Caroline Dinenage

Caroline Dinenage MP
Member of Parliament
for Gosport
Incumbent
Assumed office
6 May 2010
Preceded by Peter Viggers
Majority 14,413 (30.7%)
Personal details
Born 28 October 1971 (1971-10-28) (age 40)

[1]
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Nationality British
Political party Conservative
Alma mater Swansea University
Website www.caroline4gosport.co.uk

Caroline Julia Dinenage[2] (born 28 October 1971) is an English Conservative Party politician. She was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Gosport in 2010.

Contents

Early life

The daughter of ITV Meridian presenter Fred Dinenage, she has lived in South Hampshire all her life.[3] She attended Oaklands RC Comprehensive School, Waterlooville, and then studied Politics and English at Swansea University.[4]

Career and local politics

Dinenage started up and managed a local business in Horndean, which as a franchisee of Recognition Express, makes staff name badges for large firms, including Harvester and Network Rail.[5] Since starting her Westminster career in 2010, Dinenage has sold the company.[6]

She started her political career in Winchester, where she served on the local council for five years. She stood as the Conservative Party candidate for Portsmouth South in the 2005 general election, finishing second with 33.9% of the vote.[7]

Parliamentary career

In 2010, after the retirement announcement of Sir Peter Viggers in light of the United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal, Gosport Conservative Party branch held a United States-style open primary pre-election, inviting all constituents, of whatever political affiliation, to complete a postal ballot to pick their favourite candidate. Dinenage won, beating a London-based venture capitalist James Bethell.[5]

Dinenage was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Gosport in the 2010 general election with a majority of 14,413.[8]

Personal life

Dinenage is married to a Royal Navy officer, and the couple have 2 children. She is a lifetime supporter of Portsmouth F.C..[5]

References

  1. ^ "Caroline Dinenage MP". BBC Democracy Live. BBC. http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/representatives/profiles/35430.stm. Retrieved 25 July 2010. 
  2. ^ "List of Members returned to serve in Parliament at the General Election 2010". London Gazette. 13 May 2010. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/59418/notices/1118281/from=2010-05-06;to=2010-05-19;all=returned+westminster/. Retrieved 20 May 2010. 
  3. ^ "Caroline Dinenage". The Conservative Party. http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Dinenage_Caroline.aspx. Retrieved 11 May 2010. 
  4. ^ "Caroline Dinenage, Conservative, Gosport". Daily Echo. http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/politics/election_2010/gosport/candidates/7984329.Caroline_Dinenage__Conservative__Gosport/. Retrieved 11 May 2010. 
  5. ^ a b c Justin Parkinson (27 July 2011). "MP Caroline Dinenage on duck islands, dads and the Krays". BBC News. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14156085. Retrieved 27 July 2011. 
  6. ^ http://caroline4gosport.co.uk/about-caroline/declaration-of-interests/
  7. ^ "Portsmouth South". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/constituency/1230/portsmouth-south. Retrieved 11 May 2010. 
  8. ^ "Gosport". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/b85.stm. Retrieved 11 May 2010. 

External links

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