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Ian Liddell-Grainger

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Ian Liddell-Grainger
MP
Member of Parliament
for Bridgwater and West Somerset
Bridgwater (2001-2010)
Incumbent
Assumed office
8 June 2001
Preceded byTom King
Majority14,583 (26.8%)
Personal details
Born (1959-02-23) 23 February 1959 (age 65)
Edinburgh, Scotland
NationalityBritish
Political partyConservative
Spouse
Jill Nesbit
​
(m. 1985)​
Children3
Parent(s)David Liddell-Grainger
Anne Abel Smith
Websitewww.liddellgrainger.org.uk
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/service British Army
Years of service1980–1997
RankMajor
UnitRoyal Regiment of Fusiliers

Ian Richard Peregrine Liddell-Grainger[1] (born 23 February 1959) is a Conservative Party politician and former property developer. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bridgwater between the 2001 general election and 2010 and has been the MP for the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency since 2010. He is a great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria.

Early life

Liddell-Grainger was born on 23 February 1959 in Edinburgh to David Liddell-Grainger and Anne Liddell-Grainger (née Abel Smith).[2] He was privately educated at Wellesley House School in the coastal town of Broadstairs in Kent and Millfield School in the town of Street in Somerset, before gaining a National Certificate of Agriculture at the South Scotland Agricultural College in Edinburgh.[2] Before entering Parliament he ran a 250-acre (1.0 km2) farm in the Scottish Borders from 1980-85[2] before becoming the managing director of his family's property management and development company.[2]

He was commissioned as a Major in the Territorial Army with the 6th Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers,[2] commanding the machine-gun Platoon and then X Company of the Battalion in Newcastle upon Tyne.

He was elected for the Conservative Party as a District Councillor on Tynedale District Council in Northumberland, for the East Tynedale ward, in 1991 - serving until 1995 when the Labour Party candidate took the seat.[3]

Parliamentary career

Liddell-Grainger unsuccessfully contested the seat of Torridge and West Devon for the Conservative party at the 1997 general election, coming second to the Liberal Democrat candidate John Burnett.[2] However, he was elected to parliament at the 2001 general election for the safe Conservative seat of Bridgwater in Somerset, succeeding former cabinet minister Tom King. He held the seat at the 2005 general election before boundary changes created the new seat of Bridgwater and West Somerset which he retained with a nominally reduced share of the vote at the 2010 general election.[2][4] He was re-elected at the 2015 general election and 2017 general election.

The cancellation of plans to build new school buildings in Bridgwater in 2010 led Liddell-Grainger to threaten to "march" on Downing Street in protest.[5] The cancellation of the Building Schools for the Future projects was one of the first acts by the newly elected coalition government's Minister for Education Michael Gove. Liddell-Grainger claimed that Bridgwater's schools were in need of rebuilding and that the plans, which had cancelled projects in three of the town's six schools, were actually all under one project heading and had been working effectively.[5][6] Gove was forced to apologise for a number of errors in the cancellation of the project nationally[7] and the Bridgwater project was reconsidered by the government after Liddell-Grainger met Gove and it became apparent that Gove "wasn't aware of all the facts to do with the Bridgwater scheme".[8]

Liddell-Grainger is a member of the 18-strong British delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and currently heads one of the five political groups in the Assembly, the European Conservatives Group. He supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum.[9]

Liddell-Grainger chairs the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Energy Studies, the All-Party Pharmaceuticals group, the All-Party Dyslexia group, and the All-Party Tax group, and is also a member of the All Parliamentary Armed Forces Scheme with the Royal Air Force and the all Parliamentary Radio Group. In the House of Commons he sits on the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee and has previously sat on the Public Administration Committee, the Environmental Audit Committee, the DEFRA select committee, the Statutory Instruments (Select/Joint Committees), the Scottish Committee as well as the Crossrail Bill Committee.[10]

Political positions

Liddell-Grainger is regarded as being on the right wing of the Conservative Party, and is a member of the socially conservative Cornerstone Group - a ginger group within the Conservative Party. His interests include the economy, taxation, treatment for dyslexia, constitutional affairs, rural matters and he has also spoken out in favour of making Herceptin available for early-stage breast cancer sufferers.[11]

The Hinkley Point nuclear power stations are located in Liddell-Grainger's constituency. He considers that "the nuclear power industry has truly embraced the energy future of our country", and also that "nuclear energy plays an important role in my constituency and is behind the creation of numerous jobs and training opportunities".[12] He supported the decision in March 2013 to allow planning permission to build a third nuclear power station at the site.[13] He has voiced opposition to wind power schemes in his constituency, including plans to build two wind turbines at Wiveliscombe in 2012.[14]

According to the former minister Richard Benyon, Liddell-Grainger opposes bodies such as Natural England as a "default position". In 2010, Liddell-Grainger criticised plans by the Environment Agency and Natural England to create a wetland habitat at Steart on the Severn estuary as part of a realignment of coastal flood defences.[15] The project, which he said the nation "should not and must not afford", went ahead in 2012.[16][17]

Controversies

Liddell-Grainger employs his wife as his Parliamentary Assistant on a salary up to £35,000.[18] He was listed in articles in the Daily Telegraph and Guardian criticising the practice of MPs employing family members, on the lines that it promotes nepotism.[19] [20] Although MPs who were first elected in 2017 have been banned from employing family members, the restriction is not retrospective - meaning that Liddell-Grainger's employment of his wife is lawful.[21] In 2010, he had included both his wife and his two eldest children on his list of staff, the only MP to do so at the time in the country.[22]

Liddell-Grainger claimed a total of £166,109 in expenses, including for office, staffing and travelling costs, during 2007–8.[23] In December 2009, he faced criticism for claiming expenses for a cleaner for his second home in London and for claiming £375-a-month on expenses for food. He responded that the figures were reasonable and proportionate.[24] Later that month it was revealed that he had been asked to pay back £3,200 of expenses payments he had claimed incorrectly.[25] Under revised regulations, during 2010-11 he claimed the reduced sum of £147,004 for expenses, the sixth highest of all MPs in that year.[26]

Liddell-Grainger has been accused of abusive and bullying behaviour towards local councillors and council staff within his constituency. In 2010, he was reprimanded by the Conservative Party Leader and Chief Whip over his behaviour towards the former Chief Executive of Somerset County Council,[27] whilst in 2015 the majority of Conservative West Somerset councillors backed calls for him to be deselected for “divisive” and “unsupportive” behaviour. In March 2015, West Somerset Council Leader Tim Taylor compiled a dossier of complaints, which was sent to the Conservative Party chairman and chief whip. Cllr Taylor described Mr Liddell-Grainger as a “disgrace to the Conservative Party”. [28] [29] However, he was re-selected for the following general election in May 2015 by the Conservative Association of Bridgwater and West Somerset. In September 2018, Liddell-Grainger attacked the Conservative run Somerset County Council for cutting services and carrying out wasteful reorganisations. The Leader of the Council responded that the MP's comments were 'ignorant and lacked understanding', that the MP had refused to meet him to discuss the subject and that Government funding cuts were to blame for cuts to services.[30]

In 2006, Liddell-Grainger was disqualified from the WriteToThem league table after faking e-mails and replies to himself to improve his "responsiveness rating" on a website which helps people contact their elected representatives. Liddell-Grainger's spokesman commented that the e-mails had been sent to test the data that the website was judging him on.[31] As of 27 September 2018, in Parliament, the number of votes he has attended, the number of debates he has spoken in and the number of answers he has received to written questions are all below average amongst MPs.[32]

At the 2010 general election Liddell-Grainger refused to attend any election hustings or to take part in the BBC's election coverage.[33][34] A Facebook group was set up asking "Where's Ian Liddell-Grainger?"[33] Liddell-Grainger said that he was busy canvassing and dealing with casework.[33]

In February 2014, in the context of flooding on the Somerset Levels, Liddell-Grainger called the chairman of the Environment Agency, Baron Smith of Finsbury a "little git", and a "coward". He claimed he would "stick his head down the loo and flush".[35] The floods took place after exceptionally bad weather, but Liddell-Grainger placed the blame for them on the Environment Agency's policy of not dredging the local rivers,[36] and said that he would be consulting with Dutch hydrological experts.[37] However, the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management said increased dredging would not have prevented the current flooding in the Somerset Levels - due to the sheer amount of water.[38]

In December 2016, he was accused of hypocrisy after he failed to renew his firearms licence on time for the shooting season because of “forgetfulness”. He had recently criticised young voters who had been unable to register to vote in the EU referendum because the government website crashed on the last day of registration, saying they should 'pay the price for their own tardiness'. However, Liddell-Grainger, blamed the police for his licence delay, criticising their “utter incompetence”.[39] Following the incident, the satirical magazine Private Eye, published an article that asked if the controversial actions of the MP, coupled with his continued electoral success, meant that he was ‘Somerset’s answer to Donald Trump’.[40]

In June 2018, he was accused of trivialising suicide by political rivals after shouting out that representatives of the SNP should consider 'suicide' after the SNP's Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, asked John Bercow, the sitting speaker, a question about Scotland's future following Brexit. He later defended his comments, arguing he was referring to 'political suicide'.[41]

Personal life

Liddell-Grainger is a great-great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria and thus in the line of succession to the British throne.[42] His great-grandmother was Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone.[43] His great-grandfather, the 1st Earl of Athlone, was great-grandson of King George III and brother of Queen Mary, wife of King George V. He is also a great-grandson of the 12th Earl of Lindsey and a third cousin, once removed of Queen Elizabeth II.

Liddell-Grainger married Jill Nesbit in 1985, she is now his parliamentary secretary.[44] The couple have three children: [2]

  • Peter Richard Liddell-Grainger (born 6 May 1987)
  • Sophie Victoria Liddell-Grainger (born 27 December 1988)
  • May Alexandra Liddell-Grainger (born 9 September 1992)

Ancestry

References

  1. ^ "No. 61230". The London Gazette. 18 May 2015. p. 9125.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Liddell-Grainger, Ian Richard Peregrine, (born 23 Feb. 1959), MP (C) Bridgwater and West Somerset, since 2010 (Bridgwater, 2001–10)". Who's Who. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.42373.
  3. ^ "Tynedale Council Election Results 1973-2007" (PDF). Plymouth University. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  4. ^ Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger, www.parliament.uk. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  5. ^ a b Bridgwater MP threatens to march for new schools, BBC Somerset news website, 8 July 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  6. ^ School building cuts: Hard-hit areas, BBC news website, 19 July 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  7. ^ Michael Gove apology over school building list errors, BBC news, 8 July 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  8. ^ Bridgwater MP says school schemes axing to be reviewed, BBC Somerset news website, 13 July 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "Ian Liddell-Grainger". Parliament UK. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  11. ^ "£50m to step up war on cancer". Bath Chronicle. 28 July 2010. Retrieved 12 February 2017.
  12. ^ NIA Industry Link magazine, issue 35, spring 2012
  13. ^ Hinkley Point C: Decision widens chasm in local opinion, BBC Somerset news website, 19 March 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  14. ^ Wiveliscombe turbines plan sparks opposition, BBC Somerset news website, 28 May 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  15. ^ "Natural England". Hansard. 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  16. ^ "Steart Marshes". Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  17. ^ Vieira Da Silva, Lia; Everard, Mark; Shore, Robert G (2014). "Ecosystem services assessment at Steart Peninsula, Somerset, UK". Ecosystem Services. 10: 19. doi:10.1016/j.ecoser.2014.07.008.
  18. ^ "IPSA". GOV.UK. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  19. ^ "One in five MPs employs a family member: the full list revealed". \Daily Telegraph. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2018. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  20. ^ Mason, Rowena (29 June 2015). "Keeping it in the family: new MPs continue to hire relatives as staff". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  21. ^ "MPs banned from employing spouses after election in expenses crackdown". London Evening Standard. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  22. ^ MP has three family members on his staff list, The Independent, 28 August 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  23. ^ "Ian Liddell-Grainger: in brief". Thisissomerset.co.uk. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2010.
  24. ^ "Liddell-Grainger defends billing taxpayer for cleaner at second home". London Evening Standard. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  25. ^ "Counting the cost of MPs' expenses". London Evening Standard. 18 December 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  26. ^ Expense fraud MP Eric Illsley had second highest claims, BBC news website, 11 July 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  27. ^ "Guardian diary". The Guardian. 16 April 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  28. ^ "Calls made for 'offensive' MP Ian Liddell Grainger to go". BBC. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  29. ^ "Dossier outlining "damaging behaviour" of Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger sent to Prime Minister". 11 September 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  30. ^ "Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger launches scathing attack on Somerset County Council chiefs in wake of cuts". 16 March 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  31. ^ "Site axes MP over 'fake' e-mails". BBC News. 21 February 2006. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  32. ^ "They Work for You". They work for you. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  33. ^ a b c Tory Ian Liddell-Grainger criticised for debate absence, BBC election 2010, 30 April 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  34. ^ MP candidate pledges, Bridgwater and West Somerset, BBC website, 28 April 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  35. ^ "'I'd like to stick his head down the loo and flush': MP's fury at Environment Agency boss Chris Smith on visit to flooded Somerset". London Evening Standard. 7 February 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  36. ^ Bell, Sarah (January 2014). "Would river dredging solve floods?". BBC News. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  37. ^ "Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger looks for Dutch solution to flooding". Bridgwater Mercury. Newsquest. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  38. ^ "UK floods: Government 'made a mistake' by not dredging". BBC. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  39. ^ "MP Ian Liddell-Grainger who blamed forgetful students over referendum forgets to renew gun licence". 12 December 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  40. ^ "Private Eye asks if Bridgwater MP Ian Liddell-Grainger is 'Somerset's answer to Donald Trump'". 17 January 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  41. ^ "Bridgwater and West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger says he was referring to 'political suicide' after being blasted for 'trivialising' suicide during Commons debate". 13 June 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  42. ^ Pendlebury, Richard (7 July 2008). "The West Country travel agent's wife 612th in line for the throne and the other unlikely Britons in our list of royal succession". Daily Mail.
  43. ^ "Ian Liddell-Grainger". Politics UK. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  44. ^ "Pay and Expenses". Ian Liddell-Grainger. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Bridgwater
2001–present 		Incumbent
Lines of succession
Preceded by Line of succession to the British throne
(descended from Leopold, son of Victoria) 		Succeeded by
Peter Liddell-Grainger
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