Tom Hunt (politician): Difference between revisions
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=== Member of Parliament for Ipswich === |
=== Member of Parliament for Ipswich === |
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In his maiden speech, Hunt stated that he had been diagnosed with both [[dyslexia]] and [[Developmental coordination disorder|dyspraxia]] during his schooling. Regarding children with special educational needs, he said that as a Member of Parliament he would dedicate himself "to helping these children to ensure that they have every opportunity to achieve their full potential and that that their talents are not lost to society".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-01-14/debates/10029540-3911-4F21-9FC8-E32E31F06F90/details|title=Education and Local Government|last=Hunt|first=Tom|date=14 January 2020|website=Hansard|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> |
In his maiden speech, Hunt stated that he had been diagnosed with both [[dyslexia]] and [[Developmental coordination disorder|dyspraxia]] during his schooling. Regarding children with special educational needs, he said that as a Member of Parliament he would dedicate himself "to helping these children to ensure that they have every opportunity to achieve their full potential and that that their talents are not lost to society".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-01-14/debates/10029540-3911-4F21-9FC8-E32E31F06F90/details|title=Education and Local Government|last=Hunt|first=Tom|date=14 January 2020|website=Hansard|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> |
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Hunt was criticised in January 2020 when he stated in an article for the local East Anglian Daily Times newspaper that "...a disproportionate number of crimes are committed by individuals from a certain community..." and referred to "...bad behaviour which may be rife in other countries but is not traditional in ours."<ref> https://www.eadt.co.uk/ea-life/tom-hunt-mp-ipswich-crime-column-1-6459576 </ref> The Ipswich and Suffolk Council for Racial Equality called his comments "...at best disappointing and at worst an ill-judged piece of dogwhistling."<ref>https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/mp-tom-hunt-criticised-by-iscre-over-crime-column-comments-1-6461979 </ref> Tory Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, referred to them as "...very unhelpful...". <ref>https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/tim-passmore-on-tom-hunt-1-6464378</ref> |
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== Personal life == |
== Personal life == |
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Revision as of 14:33, 19 April 2020
Tom Hunt | |
|---|---|
 Hunt in 2019 | |
| Member of Parliament for Ipswich | |
| Assumed office 12 December 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Sandy Martin |
| Majority | 5,479 (12.0%) |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Website | https://www.tom4ipswich.com |
Thomas Patrick Hunt[1] is a British Conservative politician and the serving Member of Parliament for Ipswich.[2] He was elected in 2019 general election with a majority of 5,479, winning 50.3% of the vote.[3]
Earlier in his career, Hunt was also involved in East Anglian politics: between 2011 and 2017, he was a councillor on East Cambridgeshire District Council.[4][5][6] Following the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough devolution deal, Hunt also worked as the Chief of Staff to the elected Mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
After his election to Parliament in 2019, Hunt set out his key priorities for Ipswich, including tackling anti-social behaviour, ensuring good hospital and GP services in the constituency, and seeking greater investment in the roads and rail network.[7]
Early life
Hunt was born and raised in Ely, Cambridgeshire. His father is a long-serving councillor on Cambridgeshire County Council and East Cambridgeshire District Council. Hunt attended school at King's Ely and Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge. He went on to study at the University of Manchester and Oxford University.[8]
Political career
Local and regional government
In 2011, Hunt was elected as a district councillor for Ely South in East Cambridgeshire. He served on East Cambridgeshire District Council until 2017.
Following a spells working for Oliver Dowden MP and the Countryside Alliance, Hunt worked as the Chief of Staff to the elected Mayor of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. During this time, some of the Combined Authority's stated priorities included the construction of a metro system for Cambridge, upgrading the A47 in Cambridgeshire to dual carriageway, delivering Peterborough's first university with degree-awarding powers and building more affordable homes.[9]
2019 general election
Hunt was selected to be the Conservative parliamentary candidate for the town by the Ipswich Conservative Association in September 2018.[10]
During the run up to the 2019 general election, Hunt said he would prioritise more investment in public services in Suffolk. This included more funding for Suffolk Constabulary to tackle county lines gangs and knife crime.[11] He stated that Ipswich had not had a fair deal regarding police funding, and also called for tougher sentencing for those found guilty of serious crime.[8]
Hunt's call for investment in public services also focused on infrastructure upgrades. He has expressed his support for an Ipswich northern bypass,[12] a solution to closures of Orwell Bridge due to high winds,[13] in addition to better and more reliable rail services.[14]
Hunt was elected as the Member of Parliament for Ipswich on the 12 December 2019, defeating the incumbent Labour MP Sandy Martin. He received 24,952 votes, representing a 50.3% vote share in the constituency.[3]
Immediately following his election, Hunt identified Brexit and the unpopularity of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as key issues behind the Conservatives' victory in Ipswich. He called being elected to Ipswich the greatest honour of his life.[15]
Member of Parliament for Ipswich
In his maiden speech, Hunt stated that he had been diagnosed with both dyslexia and dyspraxia during his schooling. Regarding children with special educational needs, he said that as a Member of Parliament he would dedicate himself "to helping these children to ensure that they have every opportunity to achieve their full potential and that that their talents are not lost to society".[16]
Hunt was criticised in January 2020 when he stated in an article for the local East Anglian Daily Times newspaper that "...a disproportionate number of crimes are committed by individuals from a certain community..." and referred to "...bad behaviour which may be rife in other countries but is not traditional in ours."[17] The Ipswich and Suffolk Council for Racial Equality called his comments "...at best disappointing and at worst an ill-judged piece of dogwhistling."[18] Tory Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore, referred to them as "...very unhelpful...". [19]
Personal life
Hunt has lived in Ipswich since 2018.[15] He is a Newcastle United fan, but he has expressed his affinity for Ipswich Town, where he attends matches.[16]
References
- ^ "Members Sworn". Hansard.parliament.uk. 2019-12-18. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- ^ "Tom Hunt MP". UK Parliament.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Election 2019". BBC News.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Local Election Results 2011 East Cambridgeshire". Local Elections Archive.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "District Council Election Results - 7th May 2015". East Cambridgeshire District Council.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Ely South Ward - 7th September 2017". East Cambridgeshire District Council.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Geater, P (13 December 2019). "Tom Hunt's first interview as new Ipswich MP". Ipswich Star.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Jolley, B (13 December 2019). "Ely-born Tom Hunt - until now Mayor James Palmer's chief of staff - is the new Conservative MP for Ipswich". Ely Standard.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Combined Authority reveals plan for the year ahead". Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority. 31 January 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Geater, P (30 September 2018). "Who'd be a parliamentary candidate? Ipswich Tory Tom Hunt faces a long wait until election". Ipswich Star.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Hunt, T (13 July 2019). "My Discussion with Boris". YouTube.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Papworth, A (12 August 2019). "Would-be Ipswich MP brands northern bypass opponents 'NIMBYs'". Ipswich Star.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Noble, J (5 December 2019). "Could major review of Ipswich transport solve town's traffic problems?". East Anglian Daily Times.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Geater, P (1 April 2019). "Rail Minister Andrew Jones visits Ipswich to promise improvements in the future". East Anglian Daily Times.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Geater, P (13 December 2019). "Conservatives take Ipswich from Labour in 2019 General Election". Ipswich Star.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Hunt, Tom (14 January 2020). "Education and Local Government". Hansard.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ https://www.eadt.co.uk/ea-life/tom-hunt-mp-ipswich-crime-column-1-6459576
- ^ https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/mp-tom-hunt-criticised-by-iscre-over-crime-column-comments-1-6461979
- ^ https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/tim-passmore-on-tom-hunt-1-6464378