Maria Caulfield

Maria Colette Caulfield (born 6 August 1973) is a Conservative Party politician and nurse. She was first elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Lewes in 2015.[1] She was given the role of Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) Vice Chair for Women on 8 January 2018,[2] until her resignation on 10 July 2018 in protest at the Brexit strategy of the Prime Minister, Theresa May.[3] She is a supporter of the European Research Group[4] and is a board member of Blue Collar Conservativism.[5]

Maria Caulfield MP
Caulfield in 2017
Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party for Women
In office 8 January 2018 – 10 July 2018
Leader	Theresa May
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Helen Whately
Member of Parliament for Lewes
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 May 2015
Preceded by	Norman Baker
Majority	2,457 (4.5%)
Personal details
Born	Maria Colette Caulfield (1973-08-06) 6 August 1973 Lambeth, London, England
Political party	Conservative
Website	Official website

Early life and career

Maria Caulfield was born on 6 August 1973 to Irish immigrant parents and grew up on in a working class area of Wandsworth, London. Her father was from a farming family, but after his emigration worked as a builder while her mother was a nurse.[6]

While Caulfield was in her teens, her mother died from breast cancer[6] and after leaving school she became an NHS nurse.[7][8] She has spoken about her upbringing saying that she "grew up in a run-down area of South London where the only careers advice given to us was the phone number of the local council housing office for when you became a single mum and needed a council flat".[8]

As a nurse, she eventually specialised in cancer research and moved to the south coast of England where she worked at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital and then the Royal Marsden. She became involved with the Conservative Party after joining a campaign to save local hospitals in the Brighton area.[8]

Political career

In the 2007 Brighton and Hove City Council election, Caulfield stood as a Conservative Party candidate and became a member of the local city council for the previously safe Labour ward of Moulsecoomb - winning by just one vote. She served in the cabinet of the then Conservative authority and held the Housing Portfolio. In the following 2011 local election she lost her seat to the Labour Party candidate by over 600 votes.[9]

At the 2010 general election she unsuccessfully stood[10] in the Caerphilly constituency, a safe Labour seat, coming second to Wayne David, the defending sitting MP.[11] She had been shortlisted for the position of Conservative Party candidate for Gosport in the previous year. She received criticism from local political rivals for both campaigns on the grounds that her focus should be on her council work in Brighton.[12][13]

For several years, she held the role of Deputy Regional Chairman for the South East Conservatives[14] and was a Co-ordinator in the NO2AV campaign in the 2011 AV referendum.

In 2013, she was selected for the constituency of Lewes in East Sussex by the Lewes Conservative Association,[8] and at the 2015 general election she overturned a 7,647 majority and defeated the incumbent Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker.[15] She was re-elected at the 2017 general election.

Caulfield backed Brexit during the 2016 EU membership referendum.[16]

In September 2017, she faced criticism after she hosted a Parliamentary event with the Royal College of Nursing to gain support for scrapping the below inflation cap on nurses pay but did not take part in a parliamentary debate on this. Defending her position, Caulfield argued the only way to lift the nurses' pay cap would be during a meaningful budget vote.[17]

On 8 January 2018, Caulfield was appointed the Conservative Campaign Headquarters' Vice Chair for Women; the appointment was criticised by Women's rights groups, including the Women's Equality Party, because she had opposed a Ten Minute Rule bill in March 2017 which sought to allow abortion to term and for voting in 2015 with the government to oppose the removal of the so-called tampon tax, currently levied on female sanitary products as the UK can currently not zero rate VAT on these products while a member of the EU [18] She later submitted her letter of resignation from this position on 10 July 2018 in protest at the Brexit strategy of the Prime Minister, Theresa May.[3]

In the House of Commons she sat on the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, the Women and Equalities Committee and Committee on Exiting the European Union until becoming a Government whip in 2019.[19]

Caulfield employs her husband as her office manager. The practice of MPs employing family members, has been criticised by some sections of the media on the lines that it promotes nepotism.[20][21] Although MPs who were first elected in 2017 have been banned from employing family members, the restriction is not retrospective - meaning that Caulfield's employment of her husband is lawful.[22]

On 1 August 2019, Caulfield was made Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps as part of a government reshuffle.[23]

In October 2019, Caulfield signed a letter to The Guardian pledging climate action.[24] Caulfield has also supported plans for a Green Brexit, by enhancing environmental protections after the UK leaves the European Union.[25]

Caulfield was reelected at the 2019 general election with a reduced majority.

On 20 March 2020, Caulfield announced that whilst continuing to fulfill her parliamentary duties, she would be answering the UK government's call for former doctors and nurses to volunteer in order to help the NHS deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.[26][27]

On 14 May 2020, Caulfield shared a video from her Twitter account which had been doctored to depict the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, apparently giving reasons as to why he, as the director of public prosecutions, had not prosecuted grooming gangs. She accompanied the tweet with the words: "“True face of the Labour leader #shameful".[28] In fact, Starmer had been answering a question about what the "wrong approach" was and why historic child sexual abuse allegations had been ignored for decades by the authorities. The doctored video came from a Twitter account known to spread far-right and anti-Islam views, which was subsequently suspended. A Downing Street spokesman said: "The MPs involved have been spoken to by the Whips' Office and reminded of their responsibility to check the validity of information before they post on social media sites."[29][30] Caulfield later apologised. [31]

Personal life

Caulfield lives with her husband Steve Bell, an ex-serviceman and former builder, who now works as her Office Manager. He is also a Brighton and Hove City Councillor,[32] as well as being active in the voluntary party and was President (2015–16) of the Conservative National Convention, the organizing body of the voluntary party.[33] She is also a member of the Conservative Christian Fellowship.[34][35]

Caulfield is an urban shepherdess, part of an environmental project which uses sheep and cattle to graze public open spaces.[36] She previously held a non-executive director position on the board of the housing charity BHT Sussex.[36][37] She supports Arsenal[38] and Lewes football clubs, and is a shareholder of the latter.[39]

A practising Roman Catholic,[34][40] Caulfield supports lowering the current abortion time limit.[41][42]

Electoral history

2019 general election

General election 2019: Lewes[43]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Conservative	Maria Caulfield	26,268	47.9	-1.6
	Liberal Democrats	Oli Henman	23,811	43.4	+4.1
	Labour	Kate Chappell	3,206	5.8	-5.3
	Green	Johnny Denis	1,453	2.6	+2.6
	Independent	Paul Cragg	113	0.2	+0.2
Majority			2,457	4.5	-5.7
Turnout			54,851	76.7	+0.3
	Conservative hold		Swing	-2.8

2017 general election

General election 2017: Lewes

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Conservative	Maria Caulfield	26,820	49.5	+11.5
	Liberal Democrats	Kelly-Marie Blundell	21,312	39.3	+3.5
	Labour	Daniel Chapman	6,060	11.2	+1.3
Majority			5,508	10.2	+8.1
Turnout			54,328	76.4	+3.7
	Conservative hold		Swing	+4.0

2015 general election

General election 2015: Lewes[44]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Conservative	Maria Caulfield	19,206	38.0	+1.3
	Liberal Democrats	Norman Baker	18,123	35.9	-16.1
	UKIP	Ray Finch	5,427	10.7	+7.3
	Labour	Lloyd Russell-Moyle	5,000	9.9	+4.9
	Green	Alfie Stirling	2,784	5.5	+4.1
Majority			1,083	2.1	N/A
Turnout			50,540	72.7	-0.2
	Conservative gain from Liberal Democrats		Swing	+8.7

2010 general election

General election 2010: Caerphilly[45][46]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Labour	Wayne David	17,377	44.9	-10.5
	Conservative	Maria Caulfield	6,622	17.1	+2.4
	Plaid Cymru	Lindsay Whittle	6,460	16.7	-1.4
	Liberal Democrats	Kay David	5,688	14.7	+4.7
	BNP	Laurence Reid	1,635	4.2	N/A
	UKIP	Tony Jenkins	910	2.4	+2.4
Majority			10,755	27.8	-11.4
Turnout			38,692	62.3	+5.8
Registered electors			62,122
	Labour hold		Swing	-6.5

2007 Brighton and Hove City Council election

Moulsecoomb and Bevendean (3)

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±
	Labour Co-op	Mo Marsh	1,018	12.52	-2.96
	Labour Co-op	Anne Meadows	1,018	12.52	-2.73
	Conservative	Maria Caulfield	984	12.10	+3.40
	Conservative	Mel Grundy	983	12.09	+3.66
	Conservative	Elizabeth Kirby	964	11.85	+3.54
	Labour	Lis Telcs	848	10.43	-4.80
	Green	Matt Dunton	468	5.76	+0.73
	Green	Barry Mills	357	4.39	+0.67
	Respect	David Bangs	346	4.25	N/A
	Green	Morgan Daniels-Yeoman	333	4.09	+1.09
	Liberal Democrats	Richard Bowden	320	3.94	-1.79
	Liberal Democrats	Paul Chandler	268	3.30	-1.36
	Liberal Democrats	Bruce Neave	225	2.77	-1.85
Turnout			2,949	27.18	-9.73
	Labour Co-op hold		Swing
	Labour Co-op hold		Swing
	Conservative gain from Labour Co-op		Swing

References

1. "LewesParliamentary constituency". BBC. 8 May 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
2. Walker, Peter (8 January 2018). "Brandon Lewis unveiled as Tory chairman in chaotic reshuffle". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
3. "Tory vice-chairs quit over PM's Brexit plan". BBC News. 10 July 2018.
4. https://www.buzzfeed.com/alexspence/revealed-these-70-tory-mps-support-the-hard-brexit-group
5. "People". Blue Collar Conservatism. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
6. "Britain in the World". theyworkforyou.com. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
7. "Five Nurses take seats in the House of Commons". NursingNotes. 13 June 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
8. "Maria Caulfield adopted as Conservative candidate for Lewes". Conservativehome.com. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
9. "Brighton Council Election Results 1996-2011" (PDF). Plymouth University. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
10. "ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog: Maria Caulfield selected for Caerphilly". Conservativehome.blogs.com. 21 December 2009. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
11. "Election 2010 | Constituency | Caerphilly". News.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
12. "Row over valleys candidate's home". BBC News. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
13. "Brighton and Hove councillor in running to replace Gosport MP". Brighton Argus. 5 November 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
14. "Former Brighton councillor to challenge Norman Baker for Lewes seat in Parliament". Brightonandhovenews.org. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
15. "Lewes parliamentary constituency - Election 2015". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
16. "Maria Caulfield will vote to leave the European Union in referendum". The Argus. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
17. "Tory under fire over stance on nurses' pay". Brighton Argus. 8 September 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
18. "Maria Caulfield: MP's new women's role sparks backlash". BBC News Online. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
19. "Maria Caulfield". Parliament UK. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
20. "One in five MPs employs a family member: the full list revealed". The Daily Telegraph. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
21. Mason, Rowena (29 June 2015). "Keeping it in the family: new MPs continue to hire relatives as staff". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
22. "MPs banned from employing spouses after election in expenses crackdown". London Evening Standard. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
23. "Department for Transport role for Lewes MP". Sussex Express. 5 August 2019. Archived from the original on 20 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
24. Letters (17 October 2019). "We are proud of the Conservative record on climate action | Letter from 36 MPs". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
25. "Environment Bill". Maria Caulfield. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
26. "Coronavirus: 'Your NHS needs you' – Thousands of retired doctors and nurses urged to return". Sky News. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
27. "Coronavirus: Lewes MP Maria Caulfield returns to nursing". BBC News. 20 March 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
28. Walker, PeterDeal; Morris, Steven (14 May 2020). "No 10 rebukes Tory MPs over misleading Keir Starmer video". The Guardian.
29. "Minister Nadine Dorries accused of spreading 'fake news' about Labour leader". BBC News. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
30. "Tory MPs including health minister share edited 'far-right' video smearing Keir Starmer". The Independent. 14 May 2020.
31. "Statement on Recent Twitter Post". Maria Caulfield.
32. "Brighton & Hove City Council election". Brighton-hove.gov.uk. 7 May 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
33. "Steve Bell profile". Stevebellconservative.com. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
34. "Sussex falls to Tory steamroller". heartpublications.co.uk.
35. "Conservative Christian Fellowship". Christian-conservatives.org.uk. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
36. "Board of Management". Bht.org.uk. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
37. "About Maria Caulfield". Maria Caulfield. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
38. "Politicshome". Politicshome website. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
39. "about Maria Caulfield". About Maria Caulfield.
40. "Fall in number of Catholic MPs in the House of Commons ahead of landmark debate on assisted dying". www.thetablet.co.uk. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
41. "General Election 2015 | LIFE in Surrey and Sussex". Life Charity. 27 March 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
42. "Where Do They Stand?". Wheredotheystand.org.uk. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
43. "Lewes Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
44. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
45. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
46. Caerphilly BBC Election - Caerphilly

External links

• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
• Voting record at Public Whip
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Norman Baker	Member of Parliament for Lewes 2015–present	Incumbent