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Christian Wakeford

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Christian Wakeford
MP
Official portrait, 2020
Assistant Government Whip
Assumed office
10 July 2024
Prime MinisterKeir Starmer
Preceded byMark Fletcher
Opposition Whip
In office
1 November 2022 – 5 July 2024
LeaderKeir Starmer
Member of Parliament
forBury South
Assumed office
12 December 2019
Preceded byIvan Lewis
Majority9,361 (22.2%)
Member ofPendle Borough Council
for Barrowford
In office
7 May 2015 – 24 April 2020
Preceded byChristopher Jowett
Succeeded byLinda Crossley
Member ofLancashire County Council
for Pendle West
In office
2 May 2013 – 6 May 2021
Preceded byShelagh Derwent
Succeeded byChristopher Hartley (Pendle Hill)
Personal details
Born(1984-11-09)9 November 1984(age 39)
Burnley,Lancashire,England
Political partyLabour(since 2022)
Other political
affiliations		Conservative(2013–2022)
SpouseAlexandra Wakeford
Alma materLancaster University
Open University

Christian Wakeford(born 9 November 1984)[1]is a British politician serving asAssistant Government Whipsince 2024. He has been theMember of Parliament(MP) forBury Southsince the2019 general election.Elected in 2019 as aConservative,hecrossed the floortoLabourin 2022. He was re-elected for Labour in the2024 general election.

Early life and career

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Wakeford has described himself as having Ukrainian heritage;[2]his maternal grandfather was Ukrainian.[3]After graduating with a third class degree in politics atLancaster University,[3]Wakeford was employed as an indirect account manager at a telecoms company for four years, from October 2009 to October 2013. Concurrently, Wakeford undertook an undergraduate degree in chemistry through theOpen Universityfrom 2010 to 2014.[4]

In an interview withInsurance Agein March 2020, which described him as an "[i]nsurance broker turned Conservative MP", Wakeford said "his time in the insurance industry" gave him "experience of the real world" and "the communication skills needed to speak to businesses".[5]

Political career

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Local government

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Before becoming an MP, Wakeford held several public office roles. From 2009 to 2017, he was alocal education authoritygovernor forColne Park High School.[6]In2013,he was elected for the Pendle Hill division onLancashire County Council.[6]From 2015 to 2016, he was aHouse of Commonscase worker for Conservative MPAndrew Stephenson.[4]In 2018, he became co-chair of Lancashire County Council's Education Scrutiny Committee.[7][8]In2015,he became a borough councillor for Barrowford ward onPendle Borough Council,[4]and from 2019 to 2020 was leader of its Conservative Group.[9][10]

After his election as an MP in December 2019, Wakeford continued claiming public allowances for at least three roles outside the House of Commons – as a Lancashire county councillor, as chair of that council's education scrutiny committee and as a Pendle borough councillor – despite having announced his resignation in February 2020.[11][7]Wakeford received a total allowance equating to £22,041 on top of his salary of £81,932 as an MP.[7][12]

In June 2020, Wakeford stated that he had not resigned his Lancashire County Council seat as a block on elections during theCOVID-19 pandemicwould leave residents without representation for a year. Wakeford attributed his change of mind over his resignation to a desire to ensure the two areas where he was a councillor were not without representation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fellow councillor Mark Perks was critical of this justification, citing a comparable case in Chorley Council where the incumbent had stepped down and no by-election was held and other colleagues had stood in. Perks said: "[Wakeford] is not even an MP for part of Lancashire and it just grates with me that somebody can be elected to Parliament and get all their expenses, but then stay on at a local authority and claim expenses for that, too – it's not doing a service to the residents in his area, nor the council taxpayers of Lancashire."[11]

Between the general election in December 2019 and July 2020, there were reportedly only two full meetings of Lancashire County Council, of which Wakeford had attended one. Over the same time, Lancashire County Council's Education Scrutiny Committee reportedly held three meetings, of which Wakeford – as committee chair – had attended one.[7]Wakeford's office had stated in June 2020 that he would relinquish his chairmanship of the Education Scrutiny Committee, which attracted an allowance of £7,620 per annum.[11]

In July 2020,Private Eyereported that after the general election, Wakeford had applied to Pendle Borough Council for leave of absence "while he sorted himself out in Westminster". His request was declined and in April 2020 Wakeford automatically lost his seat, as he had not attended a borough council meeting for six months.[7]Wakeford had been receiving an annual allowance as a councillor of Lancashire County Council and Pendle Borough Council until 6 May 2021 and 24 April 2020 respectively.[13][14]

In Parliament

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In December 2019, Wakeford was elected as theConservativeMP forBury South,winning the seat by 402 votes (a 0.8% majority) from long-termLabourMP,Ivan Lewis,who had held the seat since Labour'slandslide victory in 1997.[15]Lewis had stood as anindependentcandidate at the 2019 election, but polled in fifth place with 1,366 votes.[15]On 14 March 2020, Wakeford was appointed as a member of the House of CommonsEducation Committee.[16]The committee has since been involved in inquiries such as the impact ofCOVID-19on education and children's services, adult skills and lifelong learning, and "left behind"whitepupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.[17]

In July 2020, Wakeford was elected as co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) onBritish Jews,whose stated purpose is to promote understanding of the aspirations and challenges of theUK's Jewish community,with topics including religious freedom, faith-based education, welfare and social justice, in addition to celebrating the culture, contribution and achievements of the UK's Jewish community.[18]Residential areas within Bury South, particularlyPrestwichandWhitefield,are home to some of Britain's largest Jewish communities outside London.[19]

On 20 July 2021 in the second reading of theNationality and Borders BillWakeford said asylum seekers travelling through several safe countries before reaching the UK "are very often travelling through many safe countries. Essentially they have a shopping trolley as to what they want in this economic migration".[20][21]Wakeford is one of 22 UK MPs who are members of the International Parliamentary Network for Education (IPNEd), an initiative of Results UK, a dual-registered company and charity.[22]It states its priorities are to achieve higher total and better quality financing for education, ensure policy makers prioritise helping the furthest behind first and secure a focus on the quality of education and improved learning.[23]

It was reported inThe Timeson 5 November 2021 that Wakeford approachedOwen Patersonand called him "a cunt" during theOwen Paterson affair,after the government, under the instruction of Prime MinisterBoris Johnson,whipped its MPs to vote to change rules on the way MPs' conduct is policed in order to avoid Paterson being suspended from parliament.[24]

Move to Labour

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On 19 January 2022, Wakeford publicly confirmed that he had submitted a letter of no confidence in Johnson following thepartygatescandal.[25]Later that day, it was announced that Wakeford had joined the Labour Party.[26]He was the first sitting Conservative MP to defect to Labour sinceQuentin Daviesin 2007. His defection surprised many Conservatives; however, Wakeford had approached the Labour Party about a possible defection several months before. He cited theDominic Cummings scandal,removal of the £20Universal Credituplift, thecost of livingcrisis, the Owen Paterson affair, and "partygate" as factors in his decision.[27]It was also reported that Labour MPBarry Gardinerhad encouraged Wakeford to move to Labour, following their work together in support of Gardiner's anti "fire and rehire" bill.[28]Wakeford was the only Conservative MP to support the bill. It has been suggested that concerns about re-election as an MP may have been his underlying motivation, with Labour leading in the polls at the time.[29]

On the day of his defection, Wakeford wrote to Johnson, "You and the Conservative Party as a whole have shown themselves incapable of offering the leadership and government this country deserves." The changes Wakeford maintains are needed by his constituents "can only be delivered by a Labour government with [Labour leader]Keir Starmer".[30]Wakeford wrote to Johnson that Labour was "ready to provide an alternative government that this country can be proud of, and not embarrassed by".[31]Wakeford also wrote, "the policies of the Conservative government that you [Johnson] lead are doing nothing to help the people of my constituency and indeed are only making the struggles they face on a daily basis worse." He wrote that the UK needed "a government that upholds the highest standards of integrity and probity in public life." He wrote that he had "no doubt" his constituents would best benefit from his "joining a party that genuinely has their interests at heart", and confessed he had "wrestled with my conscience for many months". Wakeford wrote that Starmer had "shown that integrity in the way he has led his party".[32]

Starmer welcomed Wakeford to Labour atPrime Minister's Questionson the day of his defection.[33]Some Labour members were critical of the acceptance of Wakeford.[31]In January 2021, Wakeford allegedly sentWhatsAppmessages in which he referred to Labour as a "bunch of cunts".[34][35]Theleft-wingcampaign groupMomentumstated that Wakeford "should be nowhere near the Labour Party", and that aby-electionshould be immediately called in the constituency. Conservative MP and former Northern Powerhouse MinisterJake Berrytold the BBC'sPolitics Live,"I think it was a terrible mistake by Christian. I think he's misjudged the mood of his constituents."[31]The views of his constituents were reportedly mixed, with some calling for a by-election,[36]noting that Wakeford himself lent his support to the unsuccessfulRecall of MPs (Change of Party Affiliation) Billin 2020, which would have made it mandatory for MPs who change party allegiance to face arecall petitionin their constituency.[37]Labour Shadow ChancellorRachel Reevesresponded to these calls in an interview onGood Morning Britain,arguing that having a by-election now in Bury South is "just not the way our democracy works", and called instead for a general election.[37]

Alleged blackmail by Conservatives

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Shortly after his defection, allegations were made of blackmail and bullying by Conservative Partywhips.[38]Wakeford said in an interview that he had experienced this behaviour when he was previously threatened with the loss of funding for a local school if he did not vote with Government on a motion regarding free school meals.[39]He said: "I was threatened that I would not get a school forRadcliffeif I did not vote in one particular way. This is a town that has not had a high school for the best part of 10 years. How would you feel when they hold back the regeneration of a town for a vote. It didn't sit comfortably. That was the start of me questioning my place, where I was and ultimately to where I am now. "[40]Later that week, Wakeford accusedGavin Williamson,the theneducation secretary,of being the person behind this.[41][42]

After defection

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On 26 May 2022, Wakeford was appointedParliamentary Private SecretarytoBridget Phillipson,theshadow secretary of state for education.[43]He was appointed an Opposition Whip on 1 November 2022.[44]On 8 November 2022, Wakeford was confirmed as the Labour candidate for Bury South at the2024 general election.[45]Wakeford is a vice-chair ofLabour Friends of Israeland was part of a delegation to the country in February 2023.[46][47]In May 2023, Wakeford called forRoger Watersto be banned from performing inManchester.[48]

Personal life

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Wakeford is married to Alexandra Wakeford.[49]He had an older brother, Mark Jones, who died at the age of 44 in a car accident in 2015.[50]

References

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  1. ^Brunskill, Ian (19 March 2020).The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019: the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election.Glasgow: Times Books. p. 130.ISBN978-0-00-839258-1.OCLC1129682574.Archivedfrom the original on 9 November 2021.Retrieved9 June2021.
  2. ^"Ukraine - Hansard".UK Parliament.24 February 2022.Retrieved6 March2022.
  3. ^abPidd, Helen (2 April 2022)."Tory defector Christian Wakeford on crossing the floor: 'All I was thinking was, please don't throw up'".theguardian.
  4. ^abcHodgson, Neil (19 January 2022)."Bury South MP defects to Labour, saying PM is 'incapable of offering leadership'".TheBusinessDesk.Archivedfrom the original on 19 January 2022.Retrieved19 January2022.
  5. ^Axling, Ida (27 March 2020)."Christian Wakeford MP wants high street brokers to thrive".Insurance Age.Archivedfrom the original on 6 November 2020.Retrieved19 January2022.
  6. ^abIsgin, Kieran (19 January 2022)."Who is Christian Wakeford? Bury South MP who defected from Conservative to Labour".Manchester Evening News.Archivedfrom the original on 19 January 2022.Retrieved19 January2022.
  7. ^abcde"•".Private Eye.No. 1525. 3 July 2020. p. 20.
  8. ^"Education Scrutiny Committee".Lancashire County Council.30 June 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 24 November 2020.Retrieved6 November2020.
  9. ^"About Christian Wakeford".Christian Wakeford MP.Archivedfrom the original on 2 December 2020.Retrieved6 November2020.
  10. ^Jacobs, Bill (31 July 2019)."Pendle council Tory group leader to fight seat at next election".Lancashire Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 17 May 2021.Retrieved6 November2020.
  11. ^abcFaulkner, Paul (10 June 2020)."Row over Bury South MP's failure to resign as Pendle Hill councillor".Bury Times.Archivedfrom the original on 19 October 2020.Retrieved24 September2020.
  12. ^"MPs' Pay and Pensions".Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority(IPSA).Archivedfrom the original on 11 November 2020.
  13. ^"The Register of Members' Financial Interests As at 17 May 2021".House of Commons of the United Kingdom.17 May 2021.Retrieved20 January2022.
  14. ^"The Register of Members' Financial Interests As at 4 January 2022".House of Commons of the United Kingdom.4 January 2022.Retrieved20 January2022.
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  25. ^Halle-Richards, Sophie (19 January 2022)."Greater Manchester MP becomes latest Tory to submit vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson over partygate scandal".Manchester Evening News.Archivedfrom the original on 19 January 2022.Retrieved19 January2022.
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  29. ^Watson, Iain (19 January 2022)."Christian Wakeford's long walk to defection".BBC News.Archivedfrom the original on 19 January 2022.Retrieved19 January2022.
  30. ^Culbertson, Alix (19 January 2022)."Christian Wakeford: Tory MP defects to Labour telling Boris Johnson he is 'incapable of offering leadership'".Sky News.Archivedfrom the original on 19 January 2022.Retrieved19 January2022.
  31. ^abc"Tory MP Christian Wakeford defects to Labour".BBC News.19 January 2022.Retrieved19 January2022.
  32. ^Allegretti, Aubrey (19 January 2022)."Tory MP Christian Wakeford defects to Labour, blaming PM's 'disgraceful' conduct".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 19 January 2022.Retrieved19 January2022.
  33. ^Cowburn, Ashley (19 January 2022)."Tory MP defects to Labour in blow to Boris Johnson".The Independent.Archivedfrom the original on 19 January 2022.Retrieved20 January2022.
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  35. ^Fisher, Andrew (20 January 2022)."Bury South have been left with a Tory in disguise following Christian Wakeford's defection".i.Archivedfrom the original on 23 January 2022.Retrieved23 January2022.
  36. ^"Christian Wakeford: Bury residents react to Tory MP's defection to Labour".BBC News.19 January 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 19 January 2022.Retrieved20 January2022.
  37. ^abShone, Ethan (20 January 2022)."Christian Wakeford backed bill that would see defecting MPs face a recall petition and possibly a by-election".National World.Archivedfrom the original on 24 January 2022.Retrieved24 January2022.
  38. ^Elgot, Jessica; Walker, Peter; Halliday, Josh (20 January 2022)."Tory whips accused of intimidating MPs who oppose Boris Johnson".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 20 January 2022.
  39. ^"Christian Wakeford: Ex-Tory MP 'threatened' over Bury high school funding".BBC News.20 January 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 21 January 2022.Retrieved22 January2022.
  40. ^Walker, Peter; Elgot, Jessica (20 January 2022)."Tory defector says whips told him to back PM or lose school funds".The Guardian.Archived fromthe originalon 20 January 2022.
  41. ^Pogrund, Gabriel (22 January 2022)."MP points finger at Gavin Williamson for school threat".The Times.ISSN0140-0460.Archivedfrom the original on 22 January 2022.Retrieved22 January2022.
  42. ^Chao-Fong, Léonie (22 January 2022)."Gavin Williamson tied new school funding to party vote, says Tory defector".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 23 January 2022.Retrieved23 January2022.
  43. ^Chappell, Elliot (26 May 2022)."Tory defector Christian Wakeford joins Labour's shadow education team".LabourList.Retrieved26 May2022.
  44. ^Harrigan, Joe (1 November 2022)."Bury: Christian Wakeford MP appointed Labour whip".Bury Times.Retrieved10 November2022.
  45. ^Chappell, Elliott (8 November 2022)."Former Tory MP Christian Wakeford confirmed as Labour candidate".LabourList.Retrieved10 November2022.
  46. ^"LFI Parliamentary Supporters".Labour Friends of Israel.6 July 2017.Retrieved11 February2024.
  47. ^Bloch, Ben (10 February 2023)."'Israel can rely on Labour' declares MP on week-long trip to Jewish state ".Jewish Chronicle.Retrieved11 February2024.
  48. ^"Roger Waters' Manchester gig should be banned, says MP".BBC News.26 May 2023.Retrieved26 May2023.
  49. ^"Christian Wakeford selected as Parliamentary Candidate for Bury South".Bury Conservatives.1 August 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 13 May 2021.Retrieved25 March2021.
  50. ^Magill, Peter (16 July 2020)."MP calls for better alcohol services in wake of East Lancs' brother's death".Lancashire Telegraph.Archivedfrom the original on 17 July 2020.Retrieved20 January2022.
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