Stuart Anderson (politician)
Stuart Anderson | |
---|---|
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household | |
Assumed office 14 November 2023 | |
Prime Minister | Rishi Sunak |
Preceded by | Jo Churchill |
Lord Commissioner of the Treasury | |
In office 7 February 2023 – 14 November 2023 | |
Prime Minister | Rishi Sunak |
Preceded by | Nigel Huddleston |
Assistant government whip | |
In office 8 July 2022 – 7 February 2023 | |
Prime Minister | Boris Johnson Liz Truss Rishi Sunak |
Succeeded by | Ruth Edwards |
Member of parliament for Wolverhampton South West | |
Assumed office 12 December 2019 | |
Preceded by | Eleanor Smith |
Majority | 1,661 (4.0%) |
Personal details | |
Born | Hereford, Herefordshire, England | 17 July 1976
Political party | Conservative |
Website | www |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Years of service | 1993–2001 |
Unit | The Royal Green Jackets |
Stuart Paul Anderson[1] (born 17 July 1976)[2] is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the member of parliament (MP) for Wolverhampton South West since the 2019 general election.[3] He has been a government whip since July 2022.
Early life
When he was eight his father, Samuel, died from a
Military service
Anderson joined the army after leaving school at 16, and was shot in the foot by a friend during a training exercise when he was 17.[5] Subsequent tours of duty included Northern Ireland in Operation Banner,[6] Bosnia and Kosovo.[7] At one point, Anderson attempted the SAS selection, but was not successful.[5] He was in the army for nine years.[8]
Business career
After leaving the army at the age of 25, Anderson worked in
Anubis Associates
In 2005, Anderson co-founded Anubis Associates in
Anubis Associates collapsed in 2012,[12] which Anderson attributes to the end of the War on Terror. He describes himself as having gone from a "paper millionaire" to being in receipt of food parcels within a month.[5] At the time of its collapse, Anubis Associates owed £271,000 in unpaid tax and £179,000 to unsecured creditors.[13] Administrators noted that Anderson, a director and major shareholder, had received £54,000 in illegal dividends[13] "based on forecasted profits for a future period" that never materialised.[14] Ordered to repay the money in full, Anderson only offered £2,000, arguing that he might otherwise go personally bankrupt.[13] Indeed the current Companies House report shows sums still 'outstanding', owed to Lloyds TSB plc and HSBC plc. Anderson said that he lost his house and ended up needing to use a food bank as a result, stating, "It was painful, but I have never hid away from what happened and have spoken many times about it."[15]
eTravelSafety
Within a week of the collapse of his previous company,
According to Anderson's entry in the Register of Members' Financial Interests, on 27 February 2020, his shareholding in eTravelSafety was not more than 15% and, on 18 May 2020, his shareholdings were no longer valued at more than £70,000.[17]
Political career
Anderson has said that he had no knowledge or interest in politics during his military career. For example, at the time he went to Northern Ireland, he says that he had no knowledge of the background of
Herefordshire Council
Anderson was elected to Herefordshire Council at a by-election in October 2017,[18] although he failed to attend almost half of his first 13 scheduled council meetings.[19] He did not stand for re-election in May 2019.
House of Commons
Anderson was selected as the Conservative Party's prospective parliamentary candidate for Wolverhampton South West in December 2018
In January 2020, The Independent reported that Anderson appeared to have edited his own Wikipedia article (with an account named "Stuart Anderson MP") to remove information about the unlawful payments he had accepted, and made a minor correction about the directorship of one of his companies.[11] Anderson is a member of the Defence Select Committee.[21]
In October 2020, Anderson voted against an opposition day motion calling on the government to continue funding free school meals for 1.4 million disadvantaged children over the school holidays until Easter 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Labour accused the Conservatives of voting to let children go hungry; Anderson said he opposed the motion, as he believed it was "the role of the wider welfare system to help families that require extra support" outside school term. He said that the government had temporarily increased Universal Credit by £20 a week until April 2021,[22] although he abstained on a later opposition day motion calling on the government to stop the planned cut in Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit in April.[23] Following the vote, empty plates were left outside his constituency office in protest.[24] Anderson said that he had received death threats following the vote, saying, "I've been told to watch myself if I turn up anywhere. Other MPs have had a lot worse than me and some are afraid to go outside their house at the moment."[25] The following month, the government U-turned on the policy,[26] which Anderson welcomed.[27]
During
Anderson was made an assistant government whip in July 2022.[31]
In March 2023, Anderson announced he would step down at the next general election,[32] but, on 25 July 2023, he was selected as the Conservative candidate for the South Shropshire constituency.[33]
During Rishi Sunak's reshuffle in November 2023, Anderson was appointed Vice Chamberlain of His Majesty's Household.[34]
Expenses claims
Following the 2009 parliamentary expenses scandal, MPs have been under more scrutiny for their expenses claims. Expenses claims by Anderson notable enough to have attracted media comment include £60.42 on Grammarly software,[35] and £4,108 for accommodation, including rent, constituency home Council Tax, gas and electricity for his constituency home, and staying in a London hotel to attend Parliament.[36] He has also claimed £4,059 on Punjabi lessons. His constituency has a large Indian community.[37]
Anderson claimed £3,598 for utilities in 2021, more than any other MP.[38]
Political positions
During the 2019 general election campaign, Anderson repeatedly pledged his support for Johnson's Brexit withdrawal agreement and said he would support a no-deal Brexit if Johnson's Withdrawal Agreement Bill were not passed.[39]
Anderson has hardly ever rebelled against his party,
Anderson cites Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher and the Labour prime minister Clement Attlee as his political inspirations.[5]
Personal life
Anderson is married and has five children.[9]
In his maiden speech, Anderson spoke about his experience of suicidal ideation and alcoholism following his military career, and how it led to him finding religion.[43] Anderson is a member[44] of the controversial evangelical Freedom Church,[45] and his former business eTravelSafety shares the same registered business address as Freedom Church Hereford.[46]
References
- ^ a b "Statements of Persons Nominated Wolverhampton South West". City of Wolverhampton Council. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
- OCLC 1129682574.
- ^ a b "Wolverhampton South West parliamentary constituency – Election 2019". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Jonny Ball (18 November 2020). "Stuart Anderson MP". Veterans in Politics (Podcast). CampaignForce. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- ^ "Veterans: Protection from Prosecution". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. 26 January 2022. col. 984–984.
- ^ "Global Britain". Hansard. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- ^ Madeley, Peter (20 July 2021). "MP spurred on in gruelling challenge by heartbreaking loss". Express and Star. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ Midland News Association. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- The Free Library.
Anubis Associates, which was set up by Stuart Anderson, "Ginge" Johnson, Trevor Easley and Geoffrey Pagham, has enjoyed rapid growth over the last two years.
- ^ from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
- ^ "Anubis Associates Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
- ^ ISSN 1756-3224. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
- ^ ISSN 0032-888X.
The fund receives its backing from, er, the European Union [...] whatever the next government decides should happen to EU-funded programmes such as the Midlands Engine Investment Fund, at least eTravelSafety is now guaranteed its share of EU money. Hurrah for Brexit!
- ^ Madeley, Peter (22 November 2019). "Wolverhampton Tory candidate got illegal dividend after 'losing everything' in bust company". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- ^ "Travel security – protecting travellers in an uncertain world". Security News Desk. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ "The Register of Members' Financial Interests As at 26 May 2020". House of Commons. 28 May 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
- ^ "Election of Councillors for the Kings Acre Ward Declaration of Result of Poll Kings Acre Ward Byelection" (PDF). Herefordshire Council. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- ^ a b Garcia, Carmelo (19 February 2019). "Herefordshire councillor to stand as MP". Sunshine Radio. Hereford: Murfin Media. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
Kings Acre ward councillor Stuart Anderson has been selected as the Conservative Party parliamentary candidate for Wolverhampton South West. [...] As a county councillor, Anderson has missed five of the 13 meetings he was scheduled to attend since being elected, according to official records.
- ISSN 1756-3224. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Defence Committee - Membership". UK Parliament.
- ^ Madeley, Peter (22 October 2020). "Tory MPs defend opposition to Rashford's free school meals campaign". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ Read, Jonathon (18 January 2021). "The Tory MPs who failed to vote against a Universal Credit cut". The New European. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Empty plates left at Wolverhampton MP's office in protest over free school meals". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ Madeley, Peter (26 October 2020). "Wolverhampton MP says he and his family have had death threats over school meals vote". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- ^ Abbit, Beth (8 November 2020). "Marcus Rashford 'proud' as government U-turns on providing free meals to disadvantaged children over Christmas". Manchester Evening News. Manchester. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- ^ Madeley, Peter (10 November 2020). "School holiday support U-turn welcomed by MPs". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- Birmingham Live. Birmingham. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
- ^ Madeley, Peter (24 May 2022). "Anger over Brexit behind 'relentless' pushing of anti-Boris agenda, say Tory MPs". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- ^ Madeley, Peter (6 July 2022). "'I stand in support of Boris': Wolverhampton MP in plea for unity behind embattled PM". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. Retrieved 6 July 2022.}
- ^ Madeley, Peter (9 July 2022). "Three Black Country MPs handed government roles after staying loyal to Boris Johnson". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Stuart Anderson MP has announced that he will not seek re-election for Wolverhampton South West". Stuart Anderson. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
- ^ "MP Stuart Anderson selected as candidate in different area". BBC News. 25 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ "Ministerial appointments: November 2023" (Press release). Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street. 13 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ Marriott, Shelley (20 January 2021). "Here's how much Derbyshire Dales MP has claimed in expenses". Matlock Mercury. Matlock, Derbyshire. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ Bassil, Ryan (24 November 2020). "The Tory MPs Who Voted Against Free School Meals Claimed Thousands on Living Expenses". Vice News. New York City. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Conservative MP claimed nearly £22,000 to fund Polish lessons". Politics.co.uk. 28 November 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
- ^ "Ynys Môn MP among top ten members who claimed most in utilities expenses last year". Nation.Cymru. Cardiff. 15 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
- Midland News Association. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
Wolverhampton South West parliamentary candidate Stuart Anderson, said: 'Wolverhampton will thrive, and will continue to go from strength to strength whether we have a deal of not. This is because the people here want to move forward with Brexit. We will be out of the EU on October 31 and we can have a brighter future than we have ever had before.'
- ^ "Stuart Anderson MP, Wolverhampton South West". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
- ^ "Division 59, Demonstrations (Abortion Clinics)". Hansard. 24 June 2020. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
- ^ "Delegated Legislation (Division 280)". Hansard. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
- ^ Madeley, Peter (30 January 2020). "'I felt a failure not being able to take my own life': City MP reveals mental health struggle after leaving Army". Express & Star. Wolverhampton. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- ^ "Hereford". Songs of Praise. 29 October 2017. BBC. BBC One. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- Wales Online. Cardiff. Retrieved 9 June 2020.. Premier Christian News.
- Busteed, Desmond (7 January 2015). "Church banned from Swansea University"
- Keumars, Afifi-Sabet (7 January 2015). "Swansea University Bans 'Cultic' Religious Group Freedom Church From Campus". Huffingdon Post. - Sunshine Radio. Hereford. Retrieved 4 June 2020.