Mike Freer

Michael Whitney Freer was born in Manchester on 29 May 1960. Part of his childhood was spent in a council house, which was then bought by his parents following the Conservative government's Right to Buy policy.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/feb/03/mike-freer-easycouncil-interview|title=Mr easyCouncil defends his local government model|date=3 February 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=15 August 2014|archive-date=3 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803131312/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/feb/03/mike-freer-easycouncil-interview|url-status=live}} He was educated at the Chadderton Grammar School for Boys and subsequently at St Aidan's County High School (now Richard Rose Central Academy) in Carlisle. He read accountancy and business law at the University of Stirling but did not graduate with a degree.

Freer worked for a number of fast-food chains, including Pizzaland, Pizza Hut and KFC, prior to a management career in the financial sector. Freer worked for Barclays Bank as an "Area Performance Manager".{{cite web |url=https://uk.linkedin.com/in/mike-freer-b2597a4 |title=Mike Freer's LinkedIn profile |website=LinkedIn |access-date=15 May 2019}}

Freer was first elected to Barnet Council in 1990 as a Conservative for the St Paul's ward, winning the seat from Labour. However, he lost the seat back to Labour in 1994 and went on to lose in the East Finchley ward in 1998.{{cite web|url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Barnet-1964-2010.pdf|title=Barnet Council Election Results 1964–2010|publisher=Plymouth University|access-date=25 August 2018|archive-date=26 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826005130/http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Barnet-1964-2010.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite news |first=Shoffman |last=Marc |title=Gay councillor to fight key Tory target |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/view.php?id=3235 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130421032537/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/view.php?id=3235 |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 April 2013 |publisher=Pink News |date=11 December 2006 |access-date=3 June 2008 }} He was re-elected to the council, for the Finchley Church End ward, in 2002. He was unanimously elected leader of the council by his party on 11 May 2006, replacing Brian Salinger as Conservative group leader, having previously been Salinger's deputy.{{cite news|first=Lawrence|last=Marzouk|title=Right-wing coup|url=http://www.times-series.co.uk/display.var.764223.0.rightwing_coup.php|publisher=Times Series Newspapers|date=18 May 2006 |access-date=3 June 2008}}{{cite web |url=http://barnetcouncilconservatives.com/page.php?pid=4 |title=About the Leader |access-date=3 June 2008 |publisher=Barnet Council Conservatives }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Following the collapse of Icelandic banks Glitnir and Landsbanki in October 2008 in which Barnet Council had invested £27.4m of council taxpayers' money, Freer was named Private Eye's "Banker of the Year" in its Rotten Borough Awards of 2008.{{cite news|url=http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/4033243.Something_rotten_in_the_state_of_Barnet|title=Something rotten in the state of Barnet|last=Lowe|first=Rebecca|date=8 January 2009|publisher=Times Series|access-date=12 July 2009|archive-date=25 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025152558/http://www.times-series.co.uk/news/4033243.Something_rotten_in_the_state_of_Barnet/|url-status=live}} The money was subsequently recovered.{{cite web |url=https://barnetportal.icasework.com/servlet/ep.getImg?ref=D858364&bin=Y&auth=0&db=gAcEuIdf9lA%3D&hc=b007159d07dd26d961bb28575329ee43 |title=Response |publisher=London Borough of Barnet |access-date=20 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427143059/https://barnetportal.icasework.com/servlet/ep.getImg?ref=D858364&bin=Y&auth=0&db=gAcEuIdf9lA%3D&hc=b007159d07dd26d961bb28575329ee43 |archive-date=27 April 2015}}

In 2009, Freer announced a new model of local government delivery for the London Borough of Barnet, called "Future Shape" which he stated could save Barnet Council £24 million a year. The scheme has been dubbed easyCouncil because of its similarity to easyJet's business model.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/feb/03/mike-freer-easycouncil-interview|title=Mr easyCouncil defends his local government model|last=Mulholland|first=Hélène|date=3 February 2010|publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited|access-date=18 February 2010|archive-date=3 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803131312/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/feb/03/mike-freer-easycouncil-interview|url-status=live}}

In the 2005 general election, Freer contested Harrow West, coming second with 38.3% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP Gareth Thomas.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2005 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}

At the 2010 general election, Freer was elected to Parliament as MP for Finchley and Golders Green with 46% of the vote and a majority of 5,809.{{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}}[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b75.stm BBC News|Election 2010|Constituency|Finchley & Golders Green], BBC News, retrieved 27 July 2012 He was re-elected as MP for Finchley and Golders Green at the 2015 general election with an increased vote share of 50.9% and a decreased majority of 5,662.{{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 web |date=9 July 2015 |title=Election results in Barnet - barnet.gov.uk |url=https://www.barnet.gov.uk/citizen-home/news/Election-results-in-Barnet.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120225345/https://www.barnet.gov.uk/citizen-home/news/Election-results-in-Barnet.html |archive-date=20 November 2015 |access-date=2015-08-21}}{{cite news |title=Finchley & Golders Green parliamentary constituency - Election 2017 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000703 |via=www.bbc.co.uk}}{{cite web |title=UK ELECTION RESULTS |url=http://electionresults.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/finchley-golders-green-2015.html |work=electionresults.blogspot.co.uk}} At the snap 2017 general election, Freer was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 47% and a decreased majority of 1,657.{{cite news |title=Finchley & Golders Green parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000703 |publisher=BBC News}}{{cite web |title=House Of Commons Library 2017 Election report |url=http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7979/CBP-7979.pdf}} He was again re-elected at the 2019 general election, with a decreased vote share of 43.8% and an increased majority of 6,562.{{cite web |title=Election of a Member of Parliament for the Finchley and Golders Green Parliamentary Constituency: Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll |url=https://www.barnet.gov.uk/sites/default/files/statement-persons-nominated-finchleygoldersgreen-ge19.pdf |access-date=14 November 2019 |publisher=London Borough of Barnet}}{{cite news |title=Finchley & Golders Green parliamentary constituency - Election 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/politics/constituencies/E14000703 |publisher=BBC News}}

Freer was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Transport following the 2015 general election, and served in this post until the 2017 general election.

On 15 June 2017, Freer was appointed as an Assistant Government Whip.{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/assistant-government-whip--8|title=Assistant Government Whip – GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk|access-date=18 June 2017|archive-date=17 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617104621/https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/assistant-government-whip--8|url-status=live}} In July 2018, he was appointed Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, before being promoted to Comptroller of the Household in December 2019 in the second Johnson ministry.

On 16 September 2021, Freer was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exports at the Department for International Trade during the cabinet reshuffle.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-september-2021|title=Ministerial appointments: September 2021|date=16 September 2021|access-date=17 September 2021|archive-date=17 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210917165312/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-september-2021|url-status=live}} He resigned on 6 July 2022 in protest over Boris Johnson's leadership.{{cite web |last1=Rigby |first1=Beth |title=BREAKING. Mike freer resigns. |url=https://twitter.com/BethRigby/status/1544700082905300992 |website=Twitter |access-date=6 July 2022}} In his resignation letter, he accused Johnson's government of "creating an atmosphere of hostility for LGBT+ people."{{cite web |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/07/06/mike-freer-boris-johnson-resignation/ |title=Second Tory equalities minister, Mike Freer, quits as Johnson hangs on by thread |first=Josh |last=Milton |work=PinkNews |date=6 July 2022 }}

In the House of Commons he has sat on the Work and Pensions Committee, the Scottish Affairs Committee and the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee.{{cite web|title=Michael Ellis|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mike-freer/4004|website=Parliament UK|access-date=25 August 2018|archive-date=26 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826010534/https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/mike-freer/4004|url-status=live}}

Freer is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel (CFI). Although he is not Jewish, The Jewish Chronicle in 2008 ranked him 99th in its list of 100 most powerful influences on the Jewish community.{{cite news|title=JC Power 100: The people shaping Jewish life in Britain|url=http://website.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=59670&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=power%20100&srchtxt=0&srchhead=1&srchauthor=0&srchsandp=0&scsrch=0|publisher=Jewish Chronicle|date=25 April 2008|access-date=27 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402111201/http://website.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=59670&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=power%20100&srchtxt=0&srchhead=1&srchauthor=0&srchsandp=0&scsrch=0|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=dead}} In 2014, Freer resigned as parliamentary private secretary to Nick Boles in order to vote against a backbench motion recognising Palestine as a state alongside Israel, arguing "the two-state solution we all want to see should be the end not the start of the process".{{cite news|last1=Kinder|first1=Tabitha|title=Golders Green MP Mike Freer Resigns Role Over Commons Vote to Recognise Palestine as a State|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/golders-green-mp-mike-freer-resigns-role-over-commons-vote-recognise-palestine-state-1469906|access-date=24 March 2015|work=International Business Times|date=14 October 2014|archive-date=19 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150619023322/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/golders-green-mp-mike-freer-resigns-role-over-commons-vote-recognise-palestine-state-1469906|url-status=live}}

In January 2016, the Labour Party unsuccessfully proposed an amendment in Parliament that would have required private landlords to make their homes "fit for human habitation". According to Parliament's register of interests, Freer was one of 72 Conservative MPs who voted against the amendment who personally derived an income from renting out property. The Conservative Government had responded to the amendment that they believed homes should be fit for human habitation but did not want to pass the new law that would explicitly require it.{{cite news|title=Tories vote down law requiring landlords make their homes fit for human habitation|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tories-vote-down-law-requiring-landlords-make-their-homes-fit-for-human-habitation-a6809691.html|work=Independent|access-date=25 August 2018|date=13 January 2016|archive-date=6 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906032222/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tories-vote-down-law-requiring-landlords-make-their-homes-fit-for-human-habitation-a6809691.html|url-status=live}}

Freer 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-date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203120144/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/|url-status=live}} On 1 April 2019 he was one of fifteen Conservative MPs to vote in favour of a People's Vote – a second referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union.{{cite web|url=https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?id=uk.org.publicwhip/member/41843|title=The Public Whip — Voting Record – Mike Freer MP, Finchley and Golders Green (24934)|website=www.publicwhip.org.uk|access-date=21 December 2021|archive-date=15 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815021658/https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?id=uk.org.publicwhip%2Fmember%2F41843|url-status=live}}

He was a vocal defender of the Prime Minister Theresa May after she and the Conservative Party received criticism for her role in the Windrush scandal in 2018. After a constituent wrote to him complaining about the Conservative Party's role in the scandal, he responded that it was nothing to do with the party and that they should not believe 'misrepresentations' from the Labour Party.{{cite news|title=Tory whip: Windrush critics 'opportunistic'|url=https://news.sky.com/story/tory-whip-dismisses-windrush-as-height-of-opportunism-and-hypocrisy-11343425|work=Independent|access-date=21 March 2022|date=23 April 2018|author= Craig, Jon}}

File:Minister Freer - 52873211367.jpg in 2023]]

In October 2011, Freer was the target of "a disturbance" at a constituency surgery in a mosque in his constituency of Finchley by members of Muslims Against Crusades.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15508697|title=MP Mike Freer 'threatened at mosque surgery'|date=29 October 2011|publisher=BBC News|access-date=29 October 2011|archive-date=31 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031020715/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15508697|url-status=live}}

In October 2019, Freer hosted a crocus planting ceremony in memory of the 1.5 million children who were murdered in the Holocaust, which was attended by around 100 members of the local community.{{cite web |last=Wolfisz |first=Francine |url=https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/mike-freer-to-host-crocus-garden-planting-to-remember-child-shoah-victims/ |title=Mike Freer hosts crocus garden planting to remember child Shoah victims |work=Jewishnews.timesofisrael.com |date=4 October 2019 |access-date=23 October 2019 |archive-date=7 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007193706/https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/mike-freer-to-host-crocus-garden-planting-to-remember-child-shoah-victims/ |url-status=live }} Chair of the local constituency Labour Party Matt Staples subsequently claimed that Freer had "politicised" the event by not inviting "representatives from across the political spectrum".{{Cite news |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/finchley-and-golders-green-mp-mike-freer-accused-of-politicising-holocaust-memorial-event-1.489707 |title=Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer accused of 'Politicising' Holocaust Memorial Bulb Planting Event |last=Harpin |first=Lee |date=4 October 2019 |access-date=20 August 2021 |work=The Jewish Chronicle}}

In April 2022, after the conviction of Ali Harbi Ali for the murder of David Amess, Freer revealed that he had been told by anti-terrorism police that Ali had visited his constituency office on 17 September 2021. Freer would normally have been at the office, but was not there as he was attending other meetings. Freer upgraded his security arrangements following the incident.{{cite news |first=David|last=Rose|title=Golders Green MP reveals how last minute call from Boris prevented Amess killer from murdering him |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/news/golders-green-mp-reveals-how-last-minute-call-from-boris-prevented-amess-killer-from-murdering-him-5OZVeDTjE4x6BBITS64SWm |access-date=13 April 2022 |work=The Jewish Chronicle |date=11 April 2022 |language=en}}

In December 2023, Freer's constituency office was the target of a suspected arson attack.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-67819075|title=Tory MP Mike Freer's office hit by suspected arson attack|date=25 December 2023|website=BBC News}} In January 2024, he announced that he would not seek re-election at the 2024 general election citing concerns over his personal safety from Muslims Against Crusades, Ali Harbi Ali and the arson attack on his constituency office.{{cite news |title=Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer quits amid personal safety concerns |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/finchley-golders-green-mp-mike-freer-quits-personal-safety-concerns-b1136223.html |access-date=31 January 2024 |work=Evening Standard |date=31 January 2024}}

Freer is gay, which he revealed to fellow MPs during a speech in the debates over the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013.{{cite news|last1=Freer|first1=Mike|title=Mike Freer: A gay Tory MP on why he went public|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mike-freer-a-gay-tory-mp-on-why-he-went-public-8484017.html|access-date=24 March 2015|work=The Independent|date=6 February 2013|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402191245/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/mike-freer-a-gay-tory-mp-on-why-he-went-public-8484017.html|url-status=live}}

He lives with his husband, Angelo Crolla,{{Cite news |title=Gay Tory MP Mike Freer 'respects' opposition to 'landmark' gay marriage vote |url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/gay-tory-mp-mike-freer-respects-opposition-to-landmark-gay-marriage-vote-1-1867059 |last=Lamden |first=Tim |date=6 February 2013 |work=Ham & High |access-date=26 September 2019 |archive-date=26 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926081617/https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/gay-tory-mp-mike-freer-respects-opposition-to-landmark-gay-marriage-vote-1-1867059 |url-status=live }} in Finchley, north London. He entered into a civil partnership in January 2007. On the eighth anniversary of their civil partnership, in January 2015, they converted it into a marriage.{{cite news|title=Congratulations! Tory MP Mike Freer and partner Angelo convert their civil partnership to marriage|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/01/22/congratulations-tory-mp-mike-freer-and-partner-angelo-convert-their-civil-partnership-to-marriage/|access-date=23 January 2015|work=Pink News|date=22 January 2015|archive-date=23 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123025951/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/01/22/congratulations-tory-mp-mike-freer-and-partner-angelo-convert-their-civil-partnership-to-marriage/|url-status=live}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• {{Official website|http://www.mikefreer.com}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100414224133/http://www.conservatives.com/People/Prospective_Parliamentary_Candidates/Freer_Mike.aspx Profile], conservatives.com
• [http://www.finchleyconservatives.org.uk Profile], finchleyconservatives.org.uk
• {{UK MP links|parliament=mike-freer/4004|publicwhip=mike_freer|theywork=mike_freer}}

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{{s-bef|before=Rudi Vis}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament for Finchley and Golders Green|years=2010–2024}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Freer, Mike}}

Category:1960 births

Category:Living people

Category:Councillors in the London Borough of Barnet

Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies

Category:English gay politicians

Category:LGBTQ conservatism

Category:LGBTQ members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom

Category:LGBTQ people from Manchester

Category:People educated at North Chadderton School

Category:People from Chipping Barnet

Category:Politicians from Manchester

Category:UK councillors 2002–2006

Category:UK MPs 2010–2015

Category:UK MPs 2015–2017

Category:UK MPs 2017–2019

Category:UK MPs 2019–2024

Category:Leaders of local authorities of England

Category:Conservative Party (UK) councillors

Category:People from Finchley

Category:Politicians from the London Borough of Barnet

Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people