Craig Williams (British politician)
Craig Williams | |
---|---|
![]() Williams in 2019 | |
Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire | |
Assumed office 12 December 2019 | |
Preceded by | Glyn Davies |
Majority | 12,138 (35.5%) |
Member of Parliament for Cardiff North | |
In office 7 May 2015 – 3 May 2017 | |
Preceded by | Jonathan Evans |
Succeeded by | Anna McMorrin |
Personal details | |
Born | Welshpool, Wales | 7 June 1985
Political party | Conservative |
Spouse | Claire Williams |
Children | 2 |
Website | Official website |
Alun Craig Williams[1] (born 7 June 1985)[2] is a British Conservative Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Cardiff North from 2015 to 2017[3] and at the 2019 general election was elected as the MP for Montgomeryshire.
Early life and education
Williams was born in Welshpool to David and Andrea Williams. He attended Gungrog Road school, Ysgol Maesydre and Welshpool High School.[4]
Parliamentary career
Williams first stood for office in Cardiff West against the Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan in the 2007 National Assembly for Wales election.[4]
Williams had represented Pentyrch ward on City of Cardiff Council from 2008, and unsuccessfully contested the Cardiff South and Penarth by-election in 2012, coming second to Labour's Stephen Doughty. Whilst on the council, he was Chairman of the Economy Committee from 2012 to 2015.[2] He was Director of Cardiff Bus from 2011 to 2015.
In May 2015, he was elected Member of Parliament for the marginal seat of Cardiff North. In July 2015, Williams was elected as a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee,[5] a position which he held until October 2016.[6] Williams then served as a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee and the Scottish Affairs Select Committee.[6][7]
Williams was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 referendum,[8] and consistently voted with the Government Whip.[9] He lost his seat at the June 2017 general election to Labour's Anna McMorrin.[10]
Prior to the 2019 general election, Williams was a Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Stephen Barclay.[11]
In July 2019, Williams was announced as the Conservative candidate for the constituency of Montgomeryshire for the next general election, where the sitting Conservative MP Glyn Davies was standing down.[12] In the general election held in December Williams won the seat with 59% of the vote, and consequently returned to Westminster. He increased the Conservative majority in Montgomeryshire to over 12,000 votes.[13]
Williams was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to his former boss, Stephen Barclay, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.[14] Since becoming an MP in 2019, he has also joined the International Trade Select Committee and European Statutory Instruments Committee.[15][16] In addition, he chairs the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Wales in the World and International Trade and Investment.[17]
It was alleged that Williams was napping on the parliamentary benches in November 2020, and a social media clip suggested that he was not paying attention, or even sleeping.[18] While it was laughed off, it is known that Williams is in fact partially deaf in one ear, thus explaining the confusion.
Personal life
Williams married Clare Bath in 2013; the couple have one son and one daughter. He lists his recreations in Who's Who as rugby, real ale, walking, Welsh springer spaniels, and being a school governor (primary). He is a member of the Carlton Club, as well as the Cardiff and County Club.[2]
References
- ^ "No. 61230". The London Gazette. 18 May 2015. p. 9127.
- ^ a b c "Williams, (Alun) Craig, (born 7 June 1985), MP (C) Montgomeryshire, since 2019". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u283848. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "Cardiff North parliamentary constituency – Election 2015". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ a b "Craig Williams named as the man to replace Glyn Davies". mynewtown. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- ^ "Work and Pensions Committee – membership". UK Parliament. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
- ^ a b "Craig Williams MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- ^ "Welsh Affairs Committee – membership". Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ Goodenough, Tom (16 February 2016). "Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?". The Spectator. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
- ^ "Craig Williams MP, Cardiff North – TheyWorkForYou". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
- ^ "Cardiff North parliamentary constituency – Election 2017" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ Robertson, Dominic. "Brexit: Former MP takes on key role as advisor". www.shropshirestar.com. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- ^ https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/mid-wales/2019/07/20/tories-chose-next-prospective-parliamentary-candidate-for-montgomershire/
- ^ "General election 2019: Tories re-take Brecon and Radnorshire". BBC News. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "PARLIAMENTARY PRIVATE SECRETARIES – APRIL 2020" (PDF). gov.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
- ^ "International Trade Committee - Membership - Committees - UK Parliament". committees.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- ^ "European Statutory Instruments Committee - Membership - Committees - UK Parliament". committees.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- ^ "Register of All-Party Parliamentary Groups". www.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
- ^ "MP Craig Williams laughs off House of Commons sleeping claim". County Times. Retrieved 14 November 2020.