| James Morris MP | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Halesowen and Rowley Regis |
|
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2010 |
|
| Preceded by | Sylvia Heal |
| Majority | 2,023 (4.6%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 February 1967 Nottingham |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Website | www.jamesmorrismp.com |
James George Morris[1] (4 February 1967)[2] is a Conservative Party politician in England. He is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Halesowen and Rowley Regis, having won the Labour-held seat at the 2010 general election with a majority of 2,023 over the Labour Party candidate.[3] As part of his campaign, he had set up a jobs group.[4] He was also voted onto the Communities and Local Government Select Committee by his fellow MPs shortly after the election.
Morris frequently speaks in Parliamentary debates on key issues such as foreign affairs and boosting the West Midlands economy. He is a member of a number of APPGs, including Youth Affairs, United Nations and Civil Society.
In March 2011, the Sunday Mercury confirmed that Morris had the best attendance record of all 57 West Midlands MPs – attending 96% of votes.
Morris has been a voice for Halesowen and Rowley Regis through the successful campaign to Save Rowley Hospital which secured and maintained in-patient facilities at the hospital. He has also been pressing to preserve local heritage around the area, for example by seeking to ensure a stable future for Halesowen Abbey. He has been an active campaigner for jobs and growth in the local economy, by promoting key industries such as manufacturing, pushing for a boost in tourism numbers in and around Halesowen and Rowley Regis and for his role in securing an enterprise zone in the Black Country.
Morris has his roots in the Black Country - his grandfather worked in the Halesowen Steel works in the 1930s and 1940s, his parents are from the Black Country and his uncle lives in Rowley Regis.
Born in Nottingham, Morris was educated at the University of Birmingham where he obtained a degree in English Literature. He then undertook Postgraduate research at Oxford University where he also represented the University at cricket (ending up with a first class batting average of 12!). He also has an MBA from Cranfield School of Management.
Before becoming involved in politics in Halesowen and Rowley Regis, he had a successful career as a small businessman specialising in computer software. In 2003 he founded Mind the Gap, an independent campaign to promote civic action and to encourage more grass roots involvement in politics. In 2004 he wrote a pamphlet entitled - Change Starts Small - which explored how to get more local grass roots involvement in politics and argued that the British political system needed fundamental change.
Prior to the 2010 Election, Morris was the Chief Executive of Localis, a local government and localist think tank, where the mission was to 'stimulate and challenge the current orthodoxy of the governance of the UK.' During his time at the think tank, Localis released a number of reports, including The Million Vote Mandate, Can Localism Deliver?, and For Good Measure, all of which he edited.
Morris is married to Anna and they have two young children.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sylvia Heal |
Member of Parliament for Halesowen & Rowley Regis 2010–present |
Incumbent |