Sarah Atherton

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Sarah Atherton

| honorific_suffix =

| office = Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families

| image = File:Official portrait of Sarah Atherton MP crop 2.jpg

| predecessor = Leo Docherty

| successor = Andrew Murrison

| primeminister = Liz Truss

| party = Conservative Party

| termstart = 20 September 2022

| term_end = 27 October 2022

| majority =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1967|11|15}}

| birth_place = Chester, England

| children = 1

| spouse = Nick Corcoran

| alma_mater = Liverpool University

| rank =

| branch = {{army|United Kingdom}}

| unit = Intelligence Corps

| caption = Official portrait, 2019

| office1 = Member of Parliament
for Wrexham

| predecessor1 = Ian Lucas

| termstart1 = 12 December 2019

| termend1 = 30 May 2024

| successor1 = Andrew Ranger

}}

Sarah Elizabeth Atherton (born 15 November 1967) is a former British Conservative Party politician, who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wrexham between 2019 and 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/general-election-2019-result-wrexham-17405470|title=General Election 2019 result for Wrexham|last=Mosalski|first=Ruth|date=13 December 2019|website=walesonline|access-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213020455/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/general-election-2019-result-wrexham-17405470|archive-date=13 December 2019|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Atherton, Sarah Elizabeth, (born 15 Nov. 1967), MP (C) Wrexham, since 2019|url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-294108|access-date=2021-05-01|website=WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO|year=2020|language=en|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u294108|isbn=978-0-19-954088-4}} She served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families from September to October 2022.{{Cite web |title=Ministerial Appointments: September 2022 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-september-2022 |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Who is Sarah Atherton? The Army veteran appointed defence minister |url=https://www.forces.net/politics/who-sarah-atherton-army-veteran-appointed-defence-minister |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=Forces Network |date=22 September 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families) - GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/parliamentary-under-secretary-of-state--183 |access-date=2022-10-05 |website=www.gov.uk |language=en}}

She was the first Conservative to represent the Wrexham constituency since its creation in 1918. In addition, Atherton was the first female MP elected to represent the seat, and became the first female Conservative MP elected to Westminster representing a Welsh constituency.{{cite news |last1=Randall |first1=Liam |title=Sarah Atherton: Wrexham elects Conservative MP for first time in history |url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18099441.sarah-atherton-wrexham-elects-conservative-mp-first-time-history/ |accessdate=13 December 2019 |work=Leader Live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213132532/https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18099441.sarah-atherton-wrexham-elects-conservative-mp-first-time-history/ |archive-date=13 December 2019 |url-status=live }}

Early life and career

Atherton was born in Chester in 1967, the daughter of John Atherton from Chester and Evelyn Atherton (née Morgan / Stringer) from Caernarfon. She left Christleton High School in Chester, a local comprehensive school, at the age of 16.

Atherton joined the army, serving in the Intelligence Corps, before training at Bangor University and becoming a Registered General Nurse. She also studied at Manchester Metropolitan University, receiving a BSc (Hons) in Community Health (Specialist District Nurse), and at the University of Liverpool, where she obtained a Masters in Social Work.

Atherton has worked as a nurse, district nurse and social worker. In addition, she was briefly a partner in a micro brewery business based on Wrexham Industrial Estate.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50772518|title=Dolphin trainer among first Welsh female Tory MPs|work=BBC News|date=13 December 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215150918/https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50772518|archive-date=15 December 2019|access-date=24 December 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sarahatherton.org.uk/sarah%20atherton|title=About Sarah|website=Sarah Atherton|language=en|access-date=5 January 2020}} Prior to being elected as the Member of Parliament for Wrexham, she served on Gresford Community Council. She is a member of the Royal British Legion.

Parliamentary career

Sarah Atherton was elected as the Member of Parliament for Wrexham in December 2019. She became the first Conservative to represent the constituency since its inception in 1918, turning a Labour majority of 1,832 into a Conservative majority of 2,131.{{cite news |title=General election 2019: First female Tory MP wins Wrexham |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50768481 |work=BBC News |date=13 December 2019}} Atherton is the first woman to represent Wrexham but also the first female Conservative MP elected to Westminster from a Welsh constituency.{{cite news |last1=Clements |first1=Laura |title=The three female Welsh MPs who made history at the election |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/conservative-female-mps-wales-election-17420200 |work=Wales Online |date=15 December 2019 |language=en}} Additionally, she holds the distinction of being the first female MP with a regular military background.{{cite news |title=Who is Sarah Atherton? The Army veteran appointed defence minister |url=https://www.forces.net/politics/who-sarah-atherton-army-veteran-appointed-defence-minister |work=Forces Network |date=22 September 2022 |language=en}}

Atherton was a member of the Defence Select Committee, backing a report into the experiences of women in the armed forces.{{cite web |last1=Atherton |first1=Sarah |title=Report: Protecting Those Who Protect Us: Women in the Armed Forces from Recruitment to Civilian Life |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/343/defence-subcommittee/news/156892/report-protecting-those-who-protect-us-women-in-the-armed-forces-from-recruitment-to-civilian-life/ |website=Parliament UK |access-date=30 April 2024}} She was also a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Veterans, serving as Vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Veterans,{{cite web |title=APPG Veterans |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4855/appgofficerroles |website=UK Parliament |access-date=30 April 2024}} as well as contributing to also contributes to other defence-focused APPGs, such as for the Armed Forces and the Armed Forces Covenant. Atherton also served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families) at the Ministry of Defence from 20 September 2022 to 27 October 2022.{{cite web |title=Sarah Atherton MP |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/sarah-atherton |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}

Upon her election, Atherton pushed to elevate the image of Wrexham, such as in helping to contribute to Wrexham being awarded city status during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.,{{cite news |title='City status is a huge achievement for Wrexham' |url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/opinion/20157061.city-status-huge-achievement-wrexham/ |work=The Leader |date=24 May 2022 |language=en}} and in pushing for Wrexham to be shortlisted for the UK's City of Culture 2025.{{cite news |title=Wrexham a step closer to being crowned UK City of Culture 2025 as it makes the final four |url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2022-03-18/wrexham-makes-the-shortlist-for-uk-city-of-culture-2025 |access-date=30 April 2024 |agency=ITV}}

She also served as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart, in February 2020, encouraging discussion on handling cases of sexual abuse within the armed forces in civilian courts.{{cite news |title=Sexual abuse in the armed forces should not be prosecuted by the military |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/sexual-abuse-in-the-armed-forces-should-not-be-prosecuted-by-the-military-65kqps62t |access-date=30 April 2024 |work=The Times |date=23 June 2020}}

Atherton was criticised on social media for promoting the re-opening of a McDonald's outlet in Wrexham on her Twitter account, citing childhood obesity and small independent businesses which require help, defending her support with the claim that it was locally franchised and actively involved in community engagement programmes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18538004.wrexham-mp-slammed-promoting-mcdonalds-local-independent-businesses-struggling/|title=Wrexham MP slammed for promoting McDonalds when local independent businesses are struggling|website=Leader Live|date=24 June 2020 |language=en|access-date=24 June 2020}}

In August 2020, Atherton suggested on Twitter that the army could be a solution to prevent migrants crossing the English Channel. This proposal received critical feedback from immigration law specialists.{{Cite news|date=19 August 2020|title=MP's call for Army on migrant crossings criticised|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-53832136|access-date=19 August 2020}}

Voting record

In January 2020, Atherton voted, with the majority of MPs, against an Opposition amendment, "Proportional Representation to Elect MPs in the House of Commons", on the subject of electoral reform and PR.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/divisions/pw-2020-01-20-18-commons/mp/25810|title=Queen's Speech — Programme for Government — Proportional Representation to Elect MPs|website=They Work For You|language=en|access-date=24 June 2020}}{{better source needed|date=January 2021}}

In February 2020, Atherton voted with the majority of MPs against an Opposition motion on "proper funding of public services along with robust action against tax avoidance and evasion".{{Cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/divisions/pw-2020-02-25-35-commons/mp/25810|title=Proper Funding of Public Services — Tax Avoidance and Evasion|website=They Work For You|language=en|access-date=24 June 2020}} In the same month she voted with the majority of MPs against an Opposition motion on "a plan to eliminate a substantial majority of transport emissions by 2030".{{Cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/divisions/pw-2020-02-05-32-commons/mp/25810|title=Transport — Eliminate Substantial Majority of Emissions by 2030|website=They Work For You|language=en|access-date=24 June 2020}}{{better source needed|date=January 2021}}

In July 2020, Atherton voted with the majority of MPs against a Green Party amendment to the Trade Bill, which the proposer said "would aim to protect the NHS and publicly funded health and care services in other parts of the UK from any form of control from outside the UK".{{Cite web|url=https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2020-07-20&house=commons&number=80|title=Trade Bill|website=The Public Whip}}