James Wharton, Baron Wharton of Yarm
James Wharton MP | |
|---|---|
| File:Jameswhartonmp.png | |
| Member of Parliament for Stockton South | |
| Assumed office 6 May 2010 | |
| Preceded by | Dari Taylor |
| Majority | 332 (0.7%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 February 1984 Wolviston, County Durham, England[1] |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Residence(s) | Eaglescliffe, County Durham |
| Alma mater | Durham University |
| Occupation | Solicitor |
| Website | jameswharton.co.uk |
James Stephen Wharton (born 16 February 1984) is a British Conservative Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament of his home constituency of Stockton South since the 2010 general election, having defeated the sitting Labour MP Dari Taylor by 332 votes.
Early life
James Wharton grew up in Wolviston, County Durham.[2] He went to the independent Yarm School and St Peter's School, York followed by Durham University where he studied Law[3] and was a member of the Officers' Training Corps (OTC) (part of the Northumbrian UOTC).[4] Following his graduation from Durham he studied the Legal Practice Course at The College of Law in York and qualified as a solicitor with BHP Law, a firm in the Northeast.
Parliamentary career
At 40, he is one of the youngest MPs in the House of Commons and is the youngest Conservative MP in the current parliament. From his election in May 2010 to November 2012, Wharton sat on the Public Accounts Committee.
After being elected MP for Stockton South, Wharton made stated his opposition to development occurring inPreston Park. The plans backed by Wharton's predecessor Dari Taylor, included relocating Egglescliffe School to the park. Wharton accused the Conservative led Stockton Borough Council of refusing to listen to the "democratic will of local people."[5]
After a developer withdrew its £750,000 investment to regenerate Thornaby Town Hall, Wharton called for the building to be given back to the Town Council. Originally the building did belong to the Town Council; however due to local government reorganisations, it was taken on by Stockton Borough Council. In 2012 the Town Council purchased the building from the borough council with the hope of enabling the building and the surrounding area to be restored.[6]
Wharton was one of 53 Conservative MPs who voted against the Government in favour of an amendment calling for a cut in the EU budget from 2014.[7] Wharton claimed that his decision was "right for the British people and right for the nation's interests."[8]
EU Referendum Bill
On 16 May 2013, Wharton came top of a ballot of backbench MPs which entitled him to introduce a Private Member's Bill during the 2013–14 parliamentary session. He chose to address the issue of a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union by attempting to enshrine the Conservative Party Position into law. He faced criticism for taking on the EU Referendum Bill as his Private Members Bill with concerns raised that the move may have been more advantageous to his political career than of direct benefit to his constituents.[9] Wharton himself had previously suggested that too much time was spent debating the issue of Europe, but has since argued that his Private Member's Bill was designed to put the issue to rest.[10]
After the bill failed to pass the House of Lords, Wharton blamed Labour and Liberal Democrat obstructionism; however the Liberal Democrats argued that the Conservatives themselves had not assigned the bill enough time whilst Labour responded by stating that the bill was in the Conservative Parties interest rather than the national one.[11] As a result of his failed efforts to push through his private members bill, he received a huge upswing in donations from rich, Conservative supporters [12]
Voting record
Wharton voted against the legalisation of gay marriage by voting opposing the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill in May 2013 [13] Wharton also supported increasing VAT to 20%, the increase in university tuition fees, for greater autonomy for schools and for automatic enrolment in occupational pensions. Wharton voted against taxing Bankers Bonuses.[14] Wharton is a loyalist who rarely rebels against the Conservative party.[15]
Visits to Sri Lanka
Wharton made four visits to Sri Lanka across a period of nine months, including as a delegate of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and as a guest of the Sri Lankan Government. On one visit, Wharton met the Sri Lankan Defence Secretary and made a statement in defence of the incumbent Sri Lankan Government.[16] Although Wharton's constituency, Stockton South, features no significant Sri Lankan community, Wharton suggested that his activities in Sri Lanka would encourage bilateral business agreements.
Trocabart grant controversy
In 2010, Wharton attempted to help his friend and Conservative colleague Jason Hadlow's company Trocabart, secure £30,000 in aid from the former Regional Development Agency, One North East. The business failed and had now been closed. [17] He claimed that his only motivation was to promote the growth of jobs in the Teesside area. There has been no evidence of any financial connection between Wharton and the firm.[18]
Ministerial visit controversy
In July 2014, Wharton was accused of gatecrashing a neighbouring constituency to take part in a photo call at the new Hitachi factory in Phil Wilson's Sedgefield constituency. Parliamentary protocol insists that MPs inform a colleague if they intend to visit their seat. Wharton insisted that his only role was to act as a chauffeur and "drop off" Brandon Lewis, but photos later emerged of him taking part in the visit and posing for photo calls.[19]
Expenses
In November 2013 Wharton was listed as one of the MPs who claimed expenses for energy costs incurred at his second home.[20] Despite living alone, Wharton claimed back £403.90 for Energy costs for the home he occupies when not at his Eaglescliffe residence.[21]
References
- ^ "Who's Who". Ukwhoswho.com.
- ^ "James Wharton starts new life by sleeping on a pal's sofa". Gazette Live. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ "Durham Law School – Durham University". Dur.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ "Northumbrian – British Army Website". Army.mod.uk. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
- ^ "Evening Gazette – Stockton South's new MP pledges to save Preston Park". Retrieved 10 May 2010.
- ^ "Evening Gazette – Give Thornaby Town Hall to people says MP". Retrieved 19 May 2011.
- ^ Owen, Paul (1 November 2012). "The Guardian – Full list of Tory EU budget rebels". London. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ^ James Wharton MP: The voters will punish MPs who oppose my EU referendum bill. Telegraph.
- ^ South MP defends decision to seek EU Referendum. Thenorthernecho.co.uk (17 May 2013).
- ^ EU referendum bill to be put forward by Tory MP | Politics. theguardian.com.
- ^ http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-25977258
- ^ http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/tory-donors-flooding-north-cash-6594702
- ^ http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2013-05-21&number=11&mpn=James_Wharton&mpc=Stockton_South&house=commons.
- ^ http://www.publicwhip.org.uk/mp.php?mpn=James_Wharton&mpc=Stockton_South&house=commons&dmp=6685
- ^ James Wharton. They Work For You.
- ^ Stevenson, Alex. (16 May 2013) Profile: EU referendum bill champion James Wharton. Politics.co.uk.
- ^ "Stockton Tory MP's bid to get cash for his pal".
- ^ Stockton Tory MP's bid to get cash for his pal. Chronicle Live (29 August 2010).
- ^ Glover, Andrew (Jul 09, 2014). "Chauffeur or gatecrasher? Westminster row as Phil Wilson accuses James Wharton of hijacking jobs photocall for THIS pic". Gazette Live. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved Jul 09, 2014.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ Does your MP claim energy bills on expenses? Full list and interactive map
- ^ Taxpayers pay MPs' energy bills on second homes