Ruth Edwards

Edwards was born in Bristol as the daughter of Christopher Charles Davis and Nelly Davis. She was privately educated at Clifton High School, Bristol,{{cite web|url=https://friendsofcliftonhigh.co.uk/news/friends-in-the-news/59/59-Former-CHS-pupil-becomes-MP|title=Former Clifton High School pupil voted MP for Rushcliffe|accessdate=25 November 2021|date=21 January 2020|publisher=Friends of Clifton High}} before studying theology at the London School of Theology, where she gained a First Class BA in Theology.{{cite web|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/house/house-magazine/108577/class-2019-meet-new-mps|website=Politics Home|last=Bond|first=Daniel|date=16 December 2019|access-date=17 December 2019|title=Class of 2019: Meet the new MPs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217174745/https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/house/house-magazine/108577/class-2019-meet-new-mps|archive-date=17 December 2019|url-status=live}} She went on to complete a master's MSc degree in International Development and Security at the University of Bristol, achieving a Distinction.{{cite web|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/power-down-1.pdf|last1=Chamber|first1=Max|last2=Davis|first2=Ruth|last3=McLeod|first3=Charlotte|title=Power Down|access-date=9 November 2019|publisher=Policy Exchange|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109172532/https://policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/power-down-1.pdf|archive-date=9 November 2019|url-status=live}} After graduation, she worked as a parliamentary researcher for then Shadow Minister for Home Affairs and Counter Terrorism Crispin Blunt. She then worked as a strategy consultant for Deloitte from 2010 to 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2019/10/the-finalists-for-tonights-candidate-selection-in-rushcliffe.html|publisher=ConservativeHome|access-date=4 November 2019|date=16 October 2019|title=The finalists for tonight's candidate selection in Rushcliffe|last=Wallace|first=Mark|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106000808/https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2019/10/the-finalists-for-tonights-candidate-selection-in-rushcliffe.html|archive-date=6 November 2019|url-status=live}}

Edwards subsequently worked as a specialist for the Home Affairs Select Committee from 2012 to 2013.{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmhaff/184/184.pdf|publisher=parliament.uk|access-date=9 November 2019|date=3 December 2012|title=Drugs: Breaking the Cycle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109132455/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmhaff/184/184.pdf|archive-date=9 November 2019|url-status=live}} She then completed a crime and justice research fellowship at the think tank Policy Exchange in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/future-courts.pdf|title=Future Courts|publisher=Policy Exchange|last1=Chambers|first1=Max|last2=McLeod|first2=Charlotte|last3=Davis|first3=Ruth|page=2|access-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109132453/https://policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/future-courts.pdf|archive-date=9 November 2019|url-status=live}} She left Policy Exchange to become Head of Cyber, Justice and Emergency Services at the trade association TechUK, where she worked from 2013 to 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.techuk.org/insights/news/item/2816-cyber-export-guidance|title=Pioneering Cyber Security Document Helps Secure Human Rights Abroad|publisher=TechUK|access-date=9 November 2019|date=25 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109132456/https://www.techuk.org/insights/news/item/2816-cyber-export-guidance|archive-date=9 November 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Ruth Davis|url=https://www.smi-online.co.uk/documentportal/speakerprofile/160283.pdf|publisher=SMi|page=1|access-date=4 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106000808/https://www.smi-online.co.uk/documentportal/speakerprofile/160283.pdf|archive-date=6 November 2019|url-status=live}} After this, Edwards worked as the head of commercial strategy and public policy for the telecommunications company BT from 2015 to 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.btplc.com/Careercentre/lifeatbt/theInsidersview/RuthDavisCareerStory/index.htm|publisher=BT|date=19 November 2018|access-date=4 November 2019|title=Ruth Davis on Security Career and Mentoring|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106000806/https://www.btplc.com/Careercentre/lifeatbt/theInsidersview/RuthDavisCareerStory/index.htm|archive-date=6 November 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/ready-and-enabled/security/cybersecurity-training/|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=18 June 2019|access-date=4 November 2019|last=Waugh|first=Rob|title=Why cybersecurity training is important for your business|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106000808/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/ready-and-enabled/security/cybersecurity-training/|archive-date=6 November 2019|url-status=live}}

Edwards stood as the Conservative candidate for the Liberal Democrat-held Ceredigion seat at the 2017 general election, where she came fourth.{{cite web|title=Ceredigion|url=https://electionresults.parliament.uk/election/2017-06-08/results/Location/Constituency/Ceredigion|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104110637/https://electionresults.parliament.uk/election/2017-06-08/results/Location/Constituency/Ceredigion|archive-date=4 November 2019|access-date=4 November 2019|publisher=parliament.uk}}

In 2019 Edwards was selected as the candidate for the seat of Rushcliffe on 16 October 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/new-conservative-parliamentary-candidate-rushcliffe-3436768|work=Nottingham Post|date=17 October 2019|last=Toulson|first=Gemma|title=New Conservative parliamentary candidate for Rushcliffe selected to replace Ken Clarke|access-date=4 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028235324/https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/new-conservative-parliamentary-candidate-rushcliffe-3436768|archive-date=28 October 2019|url-status=live}} The seat had previously been represented by Father of the House, and former Chancellor of the Exchequer Kenneth Clarke since 1970, who announced his retirement on 27 June.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/27/tory-veteran-mp-ken-clarke-im-minded-to-step-down-now|work=The Guardian|access-date=4 November 2019|title=Veteran Tory MP Ken Clarke: 'I'm minded to step down now'|date=27 June 2019|last=Walker|first=Peter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223120628/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/27/tory-veteran-mp-ken-clarke-im-minded-to-step-down-now|archive-date=23 December 2019|url-status=live}} Edwards was elected with a majority of 7,643 in the 2019 general election. She was a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee from March 2020 to November 2021.{{cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4808/career|publisher=parliament.uk|accessdate=27 April 2022|title=Parliamentary career}}

Edwards was the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack between February 2020 and July 2022. She resigned from the role in July 2022 in protest against Prime Minister Boris Johnson's handling of the Chris Pincher scandal. She accused him of leading a government which "turned a blind eye to allegations of sexual assault within its own ranks."{{cite web|url=https://conservativehome.com/2020/02/28/some-of-the-2019-intake-are-given-their-first-government-posts/|publisher=ConservativeHome|date=28 February 2020|accessdate=6 July 2022|title=More PPS appointments emerge|last=Phibbs|first=Harry}}{{cite tweet|user=MhariAurora|number=1544710860605644800|date=6 July 2022|accessdate=6 July 2022|title=Another PPS resignation – Ruth Edwards}}

In 2020 Edwards voted not to call on the Government to develop and implement a plan to eliminate the substantial majority of transport emissions by 2030. Ruth Edwards has generally voted against measures to prevent climate change. {{cite web |title=How Ruth Edwards voted on measures to prevent climate change. |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/25854/ruth_edwards/rushcliffe/divisions?policy=1030 |website=They Work For You |access-date=7 August 2023}}

In 2023, Edwards served as a junior Government Whip in the Department for Work and Pensions, before moving to serve as the junior whip in Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Department for Health and Social Care.{{cite web | url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/ruth-edwards | title=Ruth Edwards }}

Outside of her parliamentary role, she was also an adviser to the HR payroll software company MHR, for which Mongoose Bridges, a company that she co-owns with her husband, received £5,000 a month between May 2021 and December 2021.{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/220419/edwards_ruth.htm|publisher=UK Parliament|accessdate=27 April 2022|title=The Register of Members' Financial Interests As at 19 April 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/the-politicians-their-private-firms-and-a-key-question-over-tax-blkwlztk5|work=The Times|date=22 November 2021|title=The politicians, their private firms and a key question over tax|last1=Morgan-Bentley|first1=Paul|last2=Kenber|first2=Billy}}{{subscription required}}

Edwards endorsed Rishi Sunak during the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.{{cite news |last1=Edwards |first1=Ruth |last2=Jones |first2=Fay |last3=Trott |first3=Laura |title=Sunak will champion women – not erase us |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/98a8c2ee-0069-11ed-809e-d123192dfb7c |access-date=11 July 2022 |work=The Times |date=11 July 2022}} She lost her bid for re-election in the 2024 election.

She married Owen Edwards in July 2019. They met during her 2017 general election campaign, when he was the chairman of Ceredigion's Conservative Association.{{cite web|url=https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2019/10/edwards-selected-for-rushcliffe.html|publisher=ConservativeHome|access-date=4 November 2019|date=17 October 2019|last=Wallace|first=Mark|title=Edwards selected for Rushcliffe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025234702/https://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2019/10/edwards-selected-for-rushcliffe.html|archive-date=25 October 2019|url-status=live}}

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Category:1984 births

Category:21st-century English women politicians

Category:21st-century English politicians

Category:Alumni of the London School of Theology

Category:Alumni of the University of Bristol

Category:BT Group people

Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies

Category:Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Bristol

Category:UK MPs 2019–2024