Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Explained

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown
Office:Member of Parliament
for North Cotswolds

Parliament:UK
Term Start:9 April 1992
Majority:3,357 (6.6%)
Predecessor:Nicholas Ridley
Birth Date:23 March 1953
Birth Place:Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
Nationality:British
Party:Conservative
Children:Jacqueline, Edward, Robert
Residence:Gloucestershire
Alma Mater:Royal Agricultural College
Occupation:Member of Parliament
Profession:Politician and Surveyor
Religion:Anglican-->
Website:cliftonbrown.co.uk
Office2:Treasurer of the 1922 Committee
Termstart2:N/A

Sir Geoffrey Robert Clifton-Brown (born 23 March 1953)[1] is a British Conservative Party politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Cotswolds, formerly Cirencester and Tewkesbury, since 1992.[2] [3]

Early life and career

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown was born on 23 March 1953 in Cambridge, the eldest of four children of farmer Robert Lawrence Clifton-Brown (1929–2016), of Maltings Farmhouse, Haverhill, Suffolk, a councillor and mayor of St Edmundsbury, Suffolk,[4] and (Florence) Elizabeth Lindsay (1926–2006), granddaughter of Sir Edmund Hoyle Vestey, 1st Baronet.[1]

He was privately educated, first at Tormore School, in Deal, Kent and then at Eton College. He then studied at the Royal Agricultural College where he qualified as a chartered surveyor in 1975. He began his career as a graduate estate surveyor at the Property Services Agency in Dorchester and, later in 1975, became an investment surveyor with Jones Lang Wootton. He became the vice chairman of the Norfolk North Conservative Association in 1984. He was elected as Constituency Chairman in 1986, a position he held until he resigned in 1991 in order to stand for election as a Conservative candidate.

Parliamentary career

During 1991, Clifton-Brown was selected as the candidate for the then Conservative parliamentary constituency of Cirencester and Tewkesbury, following the retirement of the former Cabinet minister Nicholas Ridley. He won the seat at the 1992 general election with 55.6% of the vote and a majority of 16,058,[2] [3] both slightly higher than at the 1987 general election.[5] Clfiton-Brown made his maiden speech on 12 June 1992.[6]

When newly elected Clifton-Brown became a member of the Environment Select Committee, where he remained until 1995. He was then appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Douglas Hogg, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The constituency of Cirencester and Tewkesbury was abolished, but Clifton-Brown contested and was elected for the newly drawn constituency of Cotswold at the 1997 general election. He won with 46.4% of the vote, a decrease of 8% from 1992, and a majority of 11,965, down from 16,058.[7] He was again re-elected at the 2001 general election with an increased vote share of 50.3% and an increased majority of 11,983.[8]

In 2002, after Iain Duncan Smith became leader of the Conservative party, Clifton-Brown became the Shadow Minister for Local and Devolved Government Affairs.[9] Clifton-Brown was re-elected at the 2005 general election with a decreased vote share of 49.3% and a decreased majority of 9,688.[10] He returned to Westminster as assistant Chief Conservative Whip. On the accession of David Cameron as Leader of the Conservative Party, he was appointed the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment.

During the parliamentary expenses scandal in 2009, Clifton-Brown switched his main residence from his house in the Cotswolds to a London flat.[11] [12] [13] The Cotswolds Conservative Party Association said that Clifton-Brown had acted within the rules.[11]

Clifton-Brown was again re-elected at the 2010 general election, increasing his vote share to 53% and his majority to 12,864.[14] [15] [16] After the formation of the subsequent Coalition government, Clifton-Brown returned as a backbencher, making overseas visits in his role as Chairman of the Conservative Party's International Office. At this time he became the Parliamentary Chairman of the Conservative Friends of the Chinese. In 2014, he received critical attention in the media following a visit to China paid for by the Chinese authorities.[17] In a 2015 interview with CNN, Clifton-Brown stated that his family has been doing business in China since the 1920s.[18] Clifton-Brown has remained engaged in dialogue with Chinese authorities.[19] [20]

Clifton-Brown was again re-elected at the 2015 general election with an increased vote share of 56.5% and an increased majority of 21,477.[21] [22] He was again re-elected at the snap 2017 general election with an increased vote share of 60.1% and an increased majority of 25,499.[23] [24]

In the 2018 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Bachelor for political and public service.

In 2019, Clifton-Brown was asked to leave the Conservative Party Conference being held in Manchester, following a dispute with security staff who prevented him from entering a meeting room with a guest who did not have a relevant identification pass. He later apologised and described the incident as a "minor verbal misunderstanding".[25]

Clifton-Brown was again re-elected at the 2019 general election, with a decreased vote share of 58% and a decreased majority of 20,214.[26]

He has previously been voted as the worst MP in parliament in a survey of constituents ranking MPs on categories such as attendance and helping constituents.[27]

Due to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, Clifton-Brown's constituency of The Cotswolds was abolished, and replaced with North Cotswolds. At the 2024 general election, Clifton-Brown was elected to Parliament as MP for North Cotswolds with 34.7% of the vote and a majority of 3,357.[28] Following the general election, Clifton-Brown ran against Bob Blackman to become chairman of the 1922 committee, which he had previously been treasurer of; he lost by 28 votes. [29]

Personal life

In 1979, Clifton-Brown married Alexandra, daughter of Wing Commander Denis Noel Peto-Shepherd, RAF. They have one son and one daughter.[1] They divorced in 2004.[30] He is now married to Kym Clifton-Brown.[31] He is a Freeman of the City of London.[32]

Clifton-Brown is related to seven other previous members of Parliament, including his grandfather Geoffrey Benedict Clifton-Brown, and his great-uncle Douglas Clifton Brown and his son-in-law[33] Harry Hylton-Foster (married to Audrey Clifton-Brown) who both became Speaker of the House of Commons. His great-uncle Howard Clifton Brown was elected as member of Parliament on several occasions.[34] He is also a descendant of the Army officer and MP James Clifton Brown.[35]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 1, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, p. 538
  2. Web site: Election Data 1992. Electoral Calculus. 28 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054418/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt. 15 October 2011. dead.
  3. Web site: Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Election 1992. Politics Resources. 6 December 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20110724020412/http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm. 24 July 2011. dead.
  4. News: Tributes to 'dedicated' St Edmundsbury councillor and 'devoted' family man. Suffolk News . 13 October 2016.
  5. Web site: Election Data 1987. Electoral Calculus. 28 June 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054243/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt. 15 October 2011. dead.
  6. Web site: Hansard report. Cirencester and Tewkesbury 1992. publications.parliament.uk. 16 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141205192337/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1992-06-12/Debate-4.html. 5 December 2014. live.
  7. Web site: Election Data 1997. Electoral Calculus. 18 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054424/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt. 15 October 2011.
  8. Web site: Election Data 2001. Electoral Calculus. 18 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt. 15 October 2011.
  9. Web site: Geoffrey Clifton-Brown biography. parliament.uk. 16 December 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141216192025/http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/geoffrey-clifton-brown/249. 16 December 2014. live.
  10. Web site: Election Data 2005. Electoral Calculus. 18 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt. 15 October 2011.
  11. News: Tilley . Emma . Cotswold MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown is latest to be embroiled in expenses scandal . 2 May 2021 . Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard . 20 May 2009 . 13 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210213083300/https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/4382609.cotswold-mp-geoffrey-clifton-brown-is-latest-to-be-embroiled-in-expenses-scandal/ . live .
  12. News: Watt . Holly . Geoffrey Clifton-Brown 'flips' to £2.7m house: MPs' expenses . subscription . 2 May 2021 . . live. 15 May 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240212115133/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5331742/Geoffrey-Clifton-Brown-flips-to-2.7m-house-MPs-expenses.html . 12 February 2024.
  13. News: MPs' expenses in detail . BBC News. 2 May 2021 . 28 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181128034828/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8104383.stm#cliftonbrown_geoffrey . live .
  14. Web site: Election Data 2010. Electoral Calculus. 17 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt. 26 July 2013.
  15. Web site: BBC News | Election 2010 | Constituency | Cotswolds, The. news.bbc.co.uk.
  16. Percentage change and swing for 2010 is calculated relative to the PA (Rallings and Thrasher) 2005 notional result, not actual 2005 result Web site: Press Association Elections . . 17 July 2017 . 13 June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180613160529/http://election.pressassociation.com/Constituencies/general.php . dead .
  17. News: McFadden. Brendan. 6 June 2014. Cotswold MP defends trip to China paid for by Chinese communists. Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard. live. 24 August 2020. 30 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200630013311/https://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/news/11262895.cotswold-mp-defends-trip-to-china-paid-for-by-chinese-communists/.
  18. News: 20 October 2015. U.K. aims to be 'China's best' trade partner in the West. CNN. live. 24 August 2020. 28 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151028174440/http://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2015/10/20/china-intv-amanpour-pleitgen-geoffrey-clifton-brown.cnn.
  19. Web site: 2018-08-07. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Speaks about BRI. 2020-08-25. British Chamber of Commerce in China Beijing. en-GB. 25 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200825021855/https://www.britishchamber.cn/en/sir-geoffrey-clifton-brown-speaks-about-bri/. live.
  20. Web site: 31 July 2020. Guo Yezhou Exchanges Views with Chairman of the Conservative Parliamentary China Group of the U.K. via Videolink. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200823230345/https://www.idcpc.org.cn/english/news/202008/t20200805_139415.html. 23 August 2020. 24 August 2020. International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party.
  21. Web site: Election Data 2015. Electoral Calculus. 17 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt. 17 October 2015.
  22. Web site: Declaration Of Result Of Poll Election of a Member of Parliament for The Cotswolds Constituency on Thursday 7 May 2015 . 4 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304110129/https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/media/1178863/Declaration-of-result-PARLIAMENTARY-ELECTION-2015.pdf . Nigel Adams Acting Returning Officer. 8 May 2015 . 19 June 2015. Cotswold District Council.
  23. News: Cotswolds, The parliamentary constituency – Election 2017. BBC News.
  24. Web site: Declaration Of Result Of Poll UK Parliamentary Election The Cotswolds Constituency Thursday 8 June 2017 . Andrew Tabor Returning Officer . Cotswold District Council. 9 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180506035131/https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/media/1510200/Declaration-of-result-Parliamentary-election-8-June-2017.pdf . 6 May 2018 . dead.
  25. News: Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: MP kicked out of Tory conference after clash. BBC News. 1 October 2019. 1 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191001154648/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-49898209. 1 October 2019. live.
  26. Web site: Statement of Persons Nominated and Notice of Poll Election of a Member of Parliament The Cotswolds Constituency Thursday 12 December 2019 . 14 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191116231549/https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/media/1760757/SOPN-and-NOP.pdf . dead . 16 November 2019 . Nigel Adams Acting Returning Officer . Cotswold District Council.
  27. Web site: Every UK MP has been ranked from best to worst in new 'People-Power Index' – this is how yours scored . 6 December 2019 . Claire . Schofield . . 89 Caxton Road, Fulwood Preston, Lancashire PR2 9ZB England. 12 February 2024 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240212112957/https://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/read-this/every-uk-mp-has-been-ranked-from-best-to-worst-in-new-people-power-index-this-is-how-yours-scored-1334442 . Yorkshire Evening Post.
  28. News: North Cotswolds – General election results 2024 . 2024-07-16 . BBC News . en-GB.
  29. Web site: Conservatives choose new 1922 Committee chair in key step towards next leadership battle . 2024-07-09 . Sky News . en.
  30. Book: Clifton-Brown, Sir Geoffrey. UK Who's Who. 10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U11232. 978-0-19-954088-4. 1 October 2019. 25 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200825021857/https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-11232?rskey=Mx1vNq&result=2. live.
  31. Web site: Hughes . Janet . 2021-03-21 . Reports that Sir Geoffrey-Clifton Brown has wed for second time . 2023-11-02 . Gloucestershire Live . en.
  32. Web site: Clifton-Brown, Geoffrey . politics.co.uk . 27 June 2021.
  33. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 1, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, p. 539
  34. Book: Craig, F. W. S. . F. W. S. Craig . British parliamentary election results 1918–1949 . Parliamentary Research Services . 1983 . 0-900178-06-X . 3rd . Chichester . 293 . 1969.
  35. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 1, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, pp. 484, 538

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