Kate Beecroft

Kate Beecroft
MHK
Leader of the Liberal Vannin Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
February 2014
Preceded by Peter Karran
Member of the House of Keys for Douglas South
Incumbent
Assumed office
2011
Leader Peter Karran (until 2014)
Preceded by Bill Malarky
Personal details
Born Isle of Man
Political party Liberal Vannin Party

Kathleen Joan Beecroft, known as Kate Beecroft, is a Manx politician, who is the current Leader of the Liberal Vannin Party and has been a Member of the House of Keys for Douglas South since 2011.

Career

Beecroft was born on the Isle of Man and worked as an accountant before entering politics.

Beecroft stood unsuccessfully for the Liberal Vannin Party in Middle in the Manx general election, 2006 but later became a Braddan Commissioner from 2007 to 2011. Beecroft served as Chairman of the Liberal Vannin Party from 2008 to 2009.[1] She stood unsuccessfully again in Douglas East in a by-election in 2010, coming second and only seven votes behind Chris Robertshaw who won.[2]

In the Manx general election, 2011 Beecroft was elected for the Liberal Vannin Party in Douglas South, becoming one of three Liberal Vannin MHKs.

In February 2014, Peter Karran, the Leader of the Liberal Vannin Party, renounced his leadership in favour of Beecroft. Karran said that it "was time for a change."[3] Since becoming Leader she has been compared to the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and has also revealed aspirations to bring more women into the House of Keys and also to field a Liberal Vannin candidate in every constituency in the next Manx general election.[4]

Electoral performance

Beecroft has so far contested three elections for the Liberal Vannin Party.

House of Keys elections

Date of election Constituency Party Votes % of votes Result
2006 general election Middle Liberal Vannin Party 2,600 17.4 Not elected
2010 by-election Douglas East Liberal Vannin Party 2,074 17.4 Not elected
2011 general election Douglas South Liberal Vannin Party 2,074 17.4 Elected

References

  1. "Kate Beecroft MHK". Liberal Vannin Party. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  2. "Kathleen Joan BEECROFT MHK (Douglas South)". Tynwald - Parliament of the Isle of Man. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  3. Vannin, Ellan (24 February 2014). "Kate Beecroft succeeds Peter Karran as Liberal Vannin leader". BBC News. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  4. Darbyshire, Adrian. "New Liberal Vannin leader Kate Beecroft says party is getting results". IOM Today. Retrieved 12 April 2015.