Stuart Andrew

Stuart Andrew was born on 25 November 1971 in Anglesey. He was state educated at Ysgol David Hughes in Menai Bridge. After leaving school he worked for the Department of Social Security. In 1994 he took a job with the British Heart Foundation, before roles at Hope House Children's Hospice and East Lancashire Hospice. Before being elected to Parliament he led the fundraising team for Martin House Hospice.{{cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2013-12-18/debates/13121849000001/Hospices(ChildrenAndYoungPeople)#contribution-13121849000030|title=Hospices (Children and Young People) – Hansard|work=UK Parliament|date=18 December 2013|access-date=13 December 2020}}

Andrew was first elected as a Conservative councillor to represent the Maesydre ward on Wrexham County Borough Council in 1995. He stood unsuccessfully as a parliamentary candidate for Wrexham in the 1997 general election. In 1998, he left the Conservatives and defected to the Labour Party, citing issues with the "direction of the party". Andrew was re-elected as a Labour councillor in 1999, but resigned from the council later in the year.{{cite book |last1=Rallings |first1=Colin |url=http://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Wrexham-1995-2012.pdf |title=Wrexham County Borough Council Election Results 1995–2012 |last2=Thrasher |first2=Michael |publisher=The Elections Centre |pages=1–2 |access-date=10 January 2022}}{{cite news |date=18 March 2021 |title=Plaid Cymru's Becca Martin wins Maesydre by-election and is Wrexham's newest councillor |url=https://www.wrexham.com/news/plaid-cymrus-becca-martin-wins-maesydre-by-election-and-is-wrexhams-newest-councillor-202017.html |work=Wrexham.com}}{{cite news |date=9 April 2010 |title=Tory battling in marginal criticised for switching sides |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/around-yorkshire/local-stories/tory_battling_in_marginal_criticised_for_switching_sides_1_2570486 |access-date=12 December 2013 |work=Yorkshire Post}}

Andrew was elected to Parliament as MP for Pudsey in the 2010 general election with 38.5% of the vote and a majority of 1,659.{{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 |website=Electoral Calculus}}{{cite news |date=7 May 2010 |title=Election 2010: Pudsey |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/d60.stm |access-date=12 May 2010 |website=BBC News}}

Andrew served on the Welsh Affairs Select Committee between November 2010 and November 2012.{{cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4032/career|title=Parliamentary career for Stuart Andrew|work=UK Parliament|access-date=9 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725003121/https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/stuart-andrew/4032|archive-date=25 July 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/10/28/yorkshire-tory-mp-on-welsh-affairs-committee-91466-27555761/|title=Yorkshire Tory MP on Welsh Affairs Committee|work=WalesOnline|date=28 October 2010|access-date=28 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103022425/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2010/10/28/yorkshire-tory-mp-on-welsh-affairs-committee-91466-27555761/|archive-date=3 November 2010|url-status=live}}

On 22 February 2012 Andrew was headbutted and punched in a House of Commons bar during a disturbance created by Scottish Labour MP Eric Joyce,{{cite news|title=Eric Joyce stripped of Labour whip after allegations of Commons assault|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/feb/23/eric-joyce-stripped-of-labour-whip|newspaper=The Guardian|date=24 February 2012|first1=Nicholas|last1=Watt|first2=Helene|last2=Mulholland|access-date=16 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725033220/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/feb/23/eric-joyce-stripped-of-labour-whip|archive-date=25 July 2018|url-status=live}} tweeting the next day that "I'm OK".{{cite news|first=Joe|last=Murphy|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-24037762-mp-arrested-over-commons-bar-brawl.do|title=MP goes berserk in Commons bar brawl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227061805/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-24037762-mp-arrested-over-commons-bar-brawl.do |archive-date=27 February 2012 |work=Evening Standard |date=23 February 2012}} Joyce was charged with common assault,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17150381|title=MP Eric Joyce charged with assault|date=24 February 2012|work=BBC News|access-date=24 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224020846/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17150381|archive-date=24 February 2012|url-status=live}} with a fourth charge added on 9 March,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-17310549|title=Falkirk MP Eric Joyce escapes jail after admitting assault charges in Commons brawl|date=9 March 2012|work=BBC News|access-date=9 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309140106/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-17310549|archive-date=9 March 2012|url-status=live}} and he was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £1,400 in compensation to Andrew and other victims, but not given a custodial sentence. In a statement before the House of Commons on 12 March 2012, Joyce apologised personally to his victims, stated that he had resigned from the Labour Party, and that he intended to complete his current term as an MP but not seek re-election.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17343851|title=MP Eric Joyce apologises to MPs over bar brawl|date=12 March 2012|work=BBC News|access-date=12 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312180500/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17343851|archive-date=12 March 2012|url-status=live}}

In September 2012, Andrew brought forward a bill that would create a new power for governors to "destroy or otherwise dispose of any unauthorised property found within a prison or an escort vehicle". The bill was supported both by the government and the Labour Party, with Shadow Secretary of State for Justice Sadiq Khan saying he backed the bill.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19597010|work=BBC News|title=MP bids to allow prisoners' mobile phones to be sold off|date=14 September 2012|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027134134/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-19597010|archive-date=27 October 2018|url-status=live}}

During the debates on the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, which he subsequently voted for, Andrew responded to comments from Gerald Howarth about "aggressive homosexuals" by telling of a time when he had been attacked in the street and beaten unconscious "because of who and what I am".{{cite news|last1=Blanchard|first1=Jack|title=Leeds MP beaten unconscious in homophobic attack hits out at Tory gay marriage rebels|url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/election-politics/politics-and-election-news/leeds-mp-beaten-unconscious-in-homophobic-attack-hits-out-at-tory-gay-marriage-rebels-1-5694767|access-date=27 March 2015|work=Yorkshire Post|date=22 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402144847/http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/election-politics/politics-and-election-news/leeds-mp-beaten-unconscious-in-homophobic-attack-hits-out-at-tory-gay-marriage-rebels-1-5694767|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}

At the 2015 general election, Andrew was re-elected as MP for Pudsey with an increased vote share of 46.4% and an increased majority of 4,501.{{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 |website=Electoral Calculus}}{{cite news |title=Pudsey |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000886 |access-date=13 May 2015 |website=BBC News}}

In January 2016, Andrew was one of 72 MPs who voted down an amendment in Parliament on rental homes being "fit for human habitation" who were themselves landlords who derived an income from a property.{{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|last=Stone|first=Jon|date=13 January 2016|work=The Independent|access-date=24 July 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|archive-date=6 September 2018|url-status=live}}

In May 2016, it emerged that Andrew 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=22 July 2018|date=23 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180501093140/https://news.channel4.com/livepages/2016/election-expenses/|archive-date=1 May 2018|url-status=live}} 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=24 July 2018|work=BBC News|date=10 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628031934/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39865801|archive-date=28 June 2018|url-status=live}}

Andrew supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum.{{cite news |last1=Goodenough |first1=Tom |date=16 February 2016 |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/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502030758/https://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/ |archive-date=2 May 2019 |access-date=11 October 2016 |work=The Spectator}}

Andrew was appointed vice-chairman of the Conservative Party, with particular responsibility for cities, on 23 September 2016.{{cite news |last1=McIntyre |first1=Annette |title=Horsforth and Aireborough's MP is appointed to key role in charge of cities |url=http://www.wharfedaleobserver.co.uk/news/14761535.Horsforth_and_Aireborough__39_s_MP_is_appointed_to_key_role_in_charge_of_cities/ |access-date=29 August 2018 |work=Wharfedale Observer |date=23 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829175341/http://www.wharfedaleobserver.co.uk/news/14761535.Horsforth_and_Aireborough__39_s_MP_is_appointed_to_key_role_in_charge_of_cities/ |archive-date=29 August 2018 |url-status=live }}

At the snap 2017 general election, Andrew was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 47.4% and a decreased majority of 331.{{cite news |date=9 June 2017 |title=Election 2017: Pudsey |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000886 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610092817/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000886 |archive-date=10 June 2017 |access-date=9 June 2017 |work=BBC News}} At the 2019 general election, Andrew was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 48.8% and an increased majority of 3,517.{{cite web |title=Pudsey constituency |url=https://www.leeds.gov.uk/your-council/elections/parliamentary-general-election/pudsey |access-date=15 November 2019 |website=www.leeds.gov.uk}}

Andrew was elected to Parliament as MP for Daventry at the 2024 general election with 33.7% of the vote and a majority of 3,012.{{cite news |title=Daventry |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001192 |access-date=5 July 2024 |website=BBC News}}

Andrew became Assistant Whip (HM Treasury) in June 2017 and Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Wales Office) in January 2018, before moving to be Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence).

In July 2019, Andrew wrote to Bradford Council to oppose plans to introduce a new link road in south east Bradford, impacting the Pudsey constituency.{{cite web |url=https://westleedsdispatch.com/pudsey-mp-objects-to-green-belt-link-road-proposal/ |title=Pudsey MP objects to 'green belt' link road proposal |work=West Leeds Dispatch |date=1 July 2019 |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016110417/https://westleedsdispatch.com/pudsey-mp-objects-to-green-belt-link-road-proposal/ |archive-date=16 October 2019 |url-status=live }}

In October 2019, on both 14 October and 19 December, Andrew was ceremonially taken hostage by the Queen at Buckingham Palace for the duration of her speeches to Parliament.{{cite web |url=https://royalcentral.co.uk/features/conservative-mp-stuart-andrew-taken-hostage-by-the-queen-at-buckingham-palace-131975/ |title=Conservative MP Stuart Andrew taken hostage by The Queen at Buckingham Palace |work=Royal Central |last=Proctor |first=Charlie |date=14 October 2019 |access-date=14 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191014121015/https://royalcentral.co.uk/features/conservative-mp-stuart-andrew-taken-hostage-by-the-queen-at-buckingham-palace-131975/ |archive-date=14 October 2019 |url-status=live }}

In the February 2020 reshuffle he was appointed Deputy Chief Whip and promoted to Treasurer of the Household.{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/latest-updates-on-ministerial-appointments-13-february-2020 |title=Ministerial Appointments: February 2020 |work=GOV.UK |date=13 February 2020 |access-date=14 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214164311/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/latest-updates-on-ministerial-appointments-13-february-2020 |archive-date=14 February 2020 |url-status=live }}

On 10 September 2020, Andrew stood in for Jacob Rees-Mogg as Acting Leader of the House of Commons in Business Questions as Rees-Mogg was self-isolating awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test on his son.{{cite web|url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/uk-world-news/commons-leader-jacob-rees-mogg-4502867|title=The Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg self-isolating as he waits for child's Covid-19 test result|date=10 September 2020|work=Nottinghamshire Live|access-date=12 September 2020|last=Ovens|first=Ruth}}{{cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-09-10/debates/ECAD5584-B8A0-4A70-B50B-6AE1E65FAD03/BusinessOfTheHouse|title=Business of the House – Hansard|work=UK Parliament|date=10 September 2020}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic emergency arrangements, he held a large number of proxy votes for other Conservative MPs, and at one stage in 2021 personally controlled 333 votes (a majority) in the House of Commons.{{cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2021-03-09/debates/5463669A-6051-41A2-BE5B-738978C829F4/MembersEligibleForAProxyVote|title=Members Eligible for a Proxy Vote – Hansard|work=UK Parliament|date=9 March 2021}} He did not always cast these proxy votes the same way, instead following the instructions of individual MPs.{{cite news|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2021/01/why-most-rebellious-conservative-mp-still-government-job|title=Why is the most rebellious Conservative MP still in a government job?|first=Stephen|last=Bush|work=New Statesman|date=8 January 2021|access-date=9 February 2022}}

He was sworn of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom in 2021.{{cite web |title=Orders for 26 May 2021 |url=https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021-05-26-List-of-Business-2.pdf |access-date=29 May 2021 |publisher=Privy Council Office}}

In a cabinet reshuffle on 8 February 2022, Andrew was appointed Minister of State for Housing.{{cite news |last1=Sagar |first1=Anna |title=Stuart Andrew appointed housing minister amid cabinet reshuffle |url=https://www.mortgagesolutions.co.uk/news/2022/02/08/stuart-andrew-appointed-housing-minister-amid-cabinet-reshuffle/ |access-date=9 February 2022 |work=Mortgage Solutions |date=8 February 2022}}

On 6 July 2022, Andrew resigned from the role of Minister of State for Housing due to the recent scandals involving the former Conservative Party leader and Prime Minister Boris Johnson, most recently the Chris Pincher scandal.{{cite web|url=https://www.insidehousing.co.uk/news/news/housing-minister-stuart-andrew-resigns-after-148-days-76373 |title=Housing minister Stuart Andrew resigns after 148 days |publisher=Inside Housing |access-date=19 December 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/20259946.pressure-pm-pudsey-mp-resigns-government/ |title=Pressure on the PM as Pudsey MP resigns from Government |date=6 July 2022 |publisher=Telegraph & Argus |access-date=19 December 2022}} He stated that "There comes a time when you have to look at your own personal integrity and that time is now. Therefore, given recent events I have no other choice to resign. Our party, particularly our members and more importantly our great country, deserve better".

File:James Hall and Stuart Andrew 2022.jpg in Liverpool]]

On 8 September 2022, Andrew was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sport, Tourism, Heritage and Civil Society.{{cite web |title=The Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/stuart-andrew |access-date=23 November 2022 |website=GOV.UK }} His role includes

• Minister for Equalities
• Sport
• Tourism
• Civil Society (including loneliness)
• Youth
• Ceremonials (including the Coronation)
• Events including Eurovision, Unboxed, City of Culture
• Arts and Heritage in the Commons.

On 27 October 2022, Andrew was appointed to a second ministerial position, as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities.

Andrew lives in Guiseley, West Yorkshire and London.{{cite web|url=https://www.stuartandrew.com/about-stuart|title=About Stuart|publisher=Personal website|access-date=24 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725033208/https://www.stuartandrew.com/about-stuart|archive-date=25 July 2018|url-status=usurped}}{{cite web|url=http://www.theipsa.org.uk/mp-costs/your-mp/stuart-andrew/|title=IPSA record|work=IPSA|access-date=24 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926041753/http://www.theipsa.org.uk/mp-costs/your-mp/stuart-andrew/|archive-date=26 September 2018|url-status=live}} He is openly gay and a patron of LGBT+ Conservatives.{{cite news|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/05/07/out-gay-tory-shadow-ministers-retain-seats|title=Updated: Out gay Tory shadow ministers retain seats|work=Pink News|date=7 May 2010|access-date=9 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100508230526/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2010/05/07/out-gay-tory-shadow-ministers-retain-seats/|archive-date=8 May 2010|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Patrons|url=http://www.lgbtory.co.uk/patrons|work=LGBTory|access-date=28 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315160906/http://www.lgbtory.co.uk/patrons|archive-date=15 March 2012|url-status=live}} During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Andrew expressed his support for the OneLove campaign by publicly wearing an armband at the England vs Wales game.{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/stuart-andrew-onelove-armband-qatar-england-wales-match-b1043068.html |title=Gay minister Stuart Andrew to wear OneLove armband to England v Wales match in Qatar |work=Evening Standard |access-date=19 December 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2022-11-30/openly-gay-mp-wears-onelove-armband-at-qatar-world-cup-game |title=Sport minister Stuart Andrew wears OneLove armband to England v Wales World Cup game |publisher=ITV |access-date=19 December 2022}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

{{Portal|Biography|LGBTQ|Politics|United Kingdom}}

• {{Official website|https://www.stuartandrew.org.uk}}
• [http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Andrew_Stuart.aspx Stewart Andrew MP] Conservative Party profile
• [http://yourdemocracy.newstatesman.com/profile/stuart-andrew Stuart Andrew Profile] at New Statesman
• {{UK MP links | parliament = stuart-andrew/4032 | hansardcurr = | guardian = 12753/stuart-andrew | publicwhip = Stuart_Andrew | theywork = stuart_andrew | record = Stuart-Andrew/Pudsey/772 | bbc = 62806.stm | journalisted = }}

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