Paul Beresford
Sir Paul Beresford Edward Lister | |
---|---|
Personal details | |
Born | Alexander Paul Beresford 6 April 1946 Levin, Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand |
Nationality | British New Zealander |
Political party | Conservative |
Spouse | Julie Beresford (2nd wife) |
Children | 4 |
Education | Waimea College |
Alma mater | University of Otago |
Sir Alexander Paul Beresford (born 6 April 1946) is a British-New Zealander politician who has served as the Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Mole Valley in Surrey since 1997.[1] He was first elected as the MP for Croydon Central in 1992.[2]
Early life and career
Alexander Beresford was born on 6 April 1946 in
Beresford was elected as a Councillor to
Parliamentary career
Beresford was selected to fight the safe Conservative seat of Croydon Central following the retirement of former Cabinet minister John Moore. Beresford was elected at the 1992 general election with 55.4% of the vote and a majority of 9,650.[6][7] He made his maiden speech on 30 June 1992.[8]
Beresford entered the
When the number of seats in Croydon was reduced from four to three before the 1997 general election, Beresford failed to be selected for the newly drawn Croydon Central, and instead fought the safe Conservative Mole Valley seat in Surrey, where Kenneth Baker was retiring. At the 1997 general election, Beresford was elected with 48% of the vote and a majority of 10,221.[9]
Beresford was re-elected at the 2001 general election with an increased vote share of 50.5% and a decreased majority of 10,153.[10] He was again re-elected at the 2005 general election with an increased vote share of 54.8% and an increased majority of 11,997.[11]
Before the
Beresford, while serving as a backbencher, has been successful in utilising Private Members Bills and carefully chosen amendments to government legislation to achieve over ten legal changes which the BBC's Mark D'Arcy described as collectively having '...a significant impact'.[14] These primarily but not exclusively focussed on child protection, an issue Beresford has campaigned on for decades.
At the 2015 general election, Beresford was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 60.6% and an increased majority of 25,453.[15]
He campaigned for a Remain vote during the 2016 referendum on EU membership.[16]
At the snap 2017 general election Beresford was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 61.9% and a decreased majority of 24,137.[17] He was again re-elected at the 2019 general election with a decreased vote share of 55.4% and a decreased majority of 12,041.[18]
In 2021 Beresford introduced a further Private Members Bill – the Local Government (Disqualification) Bill – intended to prevent individuals who have been given non custodial sentences for sexual offences from sitting as local councillors or mayors. This Bill received the backing of the government and completed successful passage through the Commons in January 2022. It subsequently passed through the House of Lords and received Royal Assent in April 2022.[19]
In July 2022, during the political crisis caused by the Pincher Scandal, Beresford announced that he had lost confidence in Prime Minister Boris Johnson and felt he should resign.[20] Beresford went on to back Rishi Sunak in both the first and second Conservative Party leadership contests of 2022.[21]
Beresford announced in early 2023 that he would step down at the next general election.[22]
Expenses
During the media coverage of the United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal, it was revealed that Beresford, who is a practising dentist, designated his west London property (which includes his dental surgery) as his second home, allowing him to claim allowances of three-quarters of the running costs of the property from the taxpayer.[1][23]
Personal life
Beresford has a son from his previous marriage who lives in New Zealand. He and his present wife Julie have two sons and one daughter.[4]
References
- ^ a b Prince, Rosa; Simpson, Aislinn (21 May 2009). "MPs' expenses: Sir Paul Beresford doubled as dentist and used waiting area as 'sitting room'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 May 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
- doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U7305. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^ Beresford, Paul (24 March 2016). "I'm proud that Kiwis still fly a flag for the old country". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
- ^ a b c "Meet the man who could be your next MP". Dorking Advertiser. No. 5489. 5 December 1995. p. 4.
- ^ "No. 51981". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1989. p. 1.
- ^ "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
- ^ HC Deb, 30 June 1992 cc787–788
- ^ "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ Barrett, Matthew (14 September 2012). "The 24 Conservative MPs who are still on the backbenches and have never rebelled". ConservativeHome. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
- ^ D'Arcy, Mark (11 September 2012). "Making a difference". BBC News Online. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
- ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- SurreyLive. 30 June 2016 [29 June 2016]. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
- ^ "Statement of Persons Nominated 2017" (PDF). Mole Valley District Council. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Mole Valley Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
- ^ "Local Government, Disqualification Act 2022". Legislation.gov.uk.
- ^ Beresford, Paul (6 July 2022). "Many constituents have contacted me requesting an update on the Prime Minister and my thoughts on the trajectory of the current Government..." Facebook. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ Beresford, Paul (24 October 2022). "Huge congratulations to Rishi Sunak who is the new Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister..." Facebook. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
- ^ Atkinson, William (13 February 2022). "Beresford announces he will retire from Mole Valley". ConservativeHome. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ Younger, Rebecca (26 May 2009). "Mole Valley MP 'pilloried' over surgery costs deal". Surrey Advertiser. Guildford. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
External links
- Sir Paul Beresford Conservative Party
- Mole Valley Conservatives
- Your representatives – Paul Beresford Archived 14 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine BBC Democracy Live
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
News items
- MP fears 'truckloads of waste' BBC News, 7 December 2006 – Concern over an incinerator in Surrey