Laura Trott (politician) explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Right Honourable
Office:Shadow Secretary of State for Education
Leader:Kemi Badenoch
Term Start:4 November 2024
Predecessor:Damian Hinds
Office1:Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Leader1:Rishi Sunak
Predecessor1:Darren Jones
Term Start1:8 July 2024
Term End1:4 November 2024
Office2:Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Term Start2:13 November 2023
Term End2:5 July 2024
Primeminister2:Rishi Sunak
Predecessor2:John Glen
Successor2:Darren Jones
Office3:Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions
Term Start3:27 October 2022
Term End3:13 November 2023
Primeminister3:Rishi Sunak
Predecessor3:Alex Burghart
Successor3:Paul Maynard
Office4:Member of Parliament
for Sevenoaks
Term Start4:12 December 2019
Majority4:5,440 (10.9%)
Predecessor4:Michael Fallon
Laura Trott
Birth Name:Laura Trott
Birth Date:1984 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Oxted, England
Party:Conservative
Spouse:Bahador Mahvelati
Children:3
Education:Oxted School
Successor1:Richard Fuller

Laura Trott (born 7 December 1984) is a British politician currently serving as Shadow Education Secretary since November 2024. She previously served as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury from July to November 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, she has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sevenoaks since 2019.

Born in Oxted, Trott attended Oxted School and later studied history and economics at the University of Oxford. She worked as a special adviser between 2009 and 2016, before becoming a partner at Portland Communications. Trott joined the Conservative Party in her teens, and was a councillor for the party on Camden London Borough Council between 2010 and 2014. She was elected to the House of Commons at the 2019 general election for Sevenoaks, becoming the first woman to represent the constituency. She was later appointed a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Department for Transport, before resigning during the July 2022 government crisis.

Trott endorsed Rishi Sunak in his unsuccessful bid for party leader in the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election. She later endorsed his successful bid in the October 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, and was appointed to the government frontbench as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions in Sunak's government after he became Prime Minister in the same month. In the November 2023 cabinet reshuffle, she was promoted to the cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. After the defeat of the Conservative Party in the 2024 general election, Trott became Shadow Chief Secretary of the Treasury in Sunak's shadow cabinet.

Early life and education

Laura Trott was born on 7 December 1984[1] in Oxted. She attended Oxted School[2] before studying history and economics at the University of Oxford as an undergraduate student of Pembroke College, Oxford.[3] [4] [5] Trott joined the Conservative Party in her teens and has cited former prime minister John Major as an early influence to join politics.[6]

Career

After university, Trott was employed as strategy consultant at Booz & Company.[7] Trott is an ambassador for the Sutton Trust, an educational charity.

Trott served as a Conservative Party Councillor for Frognal and Fitzjohns on Camden London Borough Council between 2010 and 2014.[8] [9]

In January 2009, she became a political adviser for the Conservatives, before becoming a special adviser to then Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude in May 2010 with the remit of political policy and media, and was then promoted to chief of staff.[10] She was subsequently appointed as a political adviser in the Number 10 Policy Unit, responsible for education and family policy under then Prime Minister David Cameron. Trott was credited for formulating the party's tax-free childcare policy.[11]

After the 2015 general election, Trott was promoted to director of strategic communication. In 2016, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in Cameron's Resignation Honours for her political and public service.[12] After the election of Prime Minister Theresa May, she left government service and became a partner at the political consultancy and public relations firm Portland Communications in September 2017.

Parliamentary career

Early career

Trott was selected as the Conservative candidate for Sevenoaks in Kent on 10 November 2019.[13] It is a Safe Conservative seat, having elected a member of the party since 1924, and was previously represented by former Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon. At the 2019 general election, Trott was elected as MP for Sevenoaks with a majority of 20,818 and 60.7% of the vote.[14] [15] Trott is the first woman to represent the constituency.[16]

She was a policy fellow at the Centre for Science and Policy at the University of Cambridge between 2020 and 2021.[17]

On 5 February 2020 Trott presented her Private Member's Bill, which aimed to restrict access to botulinum toxin and filler cosmetic procedures for under 18s.[18] It became law in October 2021.[19]

Trott was a member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee between March 2020 and November 2022.[20] She was also on the steering committee of the China Research Group during the same period.[21] Trott co-wrote a policy paper advocating for the establishment of "accelerator zones" with fellow Conservative MP Bim Afolami in February 2021 for the think tank Social Market Foundation. The zones would have relaxation of visa rules, tax incentives, and policy fellowship programmes.[22]

On 6 July 2022, in the wake of the resignations of Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid from the second Johnson ministry following the Chris Pincher scandal, Trott resigned as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Transport, citing "trust in politics is – and must always be – of the utmost importance, but sadly in recent months this has been lost".[23] Two days later, following Johnson's resignation as Conservative Party leader, she endorsed Sunak's failed bid to succeed him in the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, and also endorsed his successful bid to succeed Liz Truss in the October 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.[24]

Ministerial career

Trott was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions on 27 October 2022. During her tenure, the department published the first official data on the gender pensions gap. She also supported the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023 which enabled the government to reduce the minimum age of enrolment from 22 to 18.[25]

On 13 November 2023, Trott was promoted to Chief Secretary to the Treasury during Sunak's second cabinet reshuffle.[26] [27]

She was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council on 13 December 2023 at Buckingham Palace following her appointment, entitling her to the honorific prefix "The Right Honourable" for life.[28]

In opposition

At the 2024 general election, Trott was re-elected to Parliament as MP for Sevenoaks with a decreased vote share of 36.7% and a decreased majority of 5,440.[29] Following the general election, Trott was appointed Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the Shadow Cabinet of Rishi Sunak.[30] Trott endorsed the campaign of Kemi Badenoch in the 2024 Conservative Party leadership election.[31]

Personal life

Trott is married to Bahador "Bids" Mahvelati, a partner at professional services firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers.[32] [33] They have one daughter and twin sons.[34] [35]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Brunskill, Ian. The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election. 19 March 2020. 978-0-00-839258-1. 325. HarperCollins Publishers Limited . 1129682574. 23 June 2021. 9 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211109125548/https://www.worldcat.org/title/times-guide-to-the-house-of-commons-2019-the-definitive-record-of-britains-historic-2019-general-election/oclc/1129682574. live.
  2. Web site: About Laura. Laura Trott. 8 July 2022. 27 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231127190754/https://www.lauratrott.org.uk/about-laura. live.
  3. News: Movers & Shakers: Ben and Michael Dyer, Laura Trott and Brian Lightman. Schools Week. Camden. Billy. 6 February 2016. 6 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200206102448/https://schoolsweek.co.uk/ben-and-michael-dyer-laura-trott-and-brian-lightman/. 6 February 2020. live.
  4. Web site: Dame Lynne Brindley Speech for Pembroke 40 Years of Women Dinner. Pembroke College, Oxford. 2. 6 February 2020. 26 June 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210626182020/https://www.pmb.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/speech_for_womens_dinner_ljb.pdf. dead.
  5. Web site: The Pembrokian, Issue 38, July 2013. The Pembrokian. 5. July 2013. 6 February 2020. 2 October 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231002034544/https://issuu.com/pembrokecollegeoxford/docs/l-1-2-2013-2. live.
  6. News: Rising stars: Meet the Conservative Party's ambitious young MPs. 3 October 2023. 15 November 2023. Scotson. Tom. PoliticsHome. 15 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231115203816/https://www.politicshome.com/thehouse/article/rising-stars-meet-conservative-partys-ambitious-young-mps. live.
  7. Web site: Portland appoints three former Downing Street advisers to its corporate team. 6 February 2020. 1 September 2017. Portland Communications. 12 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231112225438/https://portland-communications.com/portland-news/portland-appoints-three-former-downing-street-advisers-to-its-corporate-team/. live.
  8. News: Ballerina in bid for Tory Camden Council seat. Ham & High. 12 June 2013. 6 February 2020. Youle. Emma. 26 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200926161113/https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/politics/ballerina-florence-raja-in-bid-for-tory-frognal-and-fitzjohn-s-camden-council-seat-1-2233099. live.
  9. Web site: Local election results 6 May 2010. Camden London Borough Council. 6 February 2020. 12 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231112225442/https://www.camden.gov.uk/local-election-results-6-may-2010. live.
  10. News: Can David Cameron be made to understand what women want?. The Guardian. 15 February 2012. 6 February 2020. Hill. Amelia. https://web.archive.org/web/20200108105505/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/feb/15/women-equality. 8 January 2020. live.
  11. News: Donors, aides and remainers dominate secret Cameron honours list. The Guardian. 31 July 2016. 6 February 2020. Siddique. Haroon. https://web.archive.org/web/20200108054004/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jul/31/donors-aides-and-remainers-dominate-secret-cameron-honours-list. 8 January 2020. live.
  12. Web site: Resignation Honours 2016. 5. gov.uk. 6 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20190905070417/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/543929/Resignation-Honours-2016.pdf. 5 September 2019. live.
  13. News: Tories select Laura Trott in Sevenoaks. New Statesman. 10 November 2019. 6 February 2020. Maguire. Patrick. https://web.archive.org/web/20191216213954/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2019/11/tories-select-laura-trott-sevenoaks. 16 December 2019. live.
  14. News: Sevenoaks. 6 February 2020. BBC News. https://web.archive.org/web/20190809065722/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000918. 9 August 2019. live.
  15. Web site: 15 November 2019 . Statement of persons nominated, notice of poll and situation of polling stations . 17 June 2019 . . 17 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191117190528/https://www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/info/20053/elections_and_voting/484/general_election_12_december_2019 . live .
  16. Web site: General Election 2019: Sevenoaks result. Duggan. Ciaran. 6 February 2020. 13 December 2019. Kent Online. 13 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231113092147/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sevenoaks/news/general-election-2019-result-for-sevenoaks-218097/. live.
  17. Web site: Policy Fellows 2020–2021. Centre for Science and Policy. 8 July 2022. 13 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231113092151/https://www.csap.cam.ac.uk/policy-fellowships/policy-fellows/policy-fellows-2020-2021/. live.
  18. Web site: New Bill to restrict under 18s' access to Botox and fillers echoes Nuffield Council concerns. Nuffield Council of Bioethics. 5 February 2020. 6 February 2020. 12 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231112225442/https://www.nuffieldbioethics.org/news/new-bill-to-restrict-under-18s-access-to-botox-and-fillers-echoes-nuffield-council-concerns. live.
  19. News: 'I Hope Today Marks The Start Of Much Needed Change': Laura Trott MP On New The Botox And Filler Ban For Under-18s. Grazia. Trott. Laura. 14 November 2021. 1 October 2021. 13 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231113092146/https://graziadaily.co.uk/beauty-hair/skin/botox-bill-dermal-fillers-3/. live.
  20. Web site: Health and Social Care Committee membership agreed. parliament.uk. 2 March 2020. 3 March 2020. 3 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200303142022/https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/81/health-and-social-care-committee/news/144999/health-and-social-care-committee-membership-agreed/. live.
  21. News: Senior Tories launch ERG-style group to shape policy on China. Financial Times. 25 April 2020. 24 June 2020. Payne. Sebastian. 24 August 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230824133250/https://www.ft.com/content/b354c58b-06fc-4848-a823-584bcc0c3869. live.
  22. Web site: Accelerator Zones: how to turbocharge economic opportunity across the UK. Social Market Foundation. 21 February 2021. 22 December 2022. 22 December 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221222234828/https://www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Accelerator-Zones-Afolami-Trott-Feb-2021.pdf. live.
  23. News: Another UK lawmaker resigns from PM Johnson's government . . 6 July 2022 . 6 July 2022 . 12 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231112225438/https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/another-uk-lawmaker-resigns-pm-johnsons-government-2022-07-06/ . live .
  24. News: Rishi Sunak to stand for leadership of UK Tory party. Financial Times. 8 July 2022. 8 July 2022. Payne. Sebastian. 12 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231112225433/https://www.ft.com/content/ea706ae0-284c-43f3-adb8-55c3ad8bc250. live.
  25. News: Updated: Laura Trott moved to Treasury; Opperman moved to transport. Pensions Age. 13 November 2023. Smith. Sophie. 15 November 2023. 30 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231130171904/https://www.pensionsage.com/pa/Laura-trott-no-longer-pensions-minister-following-sunak-reshuffle.php. live.
  26. Web site: Laura Trott MBE MP . 13 November 2023 . gov.uk . 12 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231112225435/https://www.gov.uk/government/people/laura-trott . live .
  27. News: Cabinet reshuffle: pensions and housing on ministerial merry go round. FT Adviser. Austin. Amy. 13 November 2023. 13 November 2023. 13 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231113172844/https://www.ftadviser.com/pensions/2023/11/13/cabinet-reshuffle-pensions-and-housing-on-ministerial-merry-go-round/. live.
  28. Web site: Orders for 13 December 2023 . Privy Council Office . 20 December 2023 . 20 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231220102048/https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023-12-13-List-of-Business.pdf . live .
  29. News: Sevenoaks - General election results 2024 . BBC News .
  30. Web site: UK politics live: Lord Cameron resigns as Rishi Sunak announces interim shadow cabinet . 2024-07-08 . BBC News . en-GB.
  31. News: Trott . Laura . 2024-08-31 . Like Thatcher in 1979, Kemi Badenoch can win power and stand up for Britain . 2024-09-03 . The Telegraph . en-GB . 0307-1235.
  32. Trott, Laura (speaker); Ramewal, Pav, Dr (Returning Officer). 13 December 2019. 13 December 2019. 2m56s. 29 December 2020. Sevenoaks District Council. "I'd like to thank my family; my friends; my husband Bids here tonight". 13 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231113194000/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeXGn5tSqAk. live.
  33. Web site: Bahador (Bids) Mahvelati. PriceWaterhouseCoopers. 29 December 2020. 13 November 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231113092145/https://www.pwc.co.uk/contacts/b/bahador-mahvelati.html. live.
  34. Web site: General Election 2019: Conservative Laura Trott looks safe in Sevenoaks. Kent Online. 17 November 2019. 6 February 2020. Smith. Alan. https://web.archive.org/web/20191117221740/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sevenoaks/news/general-election-2019-we-can-deliver-what-sevenoaks-needs-says-laura-trott-216653/. 17 November 2019. live.
  35. Web site: Laura Trott. Sevenoaks Conservatives. 6 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200115033316/https://www.sevenoaksconservatives.org/people/laura-trott. 15 January 2020. live.

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