, page 55
Parliamentary career
Vickers was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament (MP) for Cleethorpes in the 2010 general election, by a majority of 4,298.{{cite web|title = Cleethorpes|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b15.stm|work= BBC News|accessdate=7 May 2010}} On 24 October 2011, Vickers was one of 81 Conservative MPs to rebel against the Cameron government to vote for a national referendum on the European Union.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/25/mp-voted-for-eu-referendum|work=The Guardian|title=Full list of MPs who voted for an EU referendum|date=25 October 2011|accessdate=3 September 2019|last=Wintour|first=Patrick}} He was re-elected in the 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2024 elections.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000643#election2015-logo|work=BBC News|accessdate=3 September 2019|title=Cleethorpes parliamentary constituency}}
In December 2024, he replaced Wendy Morton on the Backbench Business Committee.{{Cite web |title=Business without Debate - Hansard - UK Parliament |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2024-12-09/debates/E2118495-09E3-444E-B3F8-895A20B1F95A/BusinessWithoutDebate |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=hansard.parliament.uk |language=en}}
Political views and parliamentary voting record
Vickers opposes the legalisation of same-sex marriage. He voted against Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 which introduced it in England and Wales.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21346694|title=MP-by-MP: Gay marriage vote|work=BBC News|date=5 February 2013|accessdate=3 September 2019}} Vickers also voted against similar legislation which introduced it in Northern Ireland in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/same-sex-marriage-northern-ireland-list-every-mp-voted-against-lifting-abortion-ban-a8998456.html|title=All the MPs who voted against lifting abortion ban and same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland|work=The Independent|date=10 July 2019|accessdate=3 September 2019|last=Baynes|first=Chris}} In the same year, Vickers was one of 21 MPs who voted against LGBT inclusive sex and relationship education in English schools.{{cite news|work=inews.co.uk|url=https://inews.co.uk/news/education/lgbt-sex-relationship-education-mps-support/|title=MPs vote for LGBT inclusive sex and relationship education from primary school|last=Butterworth|first=Benjamin|accessdate=3 September 2019|date=28 March 2019}} He also voted against the legalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland in 2019.
Despite his social conservative views on gay rights and abortions, Vickers has maintained he opposes the reintroduction of the death penalty.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18814381|title=Death penalty would not prevent another Huntley says MP|work=BBC News|date=12 July 2012|accessdate=12 October 2022}}
Vickers supported Brexit in the 2016 EU membership referendum.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/|title=Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence? – Coffee House|date=16 February 2016|work=The Spectator}} He voted for then Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit withdrawal agreement.{{cite news|url=https://ig.ft.com/brexit-exit-deal-vote/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902092554/https://ig.ft.com/brexit-exit-deal-vote/|archivedate=2 September 2019|date=29 March 2019|title=How MPs voted on May's withdrawal deal defeat|work=Financial Times}}
He is a member of the Conservative Christian Fellowship.{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/officers/SCGcumqvfj_RE_fldLWjpEkQrU0/appointments|title=Martin John VICKERS - Personal Appointments (free information from Companies House)|website=beta.companieshouse.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-02-05}}{{better source needed|date=January 2021}} As of 31 July 2019, Vickers is the vice chair of the APPGs for Albania, Azerbaijan, Central America, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Isle of Man, East Coast Main Line, Economic Development, Fair Fuel for UK Motorists and UK Hauliers, Fisheries, Football, Rail in the North, Transport Across the North, and Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire. He is the secretary of the APPG for Australia and New Zealand and the treasurer for the APPG for Heritage Rail. He is also the chair of the APPG for Kosovo, North Macedonia, Freeports, Oil Refining Sector, Rail. Vickers is co-chair of the APPG for Montenegro and an officer for the APPG for Serbia and River Thames.{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/190731/register-190731.pdf|title=Register of All-Party Parliamentary Groups|publisher=parliament.uk|accessdate=3 September 2019|date=31 July 2019}}
Following an interim report on the connections between colonialism and properties now in the care of the National Trust, including links with historic slavery, Vickers was among the signatories of a letter to The Telegraph in November 2020 from the "Common Sense Group" of Conservative MPs. The letter accused the National Trust of being "coloured by cultural Marxist dogma, colloquially known as the 'woke agenda'".{{cite letter |recipient=the Daily Telegraph |subject=Britain's heroes |language=English |date=9 November 2020 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2020/11/09/letterswill-police-break-armistice-day-ceremonies-wednesday/ |access-date=30 January 2021 |author-mask= }}
Personal life
He married Ann GillGrimsby Evening Telegraph Tuesday 22 September 1981, page 7 on Saturday 3 October 1981 at St Peter's church in Cleethorpes,Grimsby Evening Telegraph Friday 2 October 1981, page 2 and they have one daughter.Grimsby Evening Telegraph Tuesday 20 April 1999, page 5{{cite news|title=This is what Martin Vickers is pledging for Cleethorpes after his General Election win|url=https://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/news/scunthorpe-news/what-martin-vickers-promising-cleethorpes-102716|work=Scunthorpe Telegraph|date=9 June 2017|accessdate=3 September 2019|last=Leonard|first=Simon}} His wife works in his parliamentary office as a part-time junior secretary.{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/190812/190812.pdf|title=Register of Members' Financial Interests as at 12 August 2019|page=509|publisher=parliament.uk|accessdate=3 September 2019}}
Electoral history
{{Election box begin|title=General election 2024: Brigg and Immingham{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001128|title=Brigg and Immingham - UK General election 2024|publisher=BBC News|language=en-gb|access-date=11 June 2024 }}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=Conservative Party (UK)|candidate=Martin Vickers|votes=15,905|percentage=37.4|change=−34.5|}}{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Najmul Hussain|votes=12,662|percentage=29.8|change=+9.6|}}{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Reform UK|candidate=Paul Ladlow|votes=10,594|percentage=24.9|change=+24.2|}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Amie Watson|votes=1,905|percentage=4.5|change=+1.7|}}{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Eleanor Rylance|votes=1,442|percentage=3.4|change=−1.0|}}
{{Election box majority|votes=3,243|percentage=7.6|change=−44.1}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=42,508|percentage=57.2|change=−8.8}}
{{Election box registered electors| reg. electors = 74,297
}}
{{Election box hold with party link |winner =Conservative Party (UK) |swing=−22.1}}
{{Election box end}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.martinvickers.org.uk Martin Vickers MP] Martin Vickers MP official constituency website
- [http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Vickers_Martin.aspx Martin Vickers MP] Conservative Party profile
- [http://www.cleethorpesconservatives.org.uk Cleethorpes Conservatives]
- {{UK MP links | parliament = martin-vickers/3957 | hansard = | guardian = 9180/martin-vickers | publicwhip = Martin_Vickers | theywork = martin_vickers | record = Martin-Vickers/Cleethorpes/931 | bbc = 40371.stm | journalisted = }}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|uk}}
{{s-bef|before=Shona McIsaac}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Cleethorpes|years=2010–2024}}
{{s-non|reason=Constituency abolished}}
|-
{{s-new|constituency}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Brigg and Immingham|years=2024–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Conservative Party UK MPs}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vickers, Martin}}
Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
Category:People from Cleethorpes
Category:Alumni of the University of Lincoln
Category:Councillors in the Borough of North East Lincolnshire