James Grundy (politician)
James Grundy | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2020 | |
| Member of Parliament forLeigh | |
| In office 12 December 2019 – 30 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Jo Platt |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| CouncillorforLowton East | |
| In office 1 May 2008 – 7 May 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Ian Franzen |
| Succeeded by | Marie Cooper |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Nelson Grundy[1] 8 December 1978 Warrington,Cheshire,England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Residence(s) | Lowton,Greater Manchester,England |
| Website | www |
James Nelson Grundy(born 8 December 1978)[2]is a BritishConservative Partypolitician who served asMember of Parliament(MP) forLeighfrom2019to2024.[3]
Early life
[edit]Grundy was born inWarrington,and raised on the family farm inLowton,where he still resides.[4][5]Grundy was also educated locally, having attended both Lowton St Mary's Primary School and Lowton High School.
Political career
[edit]Grundy waselectedto represent theLowton Eastward onWigan Metropolitan Borough Councilas a councillor in the2008 local elections.[6]He was elected toParliamentat the2019 general election,taking the seat fromLabour'sJo Platt.[7][8][9]This made Grundy the first ever Conservative MP to represent the Leigh constituency since its creation.
Grundy's general election campaign pledges included respecting Leigh'svote to leave the EUin 2016;[10]fighting for vital local transport infrastructure, such as the completion of the Atherleigh Way Bypass,[11]and the re-opening ofGolborneand Kenyon Junction stations;[12]and securing investment for Leigh's town centres.[13]
In 2020, Grundy put forward two bids to the Government's Restoring Your Railway Ideas Fund, progressing his pledge to get Kenyon Junction and Golborne Station reopened, following their closure after theBeeching Report.The outcome of these bids was due to be announced in autumn 2020.
During theCOVID-19 pandemic,Grundy was actively involved in supporting local people and local businesses. He supported local market traders' calls to open food stalls at Leigh Market as soon as the Government lifted restrictions.[14]
In February 2020, a video recording obtained byLBCshowed Grundy publicly exposing his genitals in front of a woman at an event in the Rams Head Inn, Lowton, in 2007. Since the event, Grundy has apologised for the incident and the distress he caused.[15][16]
In the summer of 2020, Grundy launched his "Shop Safe, Shop Local" campaign, which encouraged local people to return to their local high street following the Coronavirus pandemic.[17]The petition gained hundreds of signatures, and encouragedWigan Councilto deliver two hours' free parking on weekdays in Leigh's town centres, increased hand sanitization stations on the high street, and free face coverings for shoppers provided to local independent businesses.[18]
As MP for Leigh, Grundy writes regular columns for both theWigan ObserverandLeigh Journal,to update constituents of local issues.[19][20]
Grundy announced in May 2024 that he would step down from Parliament at theforthcoming general election.[21]
References
[edit]- ^"No. 62862".The London Gazette.20 December 2019. p. 23182.
- ^Brunskill, Ian (19 March 2020).The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019: the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election.HarperCollins Publishers Limited. p. 255.ISBN978-0-00-839258-1.OCLC1129682574.
- ^Brunskill, Ian (2020).The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019: the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election.Glasgow. p. 255.ISBN978-0-00-839258-1.
{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^"About James Grundy".James Grundy.Retrieved14 June2020.
- ^Grundy, James (24 April 2020)."JAMES GRUNDY – Let's retain spirit of national unity".Wigan Today.Retrieved14 June2020.
- ^"Lowton East Election Results 2008".Wigan Council.Retrieved17 December2019.
- ^"Leigh parliamentary constituency – Election 2019".BBC News.Retrieved13 December2019.
- ^"General Election 2019: Meet the Leigh candidates | Mancunian Matters".Mancunian Matters.19 November 2019.Retrieved13 December2019.
- ^Mutch, James (9 May 2017)."'I am up for the fight', vows Leigh's Conservative candidate for General Election ".Leigh Journal.Retrieved13 December2019.
- ^"Election 2017 dashboard".Democratic Dashboard.Retrieved8 September2020.
- ^"MP optimistic on making progress to 'benefit people of Leigh'".Leigh Journal.6 January 2020.Retrieved8 September2020.
- ^"MP believes rail investment in the North can pave the way for stations re-opening".Leigh Journal.27 July 2020.Retrieved8 September2020.
- ^"Councillor hoping to make step up to Commons".wigantoday.net.Retrieved8 September2020.
- ^"Row over Leigh Market's continued closure continues with MP's new letter to council".Leigh Journal.3 June 2020.Retrieved8 September2020.
- ^"Tory MP faces calls to quit after video emerges of him exposing himself in a pub".LBC.Retrieved25 February2020.
- ^"Tory MP apologises as video of him exposing himself to woman in pub emerges".The Independent.25 February 2020.Retrieved25 February2020.
- ^"JAMES GRUNDY – Support 'shop safe and shop local'".wigantoday.net.Retrieved8 September2020.
- ^"LEIGH MP LAUNCHES 'SHOP SAFE, SHOP LOCAL' CAMPAIGN".James Grundy.10 July 2020.Retrieved8 September2020.
- ^"Politics | Wigan Today".wigantoday.net.Retrieved8 September2020.
- ^"Leigh Journal | News, sport, education, leisure in the Leigh area".leighjournal.co.uk.Retrieved8 September2020.
- ^Graham, Charles (22 May 2024)."Two Wigan borough MPs to stand down at general election".Wigan Post.Retrieved23 May2024.