| Andrew Stephenson MP | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Pendle |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | Gordon Prentice |
| Majority | 3,585 (8%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 February 1981 [1] Manchester, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Residence | Colne, Lancashire |
| Alma mater | Royal Holloway, University of London |
| Occupation | Insurance broker |
| Website | www.pendleconservatives.com |
Andrew Stephenson (born 17 February 1981) is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Pendle in Lancashire since the 2010 general election. Formerly a borough councillor in Macclesfield, he worked as an insurance broker before becoming an MP.
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Stephenson was born in 1981 in Manchester. He was educated at Poynton High School, a state-funded school, before going on to study at Royal Holloway College, University of London,[2] where he graduated with a degree in Management Studies in 2002.[3]
Stephenson became an active member of the Conservative Party at the age of 16.[4] He served two terms on the National Executive of Conservative Future and was the organisation's National Deputy Chairman from 2001 to 2002. He was also the Chairman of the Conservative Future Society at Royal Holloway, University of London, from 1999 to 2001.
Stephenson became a Councillor in 2003 at the age of 23, and was one of the first council "Youth Champions" in the country.[5]
Prior to being elected to Parliament, Stephenson worked as a self-employed insurance broker, running a small business in Greater Manchester.[6] He was a councillor on Macclesfield Borough Council between 2003 and 2007.[2]
Stephenson was a member of the controversial A-List.[7]
Stephenson was selected as the prospective parliamentary candidate for Pendle in September 2006.[2] During his campaign at the 2010 general election, he was accused by the then-sitting Labour Party MP, Gordon Prentice, of trying to buy the constituency with funding from tax exile Lord Ashcroft.[4] In the election on 6 May 2010, Stephenson won 17,512 votes (38.9% of the total votes), defeating Prentice by a majority of 3,585 votes.[8] In doing so, he became the first Conservative to represent Pendle in the House of Commons since John Lee in 1992. Upon winning the ballot, Stephenson said that he was "absolutely delighted by the result" and "humbled to become Pendle's MP".[8] On 28 July 2010, Stephenson was appointed Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, with responsibility for youth.[5]
He is a supporter of homeopathy, having signed several early day motion in support of its continued funding on the National Health Service sponsored by Conservative MP David Tredinnick.[9]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Gordon Prentice |
Member of Parliament for Pendle 2010–present |
Incumbent |