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Luke Evans (politician)

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Luke Evans
MP
Official portrait, 2019
Member of Parliament
for Bosworth
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 December 2019
Preceded byDavid Tredinnick
Majority26,278 (46.6%)
Personal details
Born (1983-01-10) 10 January 1983 (age 41)
Dorset, England
Political partyConservative
Spouse
Charlotte March
​
(m. 2019)​
Alma materUniversity of Birmingham
Websitedrlukeevans.org.uk

Dr Luke Evans[1] (born 10 January 1983)[2] is a British Conservative Party politician serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bosworth, in Leicestershire, since December 2019. He is also a general practitioner (GP) and worked as a Junior Doctor.

Early life and medical career

Evans was born and brought up in Dorset; his father is a GP, and his mother was a nurse and then a school nurse. Evans began studying at the University of Birmingham Medical School in 2002, and qualified as a doctor in 2007. Evans worked in hospitals across the Midlands whilst he was a junior doctor[3] and described his training as "one of the most difficult, yet proudest, periods of [his] career", saying the "profound difference you can make to a patient's life" is a "real privilege".[3]

In 2009, Evans returned to the University of Birmingham to teach anatomy, and began training to become a GP.

Evans qualified as a GP in 2013, and worked as a GP full-time until he was elected in December 2019.[3]

Political career

Evans stood as a Conservative candidate in Birmingham Edgbaston at the 2015 general election,[4] and came second to the sitting Labour MP, Gisela Stuart.[5]

He supported the UK leaving the EU in the 2016 UK EU membership referendum.[6]

In September 2019, Evans was selected for the Bosworth constituency.[7] He was elected to the seat at the 2019 general election, succeeding the retiring Conservative MP David Tredinnick[8] with a majority of 26,278 votes. Prior to the election, Bosworth was listed as the 51st safest Conservative seat.[9]

Since February 2020, Evans has gained a following on TikTok showing his day-to-day activities as a Member of Parliament and provides explanations on various political processes.[10] One of Evans' most popular videos on the platform, which has been watched over 2,000,000 times, was his reading of a poem by Joanne Boyle in honour of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II following her death in September 2022.[11]

Evans served as a member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee between March 2020[12] and December 2022.

In December 2020, Evans was awarded the joint Overall Newcomer award at the Patchwork Foundation's MP of the Year Awards.[3]

In February 2021, Evans suggested that mental health practitioners should be stationed at coronavirus vaccine centres.[13]

Throughout autumn 2021, Evans raised the issue of the 15-minute wait after receiving a Pfizer or Moderna coronavirus vaccine, asking the Government if the data could be reviewed. Evans said in Parliament on 8 December that dropping the wait, if safe to do so, would "free up a huge amount of capacity when it comes to delivering the boosters".[14] The chief and deputy chief medical officers for the UK subsequently announced that having reviewed the data, it was safe to suspend the 15-minute wait in order to allow as many people as possible to receive a booster vaccine, and that retaining the wait presented more of a risk than dropping it.[15] Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed in Parliament on 15 December that the 15-minute wait would be dropped.[16]

In January 2022, Evans launched a podcast, Dr in the House, which covers topics like "mental health, body image and life as an MP" with "fellow MPs, famous faces and just some of the extraordinary people he comes across in his job".[17] Speakers on the podcast include James McVey, Dr Alex George and former-CEO of Twycross Zoo (situated within Evans' constituency of Bosworth), Sharon Redrobe OBE.

On 13 June 2022, Evans was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Home Office ministerial team, alongside Matt Vickers.[18]

In September 2022, Evans moved to become PPS to Jacob Rees-Mogg, Secretary of State for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.[19] When Rees-Mogg departed this position upon the selection of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister, Grant Shapps became Secretary of State for the Department and Evans remained his PPS.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero was established on 7th February 2023 and Evans moved to become PPS to Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. In August 2023, Grant Shapps became Defence Secretary and Claire Coutinho became the new Energy Security Secretary. Evans remains her PPS.

In December 2022 Evans became the first Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom to give an AI-generated speech in the House of Commons, authored by Chat-GPT following his command to "write a Churchillian speech on the state of the United Kingdom over the past 12 months".[20] Since this speech, Evans has continued to raise the need for AI regulation in the Commons and welcomed news the UK is to host the first global summit on AI in 2023.

Conservative Party Leadership Campaigns 2022

Evans endorsed Penny Mordaunt in the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election and, after her defeat, voted for Rishi Sunak.

He also endorsed Mordaunt in the October 2022 election but welcomed Sunak stating: "I supported Rishi’s choices as Chancellor during the Covid pandemic and the level of support for all households, but particularly pensioners and the most vulnerable, announced in May to assist with cost of living pressures. Rishi has my full support moving forward."[21]

Body Image Campaign

Since being elected in 2019, Evans has campaigned on the issue of body image. In September 2020, Evans introduced a Private Member's Bill under the Ten Minute Rule, entitled the Digitally Altered Body Images Bill. If enacted into law, the bill would require advertisers to label images which have been digitally altered.[22]

In October 2021, Evans launched a new campaign asking the Government to recognise the issue of body image for the first time in UK law, in the Online Safety Bill.[23]

In January 2022, Evans reintroduced his 10 Minute Rule Bill in Parliament, calling for images which feature digitally altered body proportions to be labelled in advertising.

In Summer 2022 the GP-turned-MP launched the 'Body Image Pledge', a voluntary commitment that brands, companies and charities can take to not digitally manipulate a person's body proportions in any direct imagery.[24]

Evans welcomed companies such as Boots, Dove, Marks and Spencer, John Lewis, Cult Beauty and Boohoo Group signing the Pledge.[25]

After an open letter to cross-party MPs from Evans gained 86 signatures, from Members of all political parties, the MP for Bosworth raised his Body Image work in a PMQ to then-PM Boris Johnson who pledged to follow it up in the Government's mental health plan.[26]

Achievements for his constituency

Evans formally recommended Twycross Zoo's project for a National Science and Conservation Centre in summer 2021, which will be built in his constituency, to receive funding from the Levelling Up Scheme. In the autumn 2021 budget, the chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the bid had been successful, with £19.9 million allocated to Twycross Zoo.[27]

In September 2022 Evans welcomed £400,000 from the Rural Prosperity Fund for his Borough, Hinckley and Bosworth.[28]

Bosworth's MP supported an application by the local NHS Integrated Care Board for a Community Diagnostic Centre at Hinckley and District Hospital. In October 2022 £14 million in funding was approved for the testing unit which is expected to bring capacity for over 125,000 checks, scans and tests - including facilities for MRI and CT scans, ultrasound and X-rays - to the area per year.[29]

Opposition to the proposed Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange

Dr Evans is a vocal opponent of the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (NRFI) proposed to be built within Alberto Costa MPs constituency of South Leicestershire, which would encroach on Burbage Common and residents in Evans' constituency.[30]

A survey by Dr Evans which was sent to over 12,500 residents and featured on his webpage for 10 weeks received strong, vocal opposition against the proposed NRFI from over 1,000 residents.[31]

Evans has raised the rail hub proposals with Penny Mordaunt, Leader of the House of Commons,[32] and Transport Ministers.[33]

'Buy British' button campaign

In August 2023 Evans wrote to Chief Executives of supermarkets across the nation to call for a 'Buy British' section on online stores that collates produce from farmers’, citing consumer choice, environmental benefits and support for farmers as reasons to make the change. [34] The open letter has been signed by 120 cross-Party MPs, including two previous Secretaries of State for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs, who joined Evans' call for change.

On the NFU's Back British Farming Day 2023, 13th September, the Food and Farming Secretary Therese Coffey and the UK Government[35] endorsed Evans' 'Buy British' campaign.

This followed a petition by the National Farmers Union (NFU) in support of Evans' campaign which received over 22,5000 signatures in only six days.[36]

Personal life

In May 2019, Evans married fellow GP Dr Charlotte March; they first met whilst they were both at medical school. They live in the Bosworth constituency. Evans is the eldest of three brothers, all of whom have gone into medicine.[3]

In 2017, Evans became British Public Speaking Champion. He also played rugby during and after university, sang in a competitive Barbershop Chorus, was a Rotarian, and served as a primary school governor.[3]

Evans volunteered to help administer the coronavirus vaccine in Bosworth in summer 2021.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Dr. Luke Evans - All-Party Parliamentary Health Group". Health in Parliament. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  2. ^ 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. 115. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1. OCLC 1129682574.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "About Dr Luke". Dr Luke Evans MP. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  4. ^ Elkes, Neil (30 April 2015). "Edgbaston election candidate: "My GP job will keep me in touch with the real world"". Birmingham Live. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Birmingham, Edgbaston - 2015 Election Results". UK Parliament. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  6. ^ Bond, Daniel (16 December 2019). "Class of 2019: Meet the new MPs". politicshome.com. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  7. ^ Martin, Dan (6 September 2018). "Tories announce Bosworth Conservative election candidate". Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  8. ^ "MPS representing Bosworth (Constituency)". UK Parliament. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  9. ^ Baxter, Martin. "Majority Sorted Seats". The Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  10. ^ Sinead Butler (14 May 2022). "Here is a round-up of all the MPs who are on TikTok". Indy100. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Log into Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 4 January 2023. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  12. ^ "Health and Social Care Committee membership agreed". UK Parliament. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  13. ^ Dawson, Nick (5 February 2021). "MP calls for mental health practitioners at vaccine centres". Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Engagements". UK Parliament.
  15. ^ "Suspension of the 15-minute wait for vaccination with mRNA vaccine for COVID-19: UK CMOs' opinion". GOV.UK. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  16. ^ Dawson, Nick (17 December 2021). "Government makes Covid booster jab change". Leicestershire Live. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  17. ^ Steerpike (8 February 2022). "Chatty MPs fuel podcast boom". The Spectator. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  18. ^ Heale, James [@JAHeale] (13 June 2022). "-Luke Evans and Matt Vickers to the Home Office team" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 June 2022 – via Twitter.
  19. ^ "Dr Luke Evans MP on TikTok". TikTok. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
  20. ^ "Bosworth's MP delivers first AI-generated speech in the Commons". Dr Luke Evans MP. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  21. ^ "Statement from Dr Luke Evans MP following Rishi Sunak's appointment as leader of the Conservative Party". Dr Luke Evans MP. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  22. ^ "Digitally Altered Body Images Bill". UK Parliament.
  23. ^ Evans, Luke [@drlukeevans] (29 October 2021). "Today I'm launching my new campaign, #RecogniseBodyImage, asking the Government to recognise body image for the first time in UK law" (Tweet). Retrieved 11 January 2022 – via Twitter.
  24. ^ "Body Image Campaign". Dr Luke Evans MP. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Local MP celebrates recent successes for his ongoing campaign". Dr Luke Evans MP. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  26. ^ "Prime Minister supports Dr Luke Evans MP's body image campaign". Dr Luke Evans MP. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  27. ^ Moody, Jenny (1 November 2021). "Twycross zoo to open major new centre". Staffordshire Live. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  28. ^ "Hinckley and Bosworth to receive £400,000 from rural prosperity fund". Dr Luke Evans MP. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  29. ^ "Bosworth's MP celebrates funding for new testing unit at Hinckley Hospital". Dr Luke Evans MP. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  30. ^ "Updates on the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange proposals". Dr Luke Evans MP. 21 June 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  31. ^ "Bosworth MP shares results of Protect Burbage Common survey". Dr Luke Evans MP. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  32. ^ "Dr Luke and Penny Mordaunt urge residents to share views on Hinckley NRFI proposals". Dr Luke Evans MP. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  33. ^ "Local MPs raise national Rail Hub policy with Transport Minister". Dr Luke Evans MP. 8 February 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  34. ^ "Dr Luke Evans MP calls on supermarkets to collate British produce online". Dr Luke Evans MP. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  35. ^ "Government backs Bosworth MP's call for 'Buy British' section online". Dr Luke Evans MP. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  36. ^ "Do you support the idea of a 'Buy British' button on supermarket websites?". www.campaigns.nfuonline.com. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Bosworth
2019–present 		Incumbent


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