Tim Loughton

Timothy Loughton was born on 30 May 1962 in Eastbourne, East Sussex. From 1973 to 1980, he was educated at Priory School, a state comprehensive school in Lewes, East Sussex. From 1980 to 1983, he studied classical civilisation at the University of Warwick. He was the secretary of the University of Warwick Conservative Association. He graduated with a first class honours Bachelor of Arts (BA Hons) degree in 1983. He then attended Clare College, Cambridge, where he studied Mesopotamian archaeology between 1983 and 1984.{{cite web|title=Biography - About Tim|url=https://www.timloughton.com/full-biography|access-date=6 September 2016}}

Loughton subsequently had a career in the City of London as a fund manager from 1984 for Fleming Private Asset Management, becoming a director from 1992 to 2000.

Loughton unsuccessfully contested Sheffield Brightside for the Conservative Party at the 1992 general election, finishing in second with 16.8% behind the incumbent Labour MP David Blunkett.{{cite web |title=Election Data 1992 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054418/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt |archivedate=15 October 2011 |accessdate=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}

Loughton was elected as MP for East Worthing and Shoreham at the 1997 general election, winning with 40.5% of the vote and a majority of 5,098.{{cite web |title=Election Data 1997 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054424/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}

From 2000 to 2001, Loughton was Shadow Minister for Environment and from 2003 to 2010 he was Shadow Minister of Health and Children, during the Conservative Party's time as the shadow cabinet in opposition to the Labour Party.{{cite web|url=https://www.timloughton.com/about-tim|title=About Tim|website=Tim Loughton MP|access-date=19 October 2017}}

At the 2001 general election, Loughton was re-elected as MP for East Worthing and Shoreham with an increased vote share of 43.2% and an increased majority of 6,139.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2001 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}} He was again re-elected at the 2005 general election with an increased vote share of 43.9% and an increased majority of 8,183.{{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}}

In 2010, Loughton appeared in the Channel 4 documentary series, Tower Block of Commons.{{Cite web |title=Tower Block of Commons |url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/tower-block-of-commons/ |website=Channel 4}}

Loughton was again re-elected at the 2010 general election with an increased vote share of 48.5% and an increased majority of 11,105.{{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}}{{cite news |title=Worthing East & Shoreham |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b54.stm |access-date=2010-05-07 |work=BBC News Online}} After the election, Loughton was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families,{{cite web | title= Tim Loughton |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/people/tim-loughton| author=| website= GOV.UK | access-date= 6 August 2015}} a position commonly known as 'children's minister'.

In February 2012, Loughton was part of a ministerial working group on how the law should be changed regarding how to amend the Children Act 1989. According to The Guardian in 3 February 2012, the working group aimed to include in the new Children's Act one "presumption of shared parenting" for children's fathers and mothers after cases of divorce or spousal break up.{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/law/2012/feb/03/divorced-fathers-children-custody-access?fb=optOut | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Damien | last=Pearse | title=Divorced fathers to get more contact with their children | date=3 February 2012}}

In May 2012, he said marriage was a religious institution that should remain between one man and one woman.{{Cite web |date=13 May 2012 |title=Tory ministers Philip Hammond and Tim Loughton come out against equal marriage for gay couples |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2012/05/13/tory-ministers-philip-hammond-and-tim-loughton-come-out-against-governments-same-sex-marriage-promise/ |website=Pink News}} Loughton voted against the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm130205/debtext/130205-0004.html|title=The House of Commons. 2013. Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill 2012-2013.|publisher=parliament.uk}}

Loughton was dismissed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families in the government reshuffle of September 2012.{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron-faces-a-fresh-revolt-as-sacked-ministers-go-on-the-attack-8125376.html|title= David Cameron faces a fresh revolt as sacked ministers go on the attack|work=London Evening Standard |date=11 September 2012 |access-date=3 February 2013}}

In January 2013, Loughton was involved in a political dispute involving his earlier work as a minister in the Department for Education (DofE) when he compared the role of Education Secretary Michael Gove to "Young Mr Grace" from the British sitcom Are You Being Served?, suggesting there was little interaction between ministers and staff in the department.{{cite news|last1=Harrison|first1=Angela|title=Ex-minister Tim Loughton says children's agenda sidelined|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-21042357|access-date=22 April 2015|publisher=BBC|date=16 January 2013}} The next day Loughton was described in an anonymous briefing from the DofE to The Spectator as a "lazy, incompetent narcissist obsessed only with self-promotion".{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9820947/Michael-Gove-Ive-no-idea-which-of-my-staff-called-Tim-Loughton-a-lazy-incompetent-narcissist.html|title=Michael Gove: I've no idea which of my staff called Tim Loughton a lazy, incompetent narcissist|date=22 January 2013 |access-date=3 February 2013|location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph}} The following month Loughton tabled "hostile" parliamentary questions to the Department of Education on the subject of complaints by staff, which The Independent described as "a significant escalation of hostilities" between Loughton and some of his old colleagues.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/tory-exminister-tim-loughton-turns-his-sights-on-michael-goves-adviser-8512126.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/tory-exminister-tim-loughton-turns-his-sights-on-michael-goves-adviser-8512126.html |archive-date=7 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Tory ex-minister, Tim Loughton, turns his sights on Michael Gove's adviser| date=26 February 2013 |access-date=13 March 2013|location=London|work=The Independent|first=Oliver|last=Wright}}{{cbignore}}

In March 2013, it was reported that Loughton had been investigated by Sussex Police under the Malicious Communications Act following a complaint lodged by a constituent over Loughton's reply to their email.{{cite news|last1=Marsden|first1=Sam|title=Police investigate Conservative MP Tim Loughton for calling man 'unkempt'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/9905488/Police-investigate-Conservative-MP-Tim-Loughton-for-calling-man-unkempt.html|access-date=1 April 2015|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=3 March 2013}} After several months, Loughton was advised by the Sussex Police that they would not be filing any charges. Loughton subsequently gave his account of the affair in a parliamentary privilege protected House of Commons speech and criticised the police response.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21783379|title=MP Tim Loughton 'sacks' constituent after racism row| date=14 March 2013 |access-date=14 March 2013|work=BBC News}} Loughton then mailed a Hansard copy of the speech to the constituent, an action he believed was covered by parliamentary privilege.

The constituent lodged another complaint about being sent the parliamentary papers, and Loughton was issued with a Police Information Notice (PIN) by Sussex Police. Loughton then arranged an emergency parliamentary debate, during which he accused the police of violating parliamentary privilege by issuing the PIN. A motion for the Standards and Privileges Committee to investigate his claims was granted.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24453943|title=Tim Loughton accuses police chief of 'losing the plot'| date=9 October 2013 |access-date=31 October 2013|work=BBC News}} At a hearing of the Standards and Privileges committee in January 2014, Loughton said that by issuing the PIN the police had "exacerbated the situation out of all control". Sussex Chief Constable Martin Richards apologised to the committee, claiming he was unaware the Parliamentary Papers Act 1840 gave full legal protection to all parliamentary papers and blamed conflicting legal advice. Former deputy Chief Constable of Sussex Police Robin Merrett claimed he "could understand" the constituent being "alarmed" at receiving the copy of Hansard and "fully supported" the police actions.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25930167|title=No police apology for MP Tim Loughton in harassment row| date=28 January 2014 |access-date=1 February 2014|work=BBC News}} In March 2014, the Standards and Privileges Committee found Sussex Police in contempt of Parliament, forcing Sussex Police to issue an apology.{{cite news |url=http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/story/2014-03-14/sussex-police-apologise-to-mp/|title=Sussex MP gets apology from police| date=14 March 2014 |work=ITV News|access-date=14 March 2014}}

In September 2013, Loughton apologised to former children's minister Sarah Teather after he was recorded at an event saying the Department of Education as a result of Teather was a "family free zone" and that Teather "did not believe in family" as "she certainly didn't produce one of her own". The comments made by Loughton were described as "disgusting" by Jo Swinson, the Liberal Democrat minister for Women and Equalities.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24119088/|title=Tim Loughton to apologise for Sarah Teather family jibe| date=16 September 2013|access-date=17 March 2014|work=BBC News}}

At the 2015 general election, Loughton was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 49.5% and an increased majority of 14,949.{{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}}

In August 2015, it was reported that Loughton was amongst a number of supporters of other political parties who had paid £3 to register to join the Labour Party in an attempt to participate in its leadership election.{{cite news |last= Piggott |first= Mark |title= Labour leadership contest: 1,200 banned from voting because they support rival parties|url= http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/labour-leadership-contest-1200-banned-voting-because-they-support-rival-parties-1515073| date= 11 August 2015|work= International Business Times | access-date= 27 August 2014 }} He subsequently said he had registered using his parliamentary email account to reveal "what a complete farce the whole thing is." He said that he was open in his intent and would not have actually voted.{{cite news |last= Perraudin |first= Frances |title= Tory caught signing up as Labour supporter wanted to expose vote 'farce' |url= https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/aug/05/conservative-tim-loughton-signs-up-labour-supporter-leadership-contest| date= 5 August 2015|newspaper= The Guardian |location=London| access-date= 27 August 2015 }} He was subsequently removed from Labour's registered supporters list and not granted a vote in the Labour Leadership election. The fee paid by Loughton to register to a supporter of the Labour Party was retained as a donation.{{cite web|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/business-and-finance/2018/05/ballot-papers-booths-and-pencils-hidden-infrastructure-behind|title=A Tory MP and former minister is caught attempting to register as a Labour supporter to vote for Jeremy Corbyn|work=The New Statesman|date=5 August 2015}}

In September 2015, it was reported that Loughton had claimed the fourth highest expenses claim in the country.{{cite news|title=Big-spending Tory MPs claim £190k expenses in a year|url=https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/13714269.Big_spending_Tory_MPs_claim___190k_expenses_in_a_year/|work=The Argus|access-date=1 October 2018|date=11 September 2015}}

Loughton supported Brexit in the 2016 European Union membership referendum. He campaigned for it through the Vote Leave organisation.{{cite web|title=Tim Loughton MP: Why I will vote to leave the EU|first=Tim|last=Loughton|website=Conservative Woman|date=22 February 2016|url=https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/tim-loughton-mp-why-i-will-vote-to-leave-the-eu/}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16ZcsMo3JFQ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/16ZcsMo3JFQ| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Tim Loughton MP - Vote Leave - Fresh Start Launch|publisher=Tim Loughton (YouTube)|date=2 June 2016}}{{cbignore}}

Loughton was Campaign Manager for Andrea Leadsom's unsuccessful bid to become leader of the Conservative Party.

From 6 September 2016 – 19 October 2016, Loughton acted as Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee following the resignation of the Labour MP Keith Vaz over alleged inappropriate behaviour.{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/09/06/keith-vaz-will-be-told-to-quit-top-role-as-he-faces-questioning/ |title=Keith Vaz quits as Home Affairs Committee Chairman in wake of rent boys scandal| work=The Daily Telegraph|year=2016|access-date=6 September 2016}}

Loughton was again re-elected at the snap 2017 general election, with a decreased vote share of 48.9% and a decreased majority of 5,106.{{cite news |title=Election Data BBC 2017 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000682 |access-date=9 June 2017 |publisher=BBC}}

On 29 June 2017, Loughton came fifth in the ballot of private members' bills.{{cite web|title=Private Members' Bill Ballot: 29 June 2017|url= http://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2017/june/private-members-bill-ballot-2017/| date=29 June 2017|publisher= House of Commons Library |location=London| access-date= 9 August 2017}}{{cite news|title=Private members' bill draw: Chris Bryant comes first|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-40441538| date=29 June 2017|work=BBC News |location=London| access-date= 9 August 2017}} He subsequently introduced the Civil Partnerships, Marriages and Deaths (Registration Etc.) Bill.{{cite web|title=The Bill Ballot: Details of the 2017-19 Private Members' Bill Ballot winners and their proposed legislation |url=http://www.dehavilland.co.uk/PoliticalUploads/201719PrivateMemberBillBallot.pdf| date=29 June 2017|publisher= DeHavilland |location=London| access-date= 9 August 2017}}

After Loughton announced in October 2017 that he meditates in the bath for an hour every morning, it was reported that he had built up water bills over the previous two years of £662, which he had put on his expenses. After his initial comments on the length of time he spent in baths led to negative commentary in sections of the press, Loughton responded: "MP takes bath is apparently hot news in Westminster at the moment. However, the real story was a conference I co-hosted at Westminster yesterday, which brought together 20 MPs from over 15 countries to promote mindfulness as one of the ways we can help tackle the epidemic of mental illness."{{cite news |last1=Mason |first1=Rowena |date=18 October 2017 |title=Tory MP who has hour-long baths claims £662 water bill on expenses |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/18/mindfulness-working-life-dcms-sports-minister-tracey-crouch |access-date=1 October 2018 |work=The Guardian}}

In July 2018, he participated in the first Worthing Pride parade.{{Cite tweet |number=1018098606711205890 |user=timloughton |title=#ConservativePride lining up for the first Worthing parade |date=14 July 2018}} A year later in July 2019, Loughton voted to extend same-sex marriage and abortion to Northern Ireland.{{cite web |title=Tim Loughton MP, East Worthing and Shoreham |url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/10371/tim_loughton/east_worthing_and_shoreham/divisions?policy=826 |website=TheyWorkForYou}}

In the House of Commons, Loughton sits on the Home Affairs Select Committee. He has previously sat on the Draft Mental Health Bill (Joint Committee) and Environmental Audit Committee.{{cite web|title=Tim Loughton|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/Tim-Loughton/114|website=Parliament UK|access-date=1 October 2018}}

Loughton employs his wife as a part-time office manager on a salary up to £25,000.{{cite web|url=http://www.theipsa.org.uk/mp-costs/your-mp/tim-loughton/|title=IPSA|publisher=GOV.UK |access-date=1 October 2018}} The practice of MPs employing family members has been criticised by some sections of the media on the lines that it promotes nepotism.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/11706561/One-in-four-MPs-employs-a-family-member-the-full-list-revealed.html|title=One in five MPs employs a family member: the full list revealed|date=29 June 2015|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=1 October 2018}}{{cite news|last1=Mason|first1=Rowena|title=Keeping it in the family: new MPs continue to hire relatives as staff|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jun/29/mps-continue-hire-relatives-as-staff|access-date=1 October 2018|work=The Guardian|date=29 June 2015}} Although MPs who were first elected in 2017 have been banned from employing family members, the restriction is not retrospective – meaning that Loughton's employment of his wife is lawful.{{cite news|title=MPs banned from employing spouses after election in expenses crackdown|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/mps-banned-from-employing-spouses-after-election-in-expenses-crackdown-a3520036.html|work=London Evening Standard|access-date=1 October 2018|date=21 April 2017}}

File:Prime Minister's Questions, 7 February 2024 04.jpg, 7 February 2024]]

At the 2019 general election, Loughton was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 51% and an increased majority of 7,474.{{Cite web |title=Archived copy |url=https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/media/media,155882,en.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200605201619/https://www.adur-worthing.gov.uk/media/media,155882,en.pdf |archive-date=2020-06-05 |access-date=2019-11-20}}

On 26 March 2021, it was announced that Loughton was one of five MPs to be sanctioned by China for spreading what it called "lies and disinformation" about the country. He was subsequently banned from entering China, Hong Kong and Macau and Chinese citizens and institutions are prohibited from doing business with him.{{cite news |title=Uighurs: China bans UK MPs after abuse sanctions |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56532569 |access-date=26 March 2021 |work=BBC News |date=26 March 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514192735/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56532569 |archive-date=14 May 2021}}

On 1 December 2021, Loughton was appointed acting Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee for a second time following the resignation of Labour MP Yvette Cooper, who was appointed Shadow Home Secretary.{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/PARLYapp/status/1466082942078394377|title=Tim Loughton appointed Interim Chair of Home Affairs Select Committee|date=2021-12-01|website=Parly}}

In April 2024, Loughton announced that he would not seek re-election as an MP at the 2024 general election, after 27 years in parliament.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-13 |title=Longstanding Tory MP Tim Loughton to stand down at next election |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cll4vpm8rgzo |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{cite news |last1=Hazell |first1=Will |title=Tory MP Tim Loughton to stand down at next election |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/13/tim-loughton-latest-tory-mp-to-join-general-election-exodus/ |access-date=13 April 2024 |work=Daily Telegraph |date=13 April 2024}} On 24 May 2024, he subsequently delivered his valedictory speech as a Member of Parliament.{{cite web |title=24.05.2024 - Tim Loughton MP Valedictorian speech in full | website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mB5asFWf2jE |access-date=29 May 2024 |date=24 May 2024}}

Loughton married Elizabeth Juliet MacLauchlan in 1992, and they have two daughters and one son.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/candidates/candidates/6/64903.stm|title=Tim Loughton|work=BBC News|access-date=22 October 2017}}

On 16 April 2015, he was elected Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA).{{cite web|title=16 Apr Ballot Results|url=https://www.sal.org.uk/news/2015/04/16-apr-ballot-results/|website=News|publisher=Society of Antiquaries of London|access-date=2 May 2015|date=16 April 2015}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.timloughton.com Tim Loughton's Website]
• {{UK MP links |parliament=tim-loughton/114 |hansardcurr=1558 |hansard=mr-tim-loughton |publicwhip=Tim_Loughton |theywork=tim_loughton}}
• [http://politics.guardian.co.uk/person/0,9290,-3203,00.html Guardian Unlimited - Ask Aristotle] Profile of Tim Loughton
• [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/649.stm BBC Politics page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519180319/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/mpdb/html/649.stm |date=19 May 2006 }}
• [http://www.adur.gov.uk/mp/index.htm Adur District Council MP page]

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Category:1962 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alumni of the University of Warwick

Category:Alumni of Clare College, Cambridge

Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies

Category:UK MPs 1997–2001

Category:UK MPs 2001–2005

Category:UK MPs 2005–2010

Category:UK MPs 2010–2015

Category:UK MPs 2015–2017

Category:UK MPs 2017–2019

Category:UK MPs 2019–2024

Category:People from Eastbourne

Category:People educated at Priory School, Lewes

Category:Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London

Category:British Eurosceptics

Category:British individuals subject to Chinese sanctions