Michael Ellis (British politician)

Michael Ellis was born in Northampton on 13 October 1967 to a British Jewish family.{{cite news|title=New Jewish ministers and the Miliband rivalry|author= Jessica Elgot|newspaper=The Jewish Chronicle|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/31823/new-jewish-ministers-and-miliband-rivalry|date=14 May 2010|access-date=9 May 2015}} He was privately educated at two independent schools: Spratton Hall School, a preparatory school in the village of Spratton in Northamptonshire, and at Wellingborough School, in the town of Wellingborough. He went on to study at the private University of Buckingham, where he obtained an upper-second class LL.B. degree in 1993, and won the Aylesbury Vale District Council Chairman's Prize for the Best Performance in Public Law that year.{{cite web|url=http://www.northamptonconservatives.com/index.php?sectionid=2&pagenumber=44 |title=Conservatives – Northampton Conservatives – Michael Ellis MP |publisher=Northampton Conservatives |date=23 August 2007 |access-date= 6 June 2010}}

At university, Ellis was also a student editor of the Denning Law Journal. Whilst at university, Ellis undertook an exchange programme in the United States at the College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law in Williamsburg, Virginia. After attending the Inns of Court School of Law in London, he was called to the Bar at Middle Temple in 1993.{{cite web|url=http://www.clarendonchambers.com/Barristers/MichaelEllis.aspx |title=Michael Ellis |publisher=Clarendonchambers.com |access-date=6 June 2010}} His legal practice as a barrister was based in Northampton, and his chamber's head office was in London.{{cite web|url=http://www.clarendonchambers.com/Home.aspx |title=Welcome to Clarendon Chambers |publisher=Clarendon Chambers |access-date=6 June 2010}}

Ellis stood unsuccessfully as the Conservative candidate in the Park ward of Northampton Borough Council in 1995.{{cite web|url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Northampton-1973-2011.pdf|title=Northampton Borough Council Election Results 1973-2011|publisher= Plymouth University|access-date=15 August 2018}} However, he was elected in 1997 as a Conservative councillor on Northamptonshire County Council, representing the Northampton Park (now Parklands) Ward, winning the seat from his Labour Party rival by 44 votes. He served until the next election in May 2001, when he did not stand again.{{cite web|url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Northamptonshire-County.pdf|title=Northamptonshire County Council Election Results 1973-2009|publisher= Plymouth University|access-date=15 August 2018}} At the time of his election he was the youngest county councillor in Northamptonshire, at the age of 29.{{cite web|title=About Michael|url=http://www.michaelellis.co.uk/about-michael|access-date=22 December 2014}}

Ellis became the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Northampton North in December 2006. This followed a public vote in an open primary, which was a relatively unusual selection mechanism at the time.{{cite web|url=http://www.northamptonnorthconservatives.com/index.php?sectionid=3&pagenumber=58 |title=Michael Ellis – The people's choice |publisher=Northampton North Conservatives |date=8 August 2007 |access-date=6 June 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/surrey/8476464.stm |title=Tories pick Spelthorne candidate in primary |publisher=BBC News |date=23 January 2010 |access-date=6 June 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8182833.stm |title=GP wins Tory 'open primary' race |publisher=BBC News |date=4 August 2009 |access-date=6 June 2010}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8194719.stm |title=We're the progressives – Osborne |work=BBC News |date=11 August 2009 |access-date=6 June 2010}} Ellis was elected to Parliament in the 6 May 2010 general election gaining the seat with a majority of 1,936 and 34.1% of the vote, defeating the sitting Labour MP.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/election2010/results/constituency/d35.stm |title=Election 2010 | Constituency | Northampton North |work=BBC News |access-date=6 June 2010}}

In November 2010, Ellis established an All Party Group on the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, which he chaired for the following three years.{{cite web|title=House of Commons – Register of All Party Groups|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/queens-diamond-jublilee.htm|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=20 June 2011}} In this role, Ellis was responsible for organising a gift of a stained glass window of the Queen's coat of arms for the Queen from both Houses of Parliament.{{cite news|title=Stained glass window to mark Queen's Diamond Jubilee|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16470967|access-date=28 September 2013|work=BBC News|date=9 January 2012|last1=McGurran|first1=Deborah}}

In July 2010, he was first elected onto the Statutory Instruments (Joint Committee) and worked on the Draft Communications Data Bill during the 2012–13 Parliamentary session.{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/joint-select/draft-communications-bill/membership/ |title=Joint Committee on the Draft Communications Data Bill |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=28 September 2013}} Ellis was interviewed about this Bill with Jimmy Wales, co-founder of Wikipedia, on the Daily Politics programme on 11 December 2012.{{cite news|title=Communications Data Bill: Jimmy Wales and Michael Ellis|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20680724|work=BBC News|date=11 December 2012|access-date=28 September 2013}} In February 2011, Ellis was first elected onto the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee.{{cite web|title=Home Affairs Committee Membership|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/home-affairs-committee/membership/|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=20 June 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/home-affairs-committee/news/120424-drugs-oral-ev/ |title=Home Affairs Committee hears evidence from Russell Brand as part of drugs policy enquiry |publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=28 September 2013}}

On 11 September 2013, Ellis introduced the Medical Innovation (No.2) Bill, a private members bill to the House of Commons.{{cite web|title=Medical Innovation (No.2) Bill 2013–14|url=http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/medicalinnovationno2.html|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=28 September 2013}}{{cite web|title=Medical Innovation Bill [HL] 2012–13|url=http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2012-13/medicalinnovation.html|publisher=UK Parliament|access-date=28 September 2013}} The bill was designed to allow doctors more scope to innovate when treating cancer patients, but was criticised by a range of medical and legal bodies, patient groups and charities.{{cite news|work=The Guardian|date=19 November 2014|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2014/nov/19/saatchi-bill-medical-innovation|title=Attacking critics is no way to fix the Saatchi bill|access-date=15 August 2018}}{{cite web|title=Lord Maurice Saatchi Blames Lack of Cancer Cure on Legal 'Deterrent'|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/09/11/lord-saatchi-cancer_n_3905717.html|work=Huffington Post UK|access-date=28 September 2013|date=11 September 2013}} The bill was withdrawn after its first reading,{{cite web|url=http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2013-14/medicalinnovationno2.html|title=Medical Innovation (No. 2) Bill 2013–14|work=Parliament.uk|author=Michael Ellis|access-date=24 February 2014}} following an indication from the government that they would support it.{{cite web|title=Twitter / Michael Ellis|url=https://twitter.com/Michael_Ellis1/status/403927217367183360|publisher=Twitter|access-date=1 April 2014}} Although the Conservative MP Dan Poulter MP, who was Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health, suggested in July 2014 that the Government was keen to support it, it failed to progress through the House of Commons after the Liberal Democrats declined to support it.{{cite web|title=Medical Treatments: Innovation|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm140721/text/140721w0006.htm#140721w0006.htm_wqn35|publisher=Houses of Parliament}}

In March 2014, the chancellor of the exchequer, George Osborne announced in the House of Commons during the Budget Speech that a campaign Ellis had been conducting to secure extra funds to reduce potholes had succeeded and that a £200 million fund was being created to be distributed nationwide.{{cite news|work=Northampton Chronicle and Echo|title=Northampton North MP praised as Chancellor announces £200 million of funding to repair potholes|url=http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/local/northampton-north-mp-praised-as-chancellor-announces-200-million-of-funding-to-repair-potholes-1-5946617|access-date=29 October 2014}} In June 2014, it was announced that £3.3 million of this fund would be allocated to Northamptonshire by the Department for Transport, with various repairs in Northampton.{{cite news|work=Northampton Chronicle and Echo|title=Northamptonshire to receive an extra £3.3 million to fix potholes|url=http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/local/northamptonshire-to-receive-an-extra-3-3-million-to-fix-potholes-1-6131589|access-date=29 October 2014}}{{cite news|title=Potholes in dozens of roads in Northampton to be fixed as part of £3.3 million repair work|url=http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/local/potholes-in-dozens-of-roads-in-northampton-to-be-fixed-as-part-of-3-3-million-repair-work-1-6247930|work=Northampton Chronicle and Echo|access-date=22 December 2014}}

In July 2014, Ellis was successful in calling for the Parliamentary authorities to officially mark the assassination of a former member of Parliament for Northampton, Spencer Perceval, who had become Prime Minister, and who was shot and killed in the House of Commons in 1812. The Parliamentary authorities agreed to install a brass plaque in St Stephen's Hall commemorating the notable assassination and Ellis called this a "fitting tribute" to the former prime minister and historic Northampton figure.{{cite news|title=Spencer Perceval: Plaque for assassinated prime minister|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-28406576|publisher=BBC News|date=21 July 2014|access-date=22 December 2014}}

In October 2014, the Northampton Chronicle & Echo newspaper reported that Ellis had been canvassing in Northampton when he came across a medical emergency and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a constituent.{{cite news|work=Northampton Chronicle and Echo|title=Family thank Northampton MP for giving CPR to grandfather|url=http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/local/family-thank-northampton-mp-for-giving-cpr-to-grandfather-1-6340832|access-date=13 October 2014}}

Ellis was re-elected at the 2015 general election. He beat Sally Keeble by 3,245 votes (42%) to secure his seat in the House of Commons.{{cite news|title=GENERAL ELECTION 2015: Conservative Michael Ellis says he was 'humbled' by result that saw him retain seat in Northampton North|url=http://www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/top-stories/general-election-2015-conservative-michael-ellis-says-he-was-humbled-by-result-that-saw-him-retain-seat-in-northampton-north-1-6732883|website=Northamptonshire Telegraph|publisher=Johnson Publishing|access-date=8 May 2015}}

In May 2016, it emerged that Ellis 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 | url=https://news.channel4.com/livepages/2016/election-expenses/| title=Election Expenses Exposed| work=Channel 4 News|access-date=15 August 2018|date=23 June 2016}} However, in May 2017, the Crown Prosecution Service said that while there was evidence of inaccurate spending returns, it did not "meet the test" for further action.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39865801|title=No charges over 2015 Conservative battle bus cases|access-date=15 August 2018|publisher=BBC News|date=10 May 2017}}

In July 2016, Ellis was made an Assistant Whip (HM Treasury) and became Deputy Leader of the House of Commons.{{cite web|title=Michael Ellis|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/michael-ellis/4116|website=Parliament UK|access-date=15 August 2018}}

Ellis 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}} He later supported Theresa May's Brexit deal,{{cite web|url=https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2019/01/where-every-tory-mp-stands-on-brexit-the-full-list/ |title=Where every Tory MP stands on Brexit: the full list |work=Blogs.spectator.co.uk |date= 14 January 2019|access-date=17 October 2019}} and voted against ruling out a no-deal Brexit.{{cite news |author=Jacob Jarvis|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/how-did-your-mp-vote-on-the-no-deal-brexit-motion-a4091286.html |title=How did your MP vote on the no deal Brexit motion? |work=Evening Standard |date=14 March 2019 |access-date=17 October 2019}}

Ellis was re-elected again at the 2017 general election. However, his majority was reduced to 807 votes.{{cn|date=September 2022}} He was also re-elected at the 2019 general election, increasing his majority to 5,507 votes over Labour.{{cite news |title=Northampton North Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000861 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=5 May 2024}}

In February 2018, following the announcement that Northamptonshire County Council had brought in a "section 114" notice, putting it in special measures following a crises in its finances, Ellis was one of seven local MPs who released a statement arguing that the problems with the authority were down to mismanagement from the Conservative councillors who led it rather than funding cuts from the Conservative Government. They further argued that government commissioners should take over the running of the council.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-42944394|title=Northamptonshire MPs call for county council takeover|work=BBC News|date=5 February 2018|access-date=15 August 2018}}

As Arts Minister in April 2019, Ellis placed an export bar on a 500-year-old drawing by Lucas van Leyden worth £11.4 million in a bid to keep the work of art in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/11-million-drawing-at-risk-of-export |title=£11 million drawing at risk of export |work=GOV.UK |access-date=17 October 2019}} He also placed an export bar on a 17th-century baroque cabinet by Roman maker Giacomo Herman{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/arts-minister-steps-in-to-save-rare-3-million-baroque-cabinet-for-the-nation |title=Arts Minister steps in to save rare £3 million Baroque Cabinet for the nation |work=GOV.UK |access-date=17 October 2019}} and a unique 18th-century harpsichord by Joseph Mahoon.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/unique-18th-century-harpsichord-at-risk-of-export |title=Unique 18th century harpsichord at risk of export |work=GOV.UK |access-date=17 October 2019}}

In the House of Commons he has sat on the Statutory Instruments (Select and Joint Committees) and the Home Affairs Committee. He is a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel group, and has participated in delegations to raise concerns about an agreement relating to Iran's nuclear capabilities.{{cite web|url=https://cfoi.co.uk/april-2014/|title=April 2014|website=cfoi.co.uk}}

When Suella Braverman was designated as a Minister on Leave in 2021, Ellis was appointed Attorney General{{Cite web|title=Ministerial appointments: 2 March 2021|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-2-march-2021|access-date=2 March 2021|work=GOV.UK}} and designated as also attending Cabinet.{{Cite web|title=Ministers – GOV.UK|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers|access-date=2 March 2021|work=GOV.UK}}

On 8 February 2022, Ellis was appointed Minister for the Cabinet Office in addition to his role as Paymaster General.{{cite news |last1=M |first1=Muvija |last2=James |first2=William |title=UK lawmaker Ellis to be minister for cabinet office - PM's office |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-lawmaker-ellis-be-minister-cabinet-office-pms-office-2022-02-08/ |access-date=31 March 2022 |work=Reuters |date=8 February 2022}}

Ellis supported Rishi Sunak during the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.{{cn|date=September 2022}}

On 6 September 2022, Ellis was appointed Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland in the Truss ministry, succeeding Suella Braverman. He was dismissed on 25 October 2022 by the new prime minister Rishi Sunak.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

Ellis was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 2023 Political Honours on 18 June for public and political service.{{cite web |title=Political Honours conferred: June 2023 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/political-honours-conferred-june-2023 |website=Gov.uk |access-date=18 June 2023 |date=16 June 2023}}{{London Gazette|issue=64213|pages=21730|date=30 October 2023}}

Speaking during a sitting at the House of Commons on [https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/6ff57a80-5c17-4430-b69f-7428ed3ab344 the 8th of January 2024] {{Cite web |title=House of Commons Proceedings - Monday 8 January 2024 |website=Parliamentlive.tv |url=https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/6ff57a80-5c17-4430-b69f-7428ed3ab344 |access-date=2024-01-08}}

, Ellis expressed views against [https://www.icj-cij.org/case/192 Proceedings instituted by South Africa against the State of Israel on 29 December 2023] which by then [https://www.commondreams.org/news/800-groups-icj 800+ Global Groups] and the 57-member states of the OIC had supported {{Cite news |title=Countries announce endorsing South Africa's ICJ case against Israel |date=January 8, 2024 |url=https://www.albawaba.com/news/countries-announce-endorsing-south-africas-icj-case-against-israel-1548039 |publisher=Al Bawaba |access-date=January 9, 2024}}

.

Ellis announced in May 2024 that he would stand down at the 2024 general election.{{cite web |title=The MPs who have announced they are standing down at the next general election |url=https://news.sky.com/story/the-mps-who-have-announced-they-are-standing-down-at-the-next-general-election-13102764 |website=Sky News |access-date=27 May 2024 |date=24 May 2024}}

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• [http://michaelellis.co.uk Michael Ellis MP Website]
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