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Sarah Dines

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Sarah Dines
MP
Official portrait, 2019
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 September 2021
Serving with Andrew Griffith (2021–2022)
Joy Morrissey (2022–present)
Lia Nici (2022–present)
James Duddridge (2022–present)
Prime MinisterBoris Johnson
Preceded byTrudy Harrison
Alex Burghart
Member of Parliament
for Derbyshire Dales
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 December 2019
Preceded byPatrick McLoughlin
Majority17,381 (34.8%)
Personal details
Born (1965-05-27) 27 May 1965 (age 59)
Billericay, Essex, England
Political partyConservative
Alma materBrunel University London
ProfessionBarrister
Websitesarahdines.org.uk

Sarah Elizabeth Dines (born 27 May 1965)[1] is a British Conservative Party politician. She has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Derbyshire Dales since the 2019 general election.[2]

Early life and career

Dines was born in Billericay, and raised in Basildon, Essex.[3]

Her parents, Elizabeth (née Dale) and Tony Dines, were tenant farmers until their tenancy was ended and their farm was taken from them to form part of what then became Basildon new town. Her mother served as a Conservative councillor on Basildon District Council and subsequently on Maldon Town Council, Maldon District Council and Essex County Council.[4]

Dines attended Chalvedon comprehensive school and completed her A Levels at Basildon College.[4] She studied at Brunel University from 1983 to 1987, and at the Inns of Court School of Law between 1987 and 1988. She is a member of Lincoln's Inn and was called to the Bar in July 1988.[5][6]

She worked as a family law practitioner, latterly at 3 Paper Buildings, dealing with divorce, including complex financial and business assets, care, adoption, international child law and child abduction and related issues. She is a member of the Family Law Bar Association and the British Academy of Forensic Sciences.[4][5][7]

Political career

Dines has been a lifelong Conservative, joining the Conservative Party as a teenager; she was chairman of the Basildon Young Conservatives. While at university, she was chairman of the Brunel University Conservative Association, and Secretary of the London Conservative Students. She also worked as a parliamentary researcher for MP Sir George Gardiner.[4]

At the age of 21, she was elected to Basildon District Council, representing Burstead ward from 1987 to 1991. She unsuccessfully contested the seat of Belfast East at the 1997 general election.[8][9]

Parliamentary career

Dines was elected as Member of Parliament for the Derbyshire Dales constituency at the 2019 general election with 29,356 votes, a majority of 17,381.[10]

Shortly after her election, Dines was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the secretary of state for Northern Ireland.

In March 2020, she was elected as a member of the Justice Select Committee.[11] On 2 March 2020, she was appointed to the ad hoc Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill.[12]

In December 2020, the Sunday Times published an article reporting that Dines had been claiming expenses for hotel accommodation located near to her parliamentary office despite owning six homes in total, worth approximately £5 million. The newspaper accused Dines of "charging the taxpayer thousands of pounds for regular stays at a four-star hotel".[13] A spokesman for Dines responded, stating that she had conformed to all the necessary processes for declaring her interests and that any expenses claims she has made "have been in line with the instructions set out by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority."[14] In January 2021, Dines was listed as number 6 in a ranking of all 11 Derbyshire Members of Parliament listed in terms of how much they spent on parliamentary expenses.[15]

On 17 September 2021, Dines was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, alongside Andrew Griffith, in the second cabinet reshuffle of the second Johnson ministry.[16]

Dines is a member of numerous All-Party Parliamentary Groups, including Policing and Security, Environment, Pacific Islands and Norfolk Island, Armed Forces, Sovereign Defence Manufacturing Capability, Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Farming, Peak District, Trade and Export Promotion, Rural Business, Small and Micro Business, Caribbean, Commonwealth, Ireland and the Irish in Britain, Social Media, Women in Parliament and Endometriosis.[4] She is a member of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly.[17]

Political beliefs

Dines is on the centre-right of the Conservative Party. She is a supporter of the Blue Collar Conservatism group in Parliament,[18] which exists to "champion working people".[19] In her maiden speech, Dines stated: "My politics are simple: I am instinctively cautious of the encroachment of the state into the lives of everyday people."[20]

She has been a long-time Eurosceptic, and was listed as such when she was the Conservative candidate in East Belfast.[21] She supported Brexit in the 2016 EU membership referendum,[22] and is a member of the European Research Group.[23]

During the 2019 general election campaign she said that her priorities were to "get Brexit done",[13] preserving the environment and better digital connectivity within the constituency. She declared herself to be "passionately committed to the countryside and the environment".[7][3] She stated that "people need to vote blue to be green."[24]

On 20 December 2019, she signed the Early Day Motion calling for Big Ben to chime on the day of Brexit.[25] Dines is a member of the 'Vote Blue, Go Green' movement within the Conservative Party.[26]

In her maiden speech in the House of Commons on 17 March 2020, Dines said: "I am a working-class, council [house]-reared, comprehensive school-educated Conservative". Dines mentioned that her mother canvassed with her in the pram, that she delivered her first Conservative party leaflet at the age of 8 and at the age of 17 was on the committee that selected David Amess as the then prospective Conservative parliamentary candidate for Basildon. She went on to say that her personal heroes were Margaret Thatcher and those who paved the way for Thatcher, the parliamentarians Airey Neave and Ian Gow. She also mentioned former MI6 director Sir Maurice Oldfield, who had been born in her constituency, and "our intelligence and security services, which are often the unsung heroes of battles fought in the twilight and dark, and in the cold."[25]

Dines has spoken in a number of parliamentary debates, including the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill 2019–21, Agriculture Act 2020, Overseas Operations (Service Personnel and Veterans) Bill, Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020, Domestic Abuse Bill 2019–21, Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Act 2020, Armed Forces Bill 2019–21, the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020, COVID-19: Road Map, Unsafe Cladding: Protecting Tenants and Leaseholders, Additional COVID-19 Restrictions: Fair Economic Support, The Future of the High Street and Private International Law (Implementation of Agreements) Bill (Lords).[27][better source needed]

Dines is a member of the Armed Forces, Armed Forces Covenant[4] and Veterans All-Party Parliamentary Groups.[28]

Dines was one of the Conservative MPs calling for the BBC to reconsider its decision not to play "Rule, Britannia!" and "Land of Hope and Glory" at the Last Night of the Proms, a decision that was ultimately reversed. She said: "I am proud to be British, as are my constituents. Anthems of our nation are poignant and mean so much more today, than a reference to the historical time they were written in. We should be proud of history and recognise and learn from any mistakes of the past."[29]

Dines has spoken out on the "truly despicable online abuse" to which parliamentarians have been subjected, stating that "attacks on physical appearance, seems to be predominantly aimed at women MPs".[30]

Constituency campaigns

She has raised the issue of funding for Ashbourne's long-awaited A515 bypass, stating: "For over 100 years, in one form or another, the Ashbourne bypass in Derbyshire Dales has been endlessly discussed, debated, consulted on and promised". Despite this however, the Conservative leader of the House stated that only "essential" upgrades were being considered and that 100 years was "perhaps not a long time in a parliamentary context". No debate in the commons was subsequently held.[31][32][33][34]

Dines has repeatedly made the case for shopping locally within Derbyshire Dales, supporting and showcasing local businesses and products[35] including farming,[36][37][38] tourist attractions,[39][40] quarrying,[41][42] wedding venues,[43] the hospitality industry,[44] leisure centres,[45][46][47][48] cheese,[49][50] distilleries,[51][52] breweries,[53][54] and beauty salons, nail bars and physical therapy businesses within her constituency.[55]

She has called for the police station in Bakewell to be reopened,[56][57] and has fought for churches in her constituency to remain open during the COVID-19 lockdown.[58]

She also headed the campaign for cricket clubs to reopen with the Derbyshire Dales.[59]

Personal life

Dines has four adult sons.[60] Her husband is David Hoile, a public relations adviser.[60] Her primary residence is a grade II listed "mansion" in Great Dunmow, Essex, bought for £800,000 in 2003.[60] In total, she owns six homes, including one in Whitechapel, London, and land, altogether worth an estimated £5 million, according to The Times.[60]

Dines is a former member of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Princess Royal's Volunteer Corps), and has drawn attention to the unit's role during the coronavirus pandemic.[61]

Dines was taken ill with coronavirus in March 2020. She said: "I have to say, there were a lot of people worse off than me. I had it moderately, and it was very, very unpleasant and quite frightening."[62]

References

  1. ^ Brunskill, Ian (19 March 2020). The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election. p. 166. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1. OCLC 1129682574.
  2. ^ "Election of a Member of Parliament for the Derbyshire Dales County Constituency" (PDF). DerbyshireDales.co.uk. 14 November 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Sarah Dines MP". Derbyshire Dales. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "About Sarah Dines". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Sarah Dines MP, A Family Law Barrister". www.3pb.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Barrister Details - Miss Sarah Elizabeth Dines". www.barstandardsboard.org.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Class of 2019: Meet the new MPs". Politics Home. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  8. ^ "VOTE 2001 | RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES | East Belfast". BBC News. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Election '97: English Tory finds no meanness on the streets of Belfast". The Independent. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Last election result for Miss Sarah Dines - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament". members.parliament.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Sarah Dines MP, Derbyshire Dales". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Armed Forces Bill - Monday 1 March 2021 - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Sarah Dines, Tory MP with six homes, billed the taxpayer for stays in four‑star hotel". Sunday Times. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  14. ^ "PressReader.com - Your favorite newspapers and magazines". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  15. ^ "PressReader.com - Your favorite newspapers and magazines". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Ministerial appointments: September 2021". 16 September 2021.
  17. ^ "British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly | British Members and Associates". www.britishirish.org. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  18. ^ "TEAM". BCC. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Championing working people | Blue Collar Conservatism". BCC. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  20. ^ "Sarah Dines - Department for Transport debates". www.parallelparliament.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  21. ^ "The Candidlist - Conservative Candidates". www.seangabb.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  22. ^ "Dines, Sarah". Politics.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  23. ^ Devlin, Kate. "ERG: New MPs flock to join Tory Eurosceptic group". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  24. ^ "Derbyshire Dales General Elections 2019 candidates respond to big questions". DerbyshireLive. 3 December 2019. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  25. ^ a b "Sarah Dines". www.parallelparliament.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  26. ^ "Boris' Boys and Girls: The Conservative Commons Intake of 2019". Conservative Home. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  27. ^ "Sarah Dines - All Legislation Debates". www.parallelparliament.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  28. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  29. ^ "Sarah Dines MP delighted that Rule Britannia! will be sung at the Proms this year". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  30. ^ "PressReader.com - Your favorite newspapers and magazines". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  31. ^ "MP makes funding bid for major bypass around Derbyshire town". DerbyshireLive. 14 February 2020. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  32. ^ "Sarah Dines MP welcomes the County Council consultation on the Ashbourne Bypass". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Dines, Sarah, MP (C) Derbyshire Dales, since 2019", Who's Who, Oxford University Press, 1 December 2020, doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u293985, ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4, retrieved 12 March 2021
  34. ^ "Sarah Dines MP asks for Parliamentary debate on the Ashbourne Bypass". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  35. ^ "Sarah Dines MP supporting small businesses". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  36. ^ "Sarah Dines MP Standing up for Dairy Farmers". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  37. ^ "Sarah Dines MP shows support for British farming in Derbyshire Dales". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  38. ^ Supporting our farmers, retrieved 12 March 2021
  39. ^ "MPs visited The Heights of Abraham to see the changes made after the Covid-19 pandemic". www.matlockmercury.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  40. ^ "Sarah Dines MP visits Gulliver's Kingdom". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  41. ^ "Sarah Dines MP visits Longcliffe". www.agg-net.com. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  42. ^ "Sarah Dines MP opens Longcliffe's new beacon of sustainability". hub-4.com. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  43. ^ "Sarah Dines MP raises historical house wedding venues to The Secretary of State, Oliver Dowden MP". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  44. ^ "Parliamentary praise for work to restore historic hotel to past glories". InYourArea.co.uk. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  45. ^ "Sarah Dines MP puts Derbyshire Dales at the forefront of Ministers minds for leisure re-opening". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  46. ^ "MP pressing ministers after frustration over reopening of Hathersage lido". www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  47. ^ "MP paid a visit to Wirksworth's community pool as it gets ready to re-open". www.matlockmercury.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  48. ^ "Swimming Pools 02/11/20". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  49. ^ "Sarah Dines raises Derbyshire Cheese with the Secretary of State". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  50. ^ Stilton Question, retrieved 12 March 2021
  51. ^ "Sarah Dines MP supporting local businesses in Derbyshire Dales with a visit to White Peak Distillery". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  52. ^ "Derbyshire Dales MP praises White Park Distillery for community spirit". www.matlockmercury.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  53. ^ "Visting [sic] Peak Ales". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  54. ^ "Sarah Dines MP visits Eyam Brewery". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  55. ^ "Sarah Dines MP delighted that beauty salons, nail bars and physical therapy businesses can open soon". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  56. ^ "Will my right hon. Friend confirm..." TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  57. ^ "Sarah Dines MP raises the possibility of reopening Bakewell Police Station with the Home Secretary". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  58. ^ "Derbyshire Dales MP fights for churches to stay open during lockdown". www.matlockmercury.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  59. ^ "Sarah Dines MP responds to cricket club plea to open". Sarah Dines. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  60. ^ a b c d Pogrund, Gabriel; Midolo, Emanuele (13 December 2020). "Sarah Dines, Tory MP with six homes, billed the taxpayer for stays in four‑star hotel". The Times. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  61. ^ "Armed Forces Bill - Monday 8 February 2021 - Hansard - UK Parliament". hansard.parliament.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  62. ^ "Derbyshire MP describes 'horrible' battle with coronavirus". DerbyshireLive. 6 May 2020. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Derbyshire Dales
2019–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
2021–present
With: Andrew Griffith (2021–2022)
Joy Morrissey (2022–present)
Lia Nici (2022–present)
James Duddridge (2022–present) 		Incumbent
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