Louie French
Louie French | |
---|---|
![]() Official portrait, 2021 | |
Member of Parliament for Old Bexley and Sidcup | |
Assumed office 2 December 2021 | |
Preceded by | James Brokenshire |
Majority | 4,478 (20.6%) |
Member of Bexley London Borough Council for Falconwood & Welling | |
Assumed office 23 May 2014 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Louie Thomas French February 1988 (age 36) Greenwich, London, England |
Political party | Conservative |
Occupation | Politician, former portfolio manager |
Website | www |
Louie Thomas French[1] (born 1988)[2][3] is a British politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Bexley and Sidcup since 2021. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been a councillor on Bexley London Borough Council since 2014.
Early life and career
French was born in Greenwich, London, and grew up in Welling and Sidcup.[4][5] He was elected as a Conservative councillor for the Falconwood and Welling ward in the 2014 Bexley Borough Council election and was re-elected in 2018.[6] Alongside his role as councillor, he was also a senior research analyst and later lead portfolio manager for sustainable portfolios and services for the financial planning and investment firm Tilney.[7][8]
Parliamentary career
French was selected as the Conservative candidate for the 2021 Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election on 30 October 2021.[9] The by-election was called after the death of the incumbent Conservative MP James Brokenshire of lung cancer on 7 October 2021.[10] The constituency is considered a safe Conservative seat and has been represented by a member of the party since its creation in 1983. He was elected with a majority of 4,478 (20.6%), reduced from 18,952 (41.0%) in the 2019 election. The turnout was low at 33.5%.[11][12] French had previously contested the Eltham seat in the 2019 general election, where he finished second to the incumbent Labour MP Clive Efford.[13] After his election, he pledged to focus on increasing the number of police officers, investment in schools and hospitals, and protecting green spaces in the constituency.[14] French had also pledged to quit his job as a lead portfolio manager for Tilney if he was elected as MP and reported doing so in his first week.[15][16] French made his maiden speech on 18 January 2022.[17][18]
References
- ^ "Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election 2021: The candidates standing". BBC News. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ Bond, David (29 November 2021). "Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election: 'They feel sorry for me' ... the Tory battling for votes after sleaze". Evening Standard. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
- ^ "Entry Information". FreeBMD. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
- ^ "Louie French selected as candidate for Eltham". Greenwich Conservatives. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ "About Louie French". Louie French. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ "Councillor Louie French". Bexley London Borough Council. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ "Register of interests". Bexley London Borough Council. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ "Louie French". The Law Society. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ Bryant, Miranda (30 October 2021). "Tories select councillor Louie French for Old Bexley and Sidcup byelection". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ Rawlinson, Kevin; Walker, Peter (8 October 2021). "Former Tory minister James Brokenshire dies aged 53". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ Allegretti, Aubrey; Bland, Archie (3 December 2021). "Old Bexley and Sidcup byelection: Tories retain true-blue seat". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ Craig, Jon (3 December 2021). "Old Bexley and Sidcup: Tories will be relieved over by-election result but 'sleaze' claims will make it much harder in North Shropshire". Sky News. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ Somerville, Ewan (13 December 2019). "Eltham constituency results 2019: Labour's Clive Efford wins". Evening Standard. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ "Old Bexley and Sidcup: Tories hold safe London seat at by-election". BBC News. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ Mulligan, Euan (16 November 2021). "Tory candidate in Bexley election rules out second job". News Shopper. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ @louie_french (12 December 2021). "My first week in Parliament is over and I have already delivered some of my election promises: Resigned from my day job ✅ Given up my councillor allowances ✅ Voted for the Borders Bill to stop illegal immigration & people smugglers ✅Supported local businesses & community" (Tweet). Retrieved 13 December 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ Uyal, Berk (19 January 2022). "Old Bexley and Sidcup MP Louie French pays tribute to James Brokenshire". News Shopper. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ "Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill [Lords]". Hansard. 18 January 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.