Edward Timpson
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Edward Timpson MP
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Member of Parliament
for Crewe and Nantwich |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 22 May 2008 |
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| Preceded by | Gwyneth Dunwoody |
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| Majority | 7,860 (18.9%) |
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| Born | 26 December 1973 Knutsford, Cheshire |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Julia Timpson |
| Alma mater | Durham University |
| Website | www.edwardtimpsonmp.com |
Anthony Edward Timpson (born 26 December 1973) is a British politician. He is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Crewe and Nantwich.
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Timpson was born in Knutsford, Cheshire in 1973.[1] His father, John, is the head of the Timpsonchain of shoe repair and key-cutting shops, which has been in the family for five generations and has over 550 stores in the UK and Ireland. Timpson grew up with a brother, sister and a number of foster children.[2]
He was educated at Uppingham School and Hatfield College, Durham where he studied politics before converting to law, becoming a barrister in 1998. Since 1999 he has practised in Chester as a family law barrister.[3] In June 2002, he married Julia Still in south Cheshire. Since then he has lived in Cheshire, 13 miles from Crewe, with his wife and three children (including a son born February 2004 and a daughter born November 2005). Timpson has completed six marathons, including the New York marathon in 2007 and the London Marathon in 2008, raising over £4,500.[4] He plays football, and in 1993, he wrote a travelogue. He has also published an illustrated children's book.[5]
In July 2007, Timpson was selected as the Conservative candidate for the Crewe and Nantwich constituency,[6] an area which had been represented by veteran Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody since 1974. Following Dunwoody's death in April 2008, a by-election was called for May 2008. In the run up to the election, Timpson was the target of a "toff" campaign by Labour, trying to paint him as "a rich man" who wouldn't "understand the problems that people face day-to-day" in contrast to their candidate, Gwyneth Dunwoody's daughter Tamsin Dunwoody.[7] The Conservative campaign focussed on local issues, such as crime and antisocial behaviour, closure of post offices and problems at Leighton Hospital, where two women in labour were turned away, as well as national issues - referring to Dunwoody as "Gordon Brown's candidate" and capitalising on dissatisfaction with the Labour Government, in particular the removal of the 10p tax rate.[8]
On 22 May 2008 Timpson was elected MP, gaining 20,539 votes (49% of the vote), a swing from Labour of 17.6%.[9][10] This was the first Conservative gain in a by-election since 1982. He made his maiden speech in the House of Commons on 16 June 2008.[11]
- ^ "Edward Timpson" in "Dod's Parliamentary Companion, 2009", Vacher Dod Publishing, 2008.
- ^ The Times 8-May-08 Top hats and tails come out as Tory candidate says ‘I’m no Tarporley toff’
- ^ "Profile at Nicholas Street Chambers".
- ^ Edward's marathon effort will aid families in need Crewe Guardian
- ^ Profile at Conservative Party website
- ^ "Edward Timpson adopted for Crewe and Nantwich", Conservative Home (2007-07-01). Retrieved on 17 June 2008.
- ^ "Labour's 'toff' campaign defended", BBC News (London), British Broadcasting Corporation (2008-05-19). Retrieved on 17 June 2008.
- ^ "Tories train their sights on Crewe", The Guardian (2008-05-05). Retrieved on 17 June 2008.
- ^ Daily Telegraph Crewe and Nantwich by-election: Rampant Tories crush Labour 23-May-2008
- ^ "Tories snatch Crewe from Labour", BBC News (London), British Broadcasting Corporation (2008-05-23). Retrieved on 24 May 2008.
- ^ "Edward Timpson makes his debut", Daily Telegraph (2008-06-16). Retrieved on 17 June 2008.
- Edward Timpson MP official website
- Edward Timpson profile on Conservative Party website
- They Work For You
- BBC Politics page
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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| Preceded by Gwyneth Dunwoody |
Member of Parliament for Crewe and Nantwich 2008–present |
Incumbent |
