Richard Graham (politician): Difference between revisions

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In January 2013, Graham attracted criticism after suggesting to a local newspaper that women wearing short skirts and high heels increase their risk of rape.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/news/uk-lawmaker-accused-of-sexism-after-suggesting-high-heels-short-skirts-put-women-at-greater-risk-of-rape|title='Short skirts and high heels risk sexual assault warning lands Richard Graham MP in sexism storm|work=National Post|date=27 January 2013|accessdate=31 October 2016}}</ref> Graham denied he was "victim blaming", saying that his comments were about "risk management".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Elgot|first1=Jessica|title=Tory MP Richard Graham: ‘Short Skirts And High Heels Make Women More Vulnerable To Rapists’|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/28/tory-mp-richard-graham-rape-short-skirts-high-heels-vulnerable_n_2565059.html|accessdate=14 January 2017|publisher=Huffington Post|date=January 2013}}</ref>
In January 2013, Graham attracted criticism after suggesting to a local newspaper that women wearing short skirts and high heels increase their risk of rape.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.nationalpost.com/news/uk-lawmaker-accused-of-sexism-after-suggesting-high-heels-short-skirts-put-women-at-greater-risk-of-rape|title='Short skirts and high heels risk sexual assault warning lands Richard Graham MP in sexism storm|work=National Post|date=27 January 2013|accessdate=31 October 2016}}</ref> Graham denied he was "victim blaming", saying that his comments were about "risk management".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Elgot|first1=Jessica|title=Tory MP Richard Graham: ‘Short Skirts And High Heels Make Women More Vulnerable To Rapists’|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/01/28/tory-mp-richard-graham-rape-short-skirts-high-heels-vulnerable_n_2565059.html|accessdate=14 January 2017|publisher=Huffington Post|date=January 2013}}</ref>

In June 2013, Graham was rebuked the [[Information Commissioner's Office]] for breaching the [[Data Protection Act 1998]] and the [[Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003]] by spamming people who had contacted him on parliamentary business.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Richard-Graham-MP-rebuked-signing-people-mailing/story-21232621-detail/story.html|title=Richard Graham rebuked for signing people up to his mailing list|website=Gloucester Citizen|access-date=8 April 2016}}</ref>


He successfully campaigned for stronger dangerous driving sentencing laws in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-21681914|title=Gloucester MP campaigns for dangerous driving laws reform|website=BBC News|access-date=8 April 2016}}</ref> The road safety charity [[Brake (charity)|Brake]] later withdrew an award they had given him for this campaign<ref name=michael>{{cite news|last1=Wilkinson|first1=Michael|title=Road safety champion Tory MP Richard Graham given six-month driving ban for speeding|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/11759989/Road-safety-champion-Tory-MP-Richard-Graham-given-six-month-driving-ban-for-speeding.html|accessdate=16 August 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 July 2015}}</ref> after he was given a six-month driving ban in July 2015 for accruing more than 12 penalty points over a three-year period for various motoring offences<ref>{{cite news|title=MP Richard Graham given six-month driving ban|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33638902|accessdate=16 August 2016|publisher=BBC News|date=23 July 2015}}</ref>
He successfully campaigned for stronger dangerous driving sentencing laws in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-21681914|title=Gloucester MP campaigns for dangerous driving laws reform|website=BBC News|access-date=8 April 2016}}</ref> The road safety charity [[Brake (charity)|Brake]] later withdrew an award they had given him for this campaign<ref name=michael>{{cite news|last1=Wilkinson|first1=Michael|title=Road safety champion Tory MP Richard Graham given six-month driving ban for speeding|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/11759989/Road-safety-champion-Tory-MP-Richard-Graham-given-six-month-driving-ban-for-speeding.html|accessdate=16 August 2016|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=24 July 2015}}</ref> after he was given a six-month driving ban in July 2015 for accruing more than 12 penalty points over a three-year period for various motoring offences<ref>{{cite news|title=MP Richard Graham given six-month driving ban|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-33638902|accessdate=16 August 2016|publisher=BBC News|date=23 July 2015}}</ref>
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===Second parliament (2015–17)===
===Second parliament (2015–17)===
Graham was re-elected with an increased majority of 7,241 in the [[United Kingdom general election, 2015|2015 general election]]. He apologised for parking his van in a disabled parking bay after a "37 hour day" following the election<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Gloucester-MP-Richard-Graham-caught-parking/story-26474478-detail/story.html|title=Gloucester MP Richard Graham caught parking in disabled bay hours after General Election win - Gloucestershire news - Gloucester Citizen|work=Gloucester Citizen}}</ref> Earlier in the campaign, Graham was ordered by a judge to remove tweets that discussed a murder trial in Gloucester after the defendant's barrister accused him of 'a clear attempt to win votes by ingratiating himself with his electors'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/richard-graham-accused-using-alleged-murder/story-26360804-detail/story.html|title=Richard Graham accused of using alleged murder of Gloucester's Zac Evans to win votes ahead of trial|website=Gloucester Citizen|access-date=8 April 2016}}</ref>
Graham was re-elected with an increased majority of 7,241 in the [[United Kingdom general election, 2015|2015 general election]]. He apologised for parking his van in a disabled parking bay after a "37 hour day" following the election<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Gloucester-MP-Richard-Graham-caught-parking/story-26474478-detail/story.html|title=Gloucester MP Richard Graham caught parking in disabled bay hours after General Election win - Gloucestershire news - Gloucester Citizen|work=Gloucester Citizen}}</ref> In April 2015, Graham was ordered by a judge to remove tweets that discussed a murder trial in Gloucester after the defendant's barrister accused him of 'a clear attempt to win votes by ingratiating himself with his electors'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/richard-graham-accused-using-alleged-murder/story-26360804-detail/story.html|title=Richard Graham accused of using alleged murder of Gloucester's Zac Evans to win votes ahead of trial|website=Gloucester Citizen|access-date=8 April 2016}}</ref> The day after the 2015 the General Election, He had to apologise after being caught parking his official campaign van in a disabled parking bay after a "37 hour day".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gloucestercitizen.co.uk/Gloucester-MP-Richard-Graham-caught-parking/story-26474478-detail/story.html|title=Gloucester MP Richard Graham caught parking in disabled bay hours after General Election win - Gloucestershire news - Gloucester Citizen|work=Gloucester Citizen}}</ref>


In November 2015, Graham was accused of quoting [[Joseph Goebbels]] in defending a new surveillance bill with the words "if you've nothing to hide you have nothing to fear". ''[[The Independent]]'' pointed out that former Conservative Foreign Secretary [[William Hague]] had also used the same phrase in 2013 whilst Graham dismissed the argument as "clearly absurd" as Goebbels would have spoken in German.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bartlett|first=Evan|url=http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/tory-mp-richard-graham-accused-of-quoting-joseph-goebbels-in-defence-of-new-surveillance-bill--bklSCE9nOg|title=Tory MP Richard Graham accused of quoting Joseph Goebbels in defence of new surveillance bill |work=The Independent|date=4 November 2015|accessdate=8 April 2016}}</ref>
In November 2015, Graham was accused of quoting [[Joseph Goebbels]] in defending a new surveillance bill with the words "if you've nothing to hide you have nothing to fear". ''[[The Independent]]'' pointed out that former Conservative Foreign Secretary [[William Hague]] had also used the same phrase in 2013 whilst Graham dismissed the argument as "clearly absurd" as Goebbels would have spoken in German.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bartlett|first=Evan|url=http://indy100.independent.co.uk/article/tory-mp-richard-graham-accused-of-quoting-joseph-goebbels-in-defence-of-new-surveillance-bill--bklSCE9nOg|title=Tory MP Richard Graham accused of quoting Joseph Goebbels in defence of new surveillance bill |work=The Independent|date=4 November 2015|accessdate=8 April 2016}}</ref>

Revision as of 17:20, 6 July 2017

Richard Graham
MP
Graham in September 2013
Member of Parliament
for Gloucester
Assumed office
6 May 2010
Preceded byParmjit Dhanda
Majority7,241 (8.8%)
Personal details
Born (1958-04-04) 4 April 1958 (age 66)
NationalityBritish
Political party
Conservatives
SpouseAnthea Graham
Children3
Alma materChrist Church, Oxford
WebsiteOfficial Website

Richard Michael John Ogilvie Graham (born 4 April 1958

2010 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Gloucester.[2]

Early life and career

Graham was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford where he was an exhibitioner in Modern History.[3] Whilst at Oxford University, he was a Cadet with the Oxford University Air Squadron. Graham has played international squash and still plays cricket for Gloucester City Winget Cricket Club and the Gloucestershire Over 50s.[4]

Graham was previously an airline manager, a diplomat and a pensions manager. He started with

Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1986, and was Second, later First, Secretary, in the British High Commission Nairobi and then British Trade Commissioner China, First Secretary British Embassy Beijing and HM Consul Macao (1989–1992). Graham joined Barings Bank as its Chief Representative China in 1993, and became a director of Baring Asset Management in 1996.[5] Graham has lived and worked in ten countries and speaks eight languages.[6]

He was previously a Director of the charitable company Care for Children, which organises and trains foster parents for Chinese orphans.[7] In 2010, Graham created the first Gloucester History Festival and chairs the Gloucester History Committee.[8] He is also a trustee of the Gloucestershire Community Foundation,[9] Patron of the Discover de Crypt project [10] and an Hon. Member of the Showmen's Guild.

Graham was elected as a

Cotswold district councillor in 2003, becoming Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in 2006.[11] He unsuccessfully contested the Conservative Party Stroud Parliamentary nomination and the South West of England
in the 2004 European elections.

Parliamentary career

First parliament (2010–15)

In the run up to the

2010 general election, Graham was criticised by the incumbent Gloucester Labour MP Parmjit Dhanda and Stroud MP David Drew for using members and supporters of the foxhound pack Heythrop Hunt[12] to campaign and leaflet on his behalf.[13]

Following his election to the House of Commons in 2010, Graham was a member of the Select Committee for Work and Pensions May–November 2010, and since July 2015.[14] He served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rt Hon Lord Howell from November 2010 to September 2012. He was also Parliamentary Private Secretary to Rt Hon Hugo Swire, Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office until 2014. In November 2012, Graham was appointed Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy to Indonesia.[15] In January 2016 he was also appointed the Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy to Malaysia, the Philippines, and the ASEAN Economic Community.[16]

In June 2010, his first debate in Parliament regarding apprenticeships and their importance to Gloucester was cancelled after he arrived late. Graham later blamed a 'Printer Error'.

Serjeant at Arms in 2010 after he shared a photo taken of him in the House of Commons Chamber with the Gloucester Citizen which also accompanied an article in that newspaper on his maiden speech.[18] Photography is only permitted by the Speaker in exceptional circumstances.[19]

In January 2013, Graham attracted criticism after suggesting to a local newspaper that women wearing short skirts and high heels increase their risk of rape.[20] Graham denied he was "victim blaming", saying that his comments were about "risk management".[21]

In June 2013, Graham was rebuked the Information Commissioner's Office for breaching the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 by spamming people who had contacted him on parliamentary business.[22]

He successfully campaigned for stronger dangerous driving sentencing laws in 2013.[23] The road safety charity Brake later withdrew an award they had given him for this campaign[24] after he was given a six-month driving ban in July 2015 for accruing more than 12 penalty points over a three-year period for various motoring offences[25]

In June 2013, he was advised by the Information Commissioner's Office that he was in breach of the Data Protection Act and the EU directive concerning Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations after sending political campaign emails to people who had contacted him on parliamentary business without first obtaining their permission.[26]

In November 2014, a visit by a cross-party group of parliamentarians to China, led by Peter Mandelson, had to be cancelled at the last minute, as Graham was denied a visa to China following a Westminster debate on the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong where he voiced his support for the protesters' human rights demands.[27]

Second parliament (2015–17)

Graham was re-elected with an increased majority of 7,241 in the

2015 general election. He apologised for parking his van in a disabled parking bay after a "37 hour day" following the election[28] In April 2015, Graham was ordered by a judge to remove tweets that discussed a murder trial in Gloucester after the defendant's barrister accused him of 'a clear attempt to win votes by ingratiating himself with his electors'.[29] The day after the 2015 the General Election, He had to apologise after being caught parking his official campaign van in a disabled parking bay after a "37 hour day".[30]

In November 2015, Graham was accused of quoting Joseph Goebbels in defending a new surveillance bill with the words "if you've nothing to hide you have nothing to fear". The Independent pointed out that former Conservative Foreign Secretary William Hague had also used the same phrase in 2013 whilst Graham dismissed the argument as "clearly absurd" as Goebbels would have spoken in German.[31]

In 2016, Graham was a member of the joint Select Committee which investigated the British Home Stores Pension Fund. He asked Sir Philip Green, who had responded angrily to previous questions about corporate governance, if he regarded the offshore company structure as appropriate for a modern UK company. Green did not answer directly, but said the structuring could have been more aggressive and others were jealous of his success.[32]

In January 2016, Graham launched the UKTI Education is GREAT campaign to increase engagement with British education in Malaysia.[33]

Graham campaigned for Remain during the

2016 EU membership referendum[34] but has since been involved in informal talks regarding future Free Trade Agreements as the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to the Philippines.[35]

In May 2017, during a BBC interview regarding the benefits system Victoria Derbyshire discussed personal independent payments for disabled people with Graham and asked why some people with permanent degenerative conditions are being reassessed for their social security payment. Graham said: "some conditions do degenerate, some stabilise, occasionally some do get better. It's a mixed situation" but failed to answer which permanent degenerative conditions improve. He was criticised for the remarks and accused of being 'out of touch' following his comments.[36]

Graham chairs the All Party Parliamentary Groups for Pensions, Indonesia, China, and Marine Energy and Tidal Lagoons.

Personal life

In July 2015, Graham was banned from driving for six months at Stroud Magistrates Court after he was caught driving at 90mph in a 70mph speed limit on the A417 near Cirencester, in the Cotswolds on 14 December 2014.[37] He already had nine points on his licence at the time so faced automatic disqualification.[38] He was fined £525 with £85 costs and a £53 victim surcharge.[37] Consequently, he also had a road safety award withdrawn which he received from the charity Brake in January 2015.[37]

References

  1. ^ "Richard Graham MP". BBC Democracy Live. BBC. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  2. ^ "Election 2010: Gloucester". thisisgloucestershire.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  3. ^ "Richard Graham MP". Gloucestershire Conservatives. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  4. ^ "At home with Gloucester MP Richard Graham". Gloucestershire Echo. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  5. ^ "We are all Brexiters now - Bio". China Daily. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  6. ^ "About". Richard Graham MP. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
  7. ^ "Richard Graham MP". Gloucester Conservatives. Retrieved 26 September 2016
  8. ^ Gloucester History Festival. Retrieved 26 September 2016
  9. ^ "Trustees". Gloucestershire Community Foundation. Retrieved 26 September 2016
  10. ^ "Our Supporters". Discover DeCrypt. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  11. ^ "Richard Graham :biography". Politics.co.uk. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  12. ^ "Tally ho! 'Barbour cavalry' rides to Tories' rescue". Independent. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  13. ^ "Tories ride into town for election". Gloucester Citizen. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  14. ^ "Work and Pensions Committee – membership". UK Parliament. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  15. ^ http://www.ukti.gov.uk/uktihome/media/item/403560.html
  16. ^ "Trade Envoys – GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  17. ^ "Embarrassment as Gloucester MP turns up late for his own debate in Parliament". Gloucester Citizen. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  18. ^ "Gloucester MP Richard Graham gives maiden speech". Gloucester Citizen. Retrieved 11 June 2010.
  19. ^ "Gloucester MP Richard Graham forced to apologise over Commons picture". Gloucester Citizen. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  20. ^ "'Short skirts and high heels risk sexual assault warning lands Richard Graham MP in sexism storm". National Post. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  21. ^ Elgot, Jessica (January 2013). "Tory MP Richard Graham: 'Short Skirts And High Heels Make Women More Vulnerable To Rapists'". Huffington Post. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  22. ^ "Richard Graham rebuked for signing people up to his mailing list". Gloucester Citizen. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  23. ^ "Gloucester MP campaigns for dangerous driving laws reform". BBC News. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  24. ^ Wilkinson, Michael (24 July 2015). "Road safety champion Tory MP Richard Graham given six-month driving ban for speeding". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  25. ^ "MP Richard Graham given six-month driving ban". BBC News. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
  26. ^ "Richard Graham rebuked for signing people up to his mailing list". Gloucester Citizen. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  27. ^ "MPs' trip to China cancelled after row over Hong Kong protests debate". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  28. ^ "Gloucester MP Richard Graham caught parking in disabled bay hours after General Election win - Gloucestershire news - Gloucester Citizen". Gloucester Citizen.
  29. ^ "Richard Graham accused of using alleged murder of Gloucester's Zac Evans to win votes ahead of trial". Gloucester Citizen. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  30. ^ "Gloucester MP Richard Graham caught parking in disabled bay hours after General Election win - Gloucestershire news - Gloucester Citizen". Gloucester Citizen.
  31. ^ Bartlett, Evan (4 November 2015). "Tory MP Richard Graham accused of quoting Joseph Goebbels in defence of new surveillance bill". The Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  32. ^ "Ex-BHS owner Sir Philip Green attacks 'envy and jealousy' but insists: 'I have done nothing wrong'". Business Insider. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  33. ^ "Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to Malaysia launches education campaign at Imperial". Imperial College London. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  34. ^ Goodenough, Tom (16 February 2016). "Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?". The Spectator. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  35. ^ Mercurio, Richmond. "Philippines, United Kingdom eye possible free trade pact". Phil Star Global. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  36. ^ "MP Richard Graham given six-month driving ban". Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire Live. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  37. ^ a b c Wilkinson, Michael (24 July 2015). "Road safety champion Tory MP Richard Graham given six-month driving ban for speeding". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  38. ^ "MP Richard Graham given six-month driving ban". BBC News. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

External links

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for
2010
–present 		Incumbent
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