John Baron (politician)
John Baron Basildon and Billericay Billericay (2001–2010) | |
---|---|
Assumed office 7 June 2001 | |
Preceded by | Teresa Gorman |
Majority | 20,412 (46.3%) |
Personal details | |
Born | Redhill, England | 21 June 1959
Political party | Conservative |
Alma mater | Jesus College, Cambridge |
Website | www |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch/service | British Army |
Years of service | 1984–1988 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | Royal Regiment of Fusiliers |
Battles/wars | Northern Ireland Cyprus Germany |
John Charles Baron
Baron is a strong critic of the EU; he was a vocal supporter of Brexit during the
On 25 October 2023, he announced he would be stepping down at the next general election after 23 years as an MP.[2] This was following his reselection in March 2023.[3]
Early life and education
John Baron was born in Redhill, Surrey, and was privately educated at the Queen's College, Taunton, followed by studies at Jesus College, Cambridge[4] and at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.[5]
Career
Military service
After university, Baron was commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers on 3 January 1984 as a second lieutenant (on probation).[6] His commission was confirmed and he was promoted to lieutenant with seniority from 8 August 1984.[7] He was promoted to captain on 8 February 1987.[8] He served in Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Germany.
On 3 January 1988, he transferred to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers.[9] This signalled the end of his military career, but he remained liable to call up. He resigned his commission on 1 June 1997.[10]
Banking career
In 1987, he became a
Political career
In 1995, Baron became the treasurer of the Streatham Conservative Association.
In 1997
Parliamentary career
In November 1999, Teresa Gorman announced intention to stand down at the next general election from Billericay.[13] Baron was selected to defend Billericay at the 2001 general election, when he was elected as MP for Billericay with 47.4% of the vote and a majority of 5,013.[14] He made his maiden speech on 20 July 2001.[15]
Baron was a member of
At the 2005 general election, Baron was re-elected as MP for Billericay with an increased vote share of 52.2% and an increased majority of 11,206.[18]
Baron was a strong backer of
Prior to the 2010 general election, Baron's constituency of Billericay was abolished, and was replaced by Basildon and Billericay. At the general election, Baron was elected as MP for Basildon and Billericay with 52.8% of the vote and a majority of 12,338.[20][21]
Baron was the only Conservative among just 15 MPs
In June 2012, Baron delivered a letter, signed by over 100 Tory MPs, to the Prime Minister David Cameron urging him "to place on the Statute Book before the next General Election a commitment to hold a referendum during the next Parliament on the nature of our relationship with the European Union".[25] In May 2013 he tabled a rebel amendment to the Queen's Speech to "express regret" that a referendum on the EU could not be held sooner, which was backed by over 100 MPs.[26]
His reputation as a Eurosceptic and "serial rebel"[27] saw his name mentioned as a possible defector to the UK Independence Party. Speaking to the BBC's Newsnight in response to speculation in late 2014, Baron said: "You should never say never in politics, but the bottom line is my very strong preference is to stay within the Conservative party."[27]
In July 2014, Mark d'Arcy of the BBC named Baron his choice in "Parliamentarians of the Year" for 2013/14 for his role in opposing military action in Syria and seeking a promise of a referendum on membership of the European Union, writing that "he is not a household name or a fiery orator, but his fingerprints are all over the two most significant parliamentary events of the last 12 months."[23]
At the 2015 general election, Baron was re-elected as MP for Basildon and Billericay with a decreased vote share of 52.7% and an increased majority of 12,482.[28][29]
In December 2015 he voted against further airstrikes in Syria.[30]
He was again re-elected at the snap 2017 general election, with an increased vote share of 61% and an increased majority of 13,400.[31] At the 2019 general election he was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 67.1% and an increased majority of 20,412.[32]
Following the publication of the
Baron was appointed
Personal life
Baron is married and has two daughters.
References
- ^ "Co-Chairmen – Political Advisory Board – Supporters". Leave Means Leave. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "'It's been an honour and privilege': Basildon MP set to step down after 23 years". Echo. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
- ^ "John Baron reselected". Basildon Borough. 19 March 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
- .
- ^ "John Baron". BBC News. 21 October 2002. Archived from the original on 23 April 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- ^ "No. 49694". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 April 1984. p. 4822.
- ^ "No. 49897". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 October 1984. p. 13952.
- ^ "No. 50826". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 May 1987. p. 1772.
- ^ "No. 51270". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 March 1988. p. 3114.
- ^ "No. 55201". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 July 1998. p. 7933.
- ^ "Janus Henderson Investors". Janus Henderson Investors. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ Waugh, Paul (29 November 1999). "Gorman to stand down at the next election". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 October 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 20 Jul 2001 (pt 3)". publications.parliament.uk. 20 July 2001. Archived from the original on 8 February 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ "Blair wins vote for Iraq war". CNN. 18 March 2003. Archived from the original on 18 September 2007.
- ^ Happold, Tom (1 July 2003). "War rebels return in Tory reshuffle". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "The Tory Leadership contest, Candidate Profiles". BBC News. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "BBC News - Election 2010 - Constituency - Basildon & Billericay". news.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "The full list of how MPs voted on Libya action". BBC News. 22 March 2011. Archived from the original on 2 April 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ a b d'Arcy, Mark (29 July 2014). "Parliamentarians of the Year". BBC News. Archived from the original on 25 September 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "Islamic State air strikes: MP Baron votes against". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 December 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "100 Tory MPs call for Cameron to prepare legislation for EU referendum". conservativehome.blogs.com. 28 June 2012. Archived from the original on 18 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
- ^ "More than 100 Tory MPs 'express regret' at lack of referendum bill". BBC News. 15 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 April 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ a b Mason, Rowena (19 November 2014). "Two more Tory MPs set to defect if Ukip wins in Rochester, says Reckless". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Basildon & Billericay parliamentary constituency - Election 2017" – via www.bbc.com.
- ^ "Syria strikes: Find out how your MP voted". BBC News. 3 December 2015. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
- ^ "Basildon & Billericay parliamentary constituency - Election 2017". BBC News. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ https://www.basildon.gov.uk/media/9824/Basildon-Council-Statement-of-Persons-Nominated-Notice-of-Poll-and-Situation-of-Polling-Stations-Basildon-and-Billericay-Dec-2019/pdf/Basildon_Council_-_Statement_of_Persons_Nominated__Notice_of_Poll_and_Situation_of_Polling_Stations_.pdf?m=637093446198270000 [dead link]
- ^ Buchan, Lizzy; Updated (26 May 2022). "Senior Tory demands Boris Johnson resigns - and suggests he lied to Parliament". mirror. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "No. 64082". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 2023. p. B8.