Helen Whately

Helen Whately
Member of Parliament
for Faversham and Mid Kent
Assumed office
8 May 2015
Preceded by Hugh Robertson
Majority 17,413 (35%)
Personal details
Born (1976-06-23) 23 June 1976
Norwich, United Kingdom
Political party Conservative
Children 3
Alma mater Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford
Website Official website

Helen Olivia Bicknell Whately[1] (born 23 June 1976[2]) is a British Conservative Party politician. Her early education was at Westminster School, London. Whately graduated with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. After graduation, she worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers, AOL, and McKinsey & Company. Whately was elected at the 2015 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Faversham and Mid Kent, succeeding Hugh Robertson.[3] She was re-elected in the 2017 general election.

Early life and career

Whately was born in Norwich on 23 June 1976 and grew up near Redhill, Surrey, England. Both her parents are doctors.[2][4][5] She was educated at Westminster School in London.[6] After taking her A Levels, she taught English in rural Nepal for a year.[5] Whately then matriculated at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford in 1995, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE).[7] After university, she worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers for two years as a management consultant trainee before working at AOL where Whately was involved in setting up their internet film service.[5][8][9] From 2007 to 2015, Whately worked as an engagement manager for the management consultancy firm McKinsey & Company in their healthcare division.[9][10] Since 2015, she has been a vice-president of the Maidstone branch of the learning disability charity Mencap.[11][12][13]

Whately contested the 2010 general election in the Kingston and Surbiton constituency, but lost to the Liberal Democrats candidate, Ed Davey by 7,560 votes (13.3%).[14]

Parliamentary career

Whately was elected as MP for Faversham and Mid Kent at the 2015 general election with 24,895 votes (54%) and a majority of 16,652.[15] In July 2015, Whately was chosen to sit on the Commons Health Select Committee.[16] She supports the repeal of the ban on foxhunting in England and Wales.[17] Whately supported remaining within the European Union in the 2016 membership referendum.[18] In July 2016, following Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet formation, Whately was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the International Trade Minister Greg Hands.[9] She was also selected as the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Mental Health and the APPG for Fruit and Vegetable Farming in October 2016.[19][20][21]

Whately held her seat in the 2017 general election with 30,390 (61.1%) votes and an increased majority of 17,413.[22] She campaigned with the Kent County Council for two new schools to be opened in Maidstone, Kent to relieve pressure on primary school places as well as offering more places for children with special needs.[23] This resulted in the government announcing the opening of Maidstone Primary Academy and the secondary special school, Bearsted Academy (both to open in September 2018).[24]

Personal life

Helen has been married to Marcus Whately (who she met at university) since 2005.[5] They have three children. Marcus is the founder and co-chief executive officer of an energy company.[9][25]

References

  1. ↑ "No. 61230". The London Gazette. 18 May 2015. p. 9123.
  2. 1 2 "Biography for Helen Whately". MyParliament. Archived from the original on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  3. ↑ "Helen Whately to replace Sir Hugh Robertson as conservative candidate for Faversham and Mid Kent". Kent Online. Archived from the original on 11 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  4. ↑ Finlay, Simon. "Personality Profile" (PDF). Mid Kent Living. p. 8. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Conservatives are putting faith in youthful Whately". Surrey Comet. 30 April 2007. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "Who wants your vote in Faversham and Mid Kent?". Kent Online. 15 April 2015. Archived from the original on 15 August 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  7. ↑ "LMH, Oxford – Prominent Alumni". Archived from the original on 12 May 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  8. ↑ Hopkirk, Elizabeth; Mendick, Robert (9 September 2008). "A future Tory Cabinet ... at least according to Tatler". London Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Q & A with Helen". Helen Whately. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  10. ↑ "Helen Whately". Health Service Journal. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  11. ↑ "Annual Report 2015" (PDF). Mencap. p. 2. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  12. ↑ "Annual Report 2016" (PDF). Mencap. p. 2. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  13. ↑ "Helen Grant visits Mencap with fellow MPs". Maidstone and the Weald Conservatives. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  14. ↑ "Kingston & Surbiton". BBC News. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  15. ↑ "Faversham & Mid Kent". BBC News. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  16. ↑ "Helen Whately MP". Parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  17. ↑ Whately, Helen (16 June 2015). "Helen responds to Hunting Act concerns". Helen Whately. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  18. ↑ Goodenough, Tom (16 February 2016). "Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 22 October 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  19. ↑ "All-Party Parliamentary Group on Mental Health". Parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  20. ↑ Pyman, Tom (12 October 2016). "Helen Whately elected chair of parliamentary group for mental health". Kent News. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017.
  21. ↑ McEwan, Gavin (4 November 2016). "New parliamentary group hears fruit and veg growers' concerns". Horticulture Week. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  22. ↑ "Faversham & Mid Kent". BBC News. Archived from the original on 17 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  23. ↑ McWethy, Claire (28 March 2017). "MP Helen Whately plea for two new schools in Maidstone at Kent Medical Campus". Kent Online. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  24. ↑ Whately, Helen (12 April 2017). "Two new schools for Maidstone!". Helen Whately. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  25. ↑ "Team". Estover. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Hugh Robertson		 Member of Parliament
for Faversham and Mid Kent
2015–present 		Incumbent
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