Alex Chalk: Difference between revisions

Alex Chalk
Alex Chalk
	Chalk in May 2015
Member of Parliament; for Cheltenham
	Incumbent
	Assumed office ; 7 May 2015
Majority	2,569 (4.5%)
Personal details
Born	8 August 1976 (age 47); Foxcote, City University London
Website	www.alexchalk.com

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Alex Chalk (born 8 August 1976) is a British

2017 general election

.

Early life

Alex Chalk was born and brought up in the village of Foxcote in

independent school Winchester College before studying Modern History at Magdalen College, Oxford.^[3]^[4]

Legal career

Following graduation, Chalk obtained a Graduate Diploma in Law from the

City University London, and qualified as a barrister from the Inns of Court School of Law. During his legal career, he has prosecuted and defended in cases concerning terrorism, international fraud, and homicide. He has also advised and defended corporate clients, and prosecuted for HM Revenue and Customs and the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. He represented journalists during the phone-hacking scandal.^[5] Chalk has provided counsel for the human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, an Iranian prisoner of conscience.^[6]

Political career

Chalk was a councillor on the Hammersmith and Fulham council between 2006–2014,

2015 general election.^[10] His victory in the constituency was the first for a Conservative Party candidate in 23 years.^[11]

In June 2015, Chalk was appointed to the Justice Select Committee, which scrutinises the government's decisions relating to the justice system, holding the seat until the dissolution of parliament.^[12]^[13] In addition to his role on the Justice Select Committee, Chalk was Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pro Bono^[14] and Co- Chair of the APPG on Cycling.^[15] He was also the secretary of the APPG on Public Legal Education and the APPG for Highways ^[16]^[17] and the vice chair of the APPG on Lyme Disease.^[18]

Chalk held his seat in the 2017 general election with a reduced majority of 2,569.^[19]

Parliamentary debates

Chalk has spoken in more debates than the average member of parliament. He has voted the same way as other Conservative MPs on a vast majority of issues. However, has sometimes differed from his colleagues, such as consistently voting against investigations into the

European migrant crisis.^[23]

Chalk alongside other MPs, including Richard Graham from the neighbouring Gloucester constituency, tabled a debate in parliament about stalking and sponsored a private member's bill, in order to raise the maximum sentence for stalking from five to ten years.^[24]^[25]^[26] An amendment to the Policing and Crime Act 2017 raised the maximum sentence for stalking to ten years.^[27] In announcing the amendment, Justice Minister Sam Gyimah praised Chalk and Graham's role in highlighting the issue.^[28]

Views on membership of the European Union

Chalk supported remaining within the European Union prior to

Article 50, which formally began the process of Britain's exit from the European Union.^[31] Chalk described his decision as a way of respecting the referendum result.^[32]

Controversy

Fox hunting

During the 2015 general election campaign, Chalk received support from the pro-hunting group Vote-OK,^[33] with members volunteering to deliver leaflets for Chalk.^[34]

In June 2017, Liberal Democrats candidate Martin Horwood said that Chalk was being actively supported by members of pro-hunting organisations Vale of White Horse Hunt, North Cotswold Hunt and Vote-OK, and questioned whether Chalk was concealing his position on fox hunting. Horwood noted that when asked to say yes or no to keeping the hunting ban, Chalk replied "free vote" in 2015 but replied "pass" in 2017.^[35]

2015 Undeclared Campaign Spending Allegations

Chalk was among several Conservative candidates from the 2015 general election under investigation for breaking local campaign spending limits.^[36]^[37]^[38] This related to the use of "Battle Buses" during his election campaign, the costs of which were not declared by Chalk's campaign but were instead paid for by the Conservatives' national headquarters. Had the costs been declared the strict local spending limit would have been exceeded by £1,500.^[36]^[37] Gloucestershire Constabulary confirmed they had received a complaint in 2016 and he was under investigation at the time.^[37] In March 2017, the Electoral Commission fined the Conservative Party £70,000 for failing to accurately report campaign spending.^[39] In May 2017, The Crown Prosecution Service concluded their investigations into the allegations and determined that no Conservative Party candidates or officials would face charges. An investigation into the Conservative campaign in South Thanet however was to continue.^[40]

References

^ "Alex Chalk MP". Gloucester Conservatives. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
^ "Alex Chalk". myparliament.info. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
^ Goodman, Paul. "The complete Cameron's Children: an analysis of all 74 new Conservative MPs". Conservative Home. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
^ "General Election 2015". Magdalen College, Oxford. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
^ "Alex Chalk". 6kbw. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
^ Chalk, Alex (30 December 2011). "Media Release: UN Declares Detention of Imprisoned Iranian Lawyer Arbitrary; Calls for Immediate Release". Freedom Now.
^ "Cheltenham". UK Polling Report. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
^ "About Alex Chalk". Alex Chalk. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
^ "London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Response to Inspector's First Written Questions" (PDF). Planning Inspectorate. p. 164. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
^ "Cheltenham parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
^ "Conservative Alex Chalk wins Cheltenham in the General Election 2015". 8 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
^ "Justice Committee". parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
^ "Role - Justice Committee". parliament.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
^ "Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups [as at 2 May 2017]". parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
^ "Committee". All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
^ "Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups [as at 2 May 2017]". parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
^ "Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups [as at 2 May 2017]". parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
^ "Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups [as at 2 May 2017]". parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
^ "Cheltenham parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
^ "Alex Chalk, former MP, Cheltenham - TheyWorkForYou". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
^ Stone, Jon (4 December 2015). "How MPs voted on bombing Isis in Syria - complete list". The Independent. Retrieved 7 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
^ Stone, Jon (26 April 2016). "How MPs voted on whether to accept 3,000 unaccompanied Syrian child refugees who travelled to Europe". The Independent. Retrieved 7 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
^ Cockburn, Harry (10 February 2017). "Dubs Amendment for child refugees: Full list of MPs who voted against the scheme". The Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
^ "Stalking (Protection of Victims) - Hansard Online". Hansard. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
^ "Stalking (Sentencing) Bill 2016-17 — UK Parliament". parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
^ "MP calls for jail terms for stalking to be doubled". BBC News. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
^ "Stalkers facing longer jail terms for torment caused to victims". BBC News. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
^ Gyimah, Sam (6 January 2016). "Maximum sentence for stalking to double". gov.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b "Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk comes down in favour of EU 'yes' vote". Southwest Business. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
^ Batchelor, Tom (1 February 2017). "Article 50 Brexit vote: Full list of MPs who backed Theresa May starting official EU negotiations - and those who voted against". The Independent. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
^ Chalk, Alex (29 March 2017). "Article 50 Triggered". Alex Chalk. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
^ Bawden, Tom (3 April 2017). "Prominent fox hunting supporters step up Tory support – and expect repeal of ban in return". The Independent. Retrieved 5 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
^ "General Election 2015: Pro-hunt volunteers delivering leaflets for Alex Chalk in Cheltenham". Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire Echo. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
^ Discombe, Matt (2 June 2017). "Cheltenham Conservative candidate Alex Chalk denies accepting support from pro-hunting groups - despite one encouraging members to leaflet for him". Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire Echo. Retrieved 5 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
^ ^a ^b Sommerlad, Nick (5 May 2016). "Two Tories probed by police over claims they broke election spending laws". The Daily Mirror. Mirror Online. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
^ ^a ^b ^c Bhatt, Jordan (13 May 2016). "MP Alex Chalk welcomes investigations into electoral fraud". Gloucestershire Live. Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
^ Sommerlad, Nick (29 February 2016). "29 Tories and how they 'broke General Election spending rules'". The Daily Mirror. Mirror Online. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
^ "Conservative Party fined £70,000 following investigation into election campaign expenses". Electoral Commission. 16 March 2017.
^ "No charges over 2015 Conservative battle bus cases". BBC News. 10 May 2017.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Martin Horwood	2015 –present	Incumbent

[1] "Alex Chalk MP". Gloucester Conservatives. Retrieved 11 January 2017.

[2] "Alex Chalk". myparliament.info. Retrieved 11 January 2017.

[3] Goodman, Paul. "The complete Cameron's Children: an analysis of all 74 new Conservative MPs". Conservative Home. Retrieved 11 January 2017.

[4] "General Election 2015". Magdalen College, Oxford. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2017.

[5] "Alex Chalk". 6kbw. Retrieved 11 January 2017.

[6] Chalk, Alex (30 December 2011). "Media Release: UN Declares Detention of Imprisoned Iranian Lawyer Arbitrary; Calls for Immediate Release". Freedom Now.

[7] "Cheltenham". UK Polling Report. Retrieved 13 January 2017.

[8] "About Alex Chalk". Alex Chalk. Retrieved 19 May 2017.

[9] "London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Response to Inspector's First Written Questions" (PDF). Planning Inspectorate. p. 164. Retrieved 31 May 2017.

[10] "Cheltenham parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 13 January 2017.

[11] "Conservative Alex Chalk wins Cheltenham in the General Election 2015". 8 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2017.

[12] "Justice Committee". parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2017.

[13] "Role - Justice Committee". parliament.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2017.

[14] "Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups [as at 2 May 2017]". parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2017.

[15] "Committee". All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group. Retrieved 7 May 2017.

[16] "Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups [as at 2 May 2017]". parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2017.

[17] "Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups [as at 2 May 2017]". parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2017.

[18] "Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups [as at 2 May 2017]". parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2017.

[19] "Cheltenham parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.

[20] "Alex Chalk, former MP, Cheltenham - TheyWorkForYou". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 19 May 2017.

[21] Stone, Jon (4 December 2015). "How MPs voted on bombing Isis in Syria - complete list". The Independent. Retrieved 7 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

[22] Stone, Jon (26 April 2016). "How MPs voted on whether to accept 3,000 unaccompanied Syrian child refugees who travelled to Europe". The Independent. Retrieved 7 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

[23] Cockburn, Harry (10 February 2017). "Dubs Amendment for child refugees: Full list of MPs who voted against the scheme". The Independent. Retrieved 8 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

[24] "Stalking (Protection of Victims) - Hansard Online". Hansard. Retrieved 7 May 2017.

[25] "Stalking (Sentencing) Bill 2016-17 — UK Parliament". parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2017.

[26] "MP calls for jail terms for stalking to be doubled". BBC News. 12 October 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2017.

[27] "Stalkers facing longer jail terms for torment caused to victims". BBC News. 6 January 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2017.

[28] Gyimah, Sam (6 January 2016). "Maximum sentence for stalking to double". gov.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2017.

[thespectatorwhichtorympsbackbrexit-29] 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.

[:0-30] "Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk comes down in favour of EU 'yes' vote". Southwest Business. Retrieved 19 May 2017.

[31] Batchelor, Tom (1 February 2017). "Article 50 Brexit vote: Full list of MPs who backed Theresa May starting official EU negotiations - and those who voted against". The Independent. Retrieved 31 May 2017.

[32] Chalk, Alex (29 March 2017). "Article 50 Triggered". Alex Chalk. Retrieved 1 May 2017.

[33] Bawden, Tom (3 April 2017). "Prominent fox hunting supporters step up Tory support – and expect repeal of ban in return". The Independent. Retrieved 5 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

[34] "General Election 2015: Pro-hunt volunteers delivering leaflets for Alex Chalk in Cheltenham". Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire Echo. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

[35] Discombe, Matt (2 June 2017). "Cheltenham Conservative candidate Alex Chalk denies accepting support from pro-hunting groups - despite one encouraging members to leaflet for him". Gloucestershire: Gloucestershire Echo. Retrieved 5 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

[ElectFraudMirror-36] Sommerlad, Nick (5 May 2016). "Two Tories probed by police over claims they broke election spending laws". The Daily Mirror. Mirror Online. Retrieved 22 April 2017.

[GlosElectFraud-37] Bhatt, Jordan (13 May 2016). "MP Alex Chalk welcomes investigations into electoral fraud". Gloucestershire Live. Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 22 April 2017.

[MirrorInvestigationFraud-38] Sommerlad, Nick (29 February 2016). "29 Tories and how they 'broke General Election spending rules'". The Daily Mirror. Mirror Online. Retrieved 22 April 2017.

[39] "Conservative Party fined £70,000 following investigation into election campaign expenses". Electoral Commission. 16 March 2017.

[40] "No charges over 2015 Conservative battle bus cases". BBC News. 10 May 2017.

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@@ Line 23: / Line 23: @@
 ==Early life==
-Alex Chalk was born brought up in the village of Foxcote in [[Withington, Gloucestershire|Withington]], [[Gloucestershire]], [[England]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gloucestershireconservatives.org/people/alex-chalk-mp?page=2|title=Alex Chalk MP|publisher=Gloucester Conservatives|accessdate=11 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://myparliament.info/Member/4481|title=Alex Chalk|publisher=myparliament.info|accessdate=11 January 2017}}</ref> His early education was at the [[Independent school (United Kingdom)|independent school]] [[Winchester College]] before he studied Modern History at the [[Magdalen College, Oxford]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2015/09/the-complete-camerons-children-an-analysis-of-all-74-new-conservative-mps.html|title=The complete Cameron's Children: an analysis of all 74 new Conservative MPs|publisher=Conservative Home|accessdate=11 January 2017|last=Goodman|first=Paul}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/news/general-election-2015/|title=General Election 2015|publisher=[[Magdalen College, Oxford]]|date=12 May 2015|accessdate=11 January 2017}}</ref>
+Alex Chalk was born and brought up in the village of Foxcote in [[Withington, Gloucestershire|Withington]], [[Gloucestershire]], [[England]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gloucestershireconservatives.org/people/alex-chalk-mp?page=2|title=Alex Chalk MP|publisher=Gloucester Conservatives|accessdate=11 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://myparliament.info/Member/4481|title=Alex Chalk|publisher=myparliament.info|accessdate=11 January 2017}}</ref> He attended [[Independent school (United Kingdom)|independent school]] [[Winchester College]] before studying Modern History at [[Magdalen College, Oxford]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conservativehome.com/parliament/2015/09/the-complete-camerons-children-an-analysis-of-all-74-new-conservative-mps.html|title=The complete Cameron's Children: an analysis of all 74 new Conservative MPs|publisher=Conservative Home|accessdate=11 January 2017|last=Goodman|first=Paul}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/news/general-election-2015/|title=General Election 2015|publisher=[[Magdalen College, Oxford]]|date=12 May 2015|accessdate=11 January 2017}}</ref>
 ==Legal career==
-Following graduation, Chalk obtained a Graduate Diploma in Law from the [[City University London]], and qualified as a barrister from the [[City Law School|Inns of Court School of Law]]. During his legal career, he has prosecuted and defended in cases concerning terrorism, international fraud, and homicide. He has also advised and defended corporate clients, and prosecuted for [[HM Revenue and Customs]] and the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. He represented journalists during the phone-hacking scandal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.6kbw.com/people/barristers/alex-chalk|title=Alex Chalk|publisher=6kbw|accessdate=11 January 2017}}</ref> Chalk has provided counsel for the human rights lawyer [[Nasrin Sotoudeh]], an Iranian prisoner of conscience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freedom-now.org/news/media-release-un-declares-detention-of-imprisoned-iranian-lawyer-arbitrary-calls-for-immediate-release/|title=Media Release: UN Declares Detention of Imprisoned Iranian Lawyer Arbitrary; Calls for Immediate Release|publisher=Freedom Now|last=Chalk|first=Alex|date=30 December 2011}}</ref>
+Following graduation, Chalk obtained a Graduate Diploma in Law from the [[City University London]], and qualified as a barrister from the [[City Law School|Inns of Court School of Law]]. During his legal career, he has prosecuted and defended in cases concerning terrorism, international fraud, and homicide. He has also advised and defended corporate clients, and prosecuted for [[HM Revenue and Customs]] and the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. He represented journalists during the [[News International phone hacking scandal|phone-hacking scandal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.6kbw.com/people/barristers/alex-chalk|title=Alex Chalk|publisher=6kbw|accessdate=11 January 2017}}</ref> Chalk has provided counsel for the human rights lawyer [[Nasrin Sotoudeh]], an Iranian prisoner of conscience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freedom-now.org/news/media-release-un-declares-detention-of-imprisoned-iranian-lawyer-arbitrary-calls-for-immediate-release/|title=Media Release: UN Declares Detention of Imprisoned Iranian Lawyer Arbitrary; Calls for Immediate Release|publisher=Freedom Now|last=Chalk|first=Alex|date=30 December 2011}}</ref>
 ==Political career==
@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 ===Parliamentary debates===
-Chalk has spoken in more debates than the average member of parliament. He has voted the same way as other Conservative MPs on a vast majority of issues. However, has sometimes differed from his colleagues, such as consistently voting against investigations into the [[Iraq war]], while most Conservative MPs generally voted for.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/25340/alex_chalk/cheltenham|title=Alex Chalk, former MP, Cheltenham - TheyWorkForYou|website=TheyWorkForYou|language=en|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> In December 2015, Chalk voted for UK airstrikes against [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] in [[Syria]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Stone|first=Jon|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/how-mps-voted-on-bombing-isis-in-syria-full-list-a6758371.html|title=How MPs voted on bombing Isis in Syria - complete list|work= |location= |publisher=''[[The Independent]]''|date=4 December 2015|accessdate=7 July 2017}}</ref> In April 2016, he voted against a plan for Britain to accept 3,000 unaccompanied [[Refugees of the Syrian Civil War|Syrian child refugees]] who had travelled to Europe.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stone|first=Jon|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/how-mps-voted-on-whether-to-accept-3000-unaccompanied-syrian-child-refugees-who-travelled-to-europe-a7001016.html|title=How MPs voted on whether to accept 3,000 unaccompanied Syrian child refugees who travelled to Europe|work= |location= |publisher=''[[The Independent]]''|date=26 April 2016|accessdate=7 July 2017}}</ref>
+Chalk has spoken in more debates than the average member of parliament. He has voted the same way as other Conservative MPs on a vast majority of issues. However, has sometimes differed from his colleagues, such as consistently voting against investigations into the [[Iraq war]], while most Conservative MPs generally voted for.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/25340/alex_chalk/cheltenham|title=Alex Chalk, former MP, Cheltenham - TheyWorkForYou|website=TheyWorkForYou|language=en|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> In December 2015, Chalk voted for UK airstrikes against [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] in [[Syria]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Stone|first=Jon|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/how-mps-voted-on-bombing-isis-in-syria-full-list-a6758371.html|title=How MPs voted on bombing Isis in Syria - complete list|work= |location= |publisher=''[[The Independent]]''|date=4 December 2015|accessdate=7 July 2017}}</ref> In April 2016, he voted against a plan for Britain to accept 3,000 unaccompanied [[Refugees of the Syrian Civil War|Syrian child refugees]] who had travelled to Europe.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stone|first=Jon|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/how-mps-voted-on-whether-to-accept-3000-unaccompanied-syrian-child-refugees-who-travelled-to-europe-a7001016.html|title=How MPs voted on whether to accept 3,000 unaccompanied Syrian child refugees who travelled to Europe|work= |location= |publisher=''[[The Independent]]''|date=26 April 2016|accessdate=7 July 2017}}</ref> In February 2017, he voted for abandoning the [[Dubs Amendment]], an amendment to the [[Immigration Act 2016]] to offer unaccompanied refugee children safe passage to Britain amidst the [[European migrant crisis]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Cockburn|first=Harry|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/dubs-amendment-child-refugees-full-list-mps-voted-against-tories-labour-immigration-a7573881.html|title=Dubs Amendment for child refugees: Full list of MPs who voted against the scheme|work= |location= |publisher=''[[The Independent]]''|date=10 February 2017|accessdate=8 July 2017}}</ref>
 Chalk alongside other MPs, including [[Richard Graham (politician)|Richard Graham]] from the neighbouring Gloucester constituency, tabled a debate in parliament about stalking and sponsored a [[private member's bill]], in order to raise the maximum sentence for stalking from five to ten years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stalking (Protection of Victims) - Hansard Online|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2015-09-17/debates/15091739000001/Stalking(ProtectionOfVictims)|publisher=Hansard|accessdate=7 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Stalking (Sentencing) Bill 2016-17 — UK Parliament|url=http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/stalkingsentencing.html|publisher=parliament.uk|accessdate=7 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-37634012|title=MP calls for jail terms for stalking to be doubled|publisher=BBC News|date=12 October 2016|accessdate=31 May 2017}}</ref> An amendment to the [[Policing and Crime Act 2017]] raised the maximum sentence for stalking to ten years.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-38519940|title=Stalkers facing longer jail terms for torment caused to victims|publisher=BBC News|date=6 January 2017|accessdate=31 May 2017}}</ref> In announcing the amendment, Justice Minister [[Sam Gyimah]] praised Chalk and Graham's role in highlighting the issue.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/maximum-sentence-for-stalking-to-double|title=Maximum sentence for stalking to double|date=6 January 2016|accessdate=31 May 2017|publisher=gov.uk|last=Gyimah|first=Sam}}</ref>
@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 ===2015 Undeclared Campaign Spending Allegations===
-Chalk was among several Conservative candidates from the 2015 general election under investigation for breaking local campaign spending limits.<ref name="ElectFraudMirror">{{cite news|last1=Sommerlad|first1=Nick|title=Two Tories probed by police over claims they broke election spending laws|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/two-tories-probed-police-over-7907519|accessdate=22 April 2017|work=The Daily Mirror|agency=Mirror Online|date=5 May 2016|ref=ElectFraudMirror}}</ref><ref name="GlosElectFraud">{{cite news|last1=Bhatt|first1=Jordan|title=MP Alex Chalk welcomes investigations into electoral fraud|url=http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/cheltenham-mp-alex-chalk-says-welcomes/story-29270326-detail/story.html|accessdate=22 April 2017|work=Gloucestershire Live|agency=Gloucestershire Live|date=13 May 2016|ref=GlosElectFraud|language=en}}</ref><ref name="MirrorInvestigationFraud">{{cite news|last1=Sommerlad|first1=Nick|title=29 Tories and how they 'broke General Election spending rules'|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/busted-29-tories-how-broke-7467603|accessdate=22 April 2017|work=The Daily Mirror|agency=Mirror Online|date=29 February 2016|ref=MirrorInvestigationFraud}}</ref> This related to the use of "[[Campaign bus|Battle Buses]]" during his election campaign, the costs of which were not declared by Chalk's campaign but were instead paid for by the Conservatives' national headquarters. Had the costs been declared the strict local spending limit would have been exceeded by £1,500.<ref name="ElectFraudMirror" /><ref name="GlosElectFraud" /> Gloucestershire Police confirmed they had received a complaint in 2016 and he was under investigation at the time.<ref name="GlosElectFraud" /> In March 2017, the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] fined the Conservative Party £70,000 for failing to accurately report campaign spending.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/journalist/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-donations/conservative-party-fined-70,000-following-investigation-into-election-campaign-expenses|title=Conservative Party fined £70,000 following investigation into election campaign expenses |publisher=Electoral Commission|date=16 March 2017}}</ref> In May 2017, The [[Crown Prosecution Service]] concluded their investigations into the allegations and determined that no Conservative Party candidates or officials would face charges. An [[South_Thanet (UK Parliament constituency)#Electoral_spending_criminal_investigation_following_the_2015_General_Election|investigation into the Conservative campaign in South Thanet]] however was to continue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39865801|title=No charges over 2015 Conservative battle bus cases|publisher=BBC News|date=10 May 2017}}</ref>
+Chalk was among several Conservative candidates from the 2015 general election under investigation for breaking local campaign spending limits.<ref name="ElectFraudMirror">{{cite news|last1=Sommerlad|first1=Nick|title=Two Tories probed by police over claims they broke election spending laws|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/two-tories-probed-police-over-7907519|accessdate=22 April 2017|work=The Daily Mirror|agency=Mirror Online|date=5 May 2016|ref=ElectFraudMirror}}</ref><ref name="GlosElectFraud">{{cite news|last1=Bhatt|first1=Jordan|title=MP Alex Chalk welcomes investigations into electoral fraud|url=http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/cheltenham-mp-alex-chalk-says-welcomes/story-29270326-detail/story.html|accessdate=22 April 2017|work=Gloucestershire Live|agency=Gloucestershire Live|date=13 May 2016|ref=GlosElectFraud|language=en}}</ref><ref name="MirrorInvestigationFraud">{{cite news|last1=Sommerlad|first1=Nick|title=29 Tories and how they 'broke General Election spending rules'|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/busted-29-tories-how-broke-7467603|accessdate=22 April 2017|work=The Daily Mirror|agency=Mirror Online|date=29 February 2016|ref=MirrorInvestigationFraud}}</ref> This related to the use of "[[Campaign bus|Battle Buses]]" during his election campaign, the costs of which were not declared by Chalk's campaign but were instead paid for by the Conservatives' national headquarters. Had the costs been declared the strict local spending limit would have been exceeded by £1,500.<ref name="ElectFraudMirror" /><ref name="GlosElectFraud" /> [[Gloucestershire Constabulary]] confirmed they had received a complaint in 2016 and he was under investigation at the time.<ref name="GlosElectFraud" /> In March 2017, the [[Electoral Commission (United Kingdom)|Electoral Commission]] fined the Conservative Party £70,000 for failing to accurately report campaign spending.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/journalist/electoral-commission-media-centre/news-releases-donations/conservative-party-fined-70,000-following-investigation-into-election-campaign-expenses|title=Conservative Party fined £70,000 following investigation into election campaign expenses |publisher=Electoral Commission|date=16 March 2017}}</ref> In May 2017, The [[Crown Prosecution Service]] concluded their investigations into the allegations and determined that no Conservative Party candidates or officials would face charges. An [[South_Thanet (UK Parliament constituency)#Electoral_spending_criminal_investigation_following_the_2015_General_Election|investigation into the Conservative campaign in South Thanet]] however was to continue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39865801|title=No charges over 2015 Conservative battle bus cases|publisher=BBC News|date=10 May 2017}}</ref>
 ==References==