Andrew Bingham
Encyclopedia
Andrew Russell Bingham is a British Conservative Party
politician. He has been Member of Parliament
(MP) for High Peak
in Derbyshire
since winning the seat at the 2010 general election.
and grew up there before later moving to Chapel-en-le-Frith
. He attended Long Lane Comprehensive School - now known as Chapel-en-le-Frith High School
.
and North West England
.
at the 1999 elections, and has been Councillor for Chapel West ward since that time. In 2007, when the Conservatives
gained control of the Council he became executive member for Social and Community Development.
He was first elected to the House of Commons at the 2010 general election after 11 years service on High Peak Borough Council. After his election he stated that with respect to his role as Councillor for Chapel West ward, he intended to continue in the role until the next local elections in 2011, Bingham also said this is due to the fact that a by-election would cost council tax payers several thousand pounds.
However he resigned his role as Executive Member for Social and Community Development as he said that it would not be possible to fulfil this role whilst being Member of Parliament
at the same time. On 11 May 2010, Cllr Jean Wharmby was appointed as Bingham's successor as Executive Member for Social and Community Development.
He was the Conservative candidate for the High Peak in the 2005 general election
where he narrowly failed to win the seat by 735 votes to the incumbent MP Tom Levitt
.
He gave his maiden speech
to the House of Commons on 8 June 2010, in which he claimed to have the most beautiful constituency in the UK.
In 2010 he was appointed to the Work and Pensions Select Committee.
in his constituency (commonly known as the A57/A628 bypass
, or the Mottram - Tintwistle Bypass). He has met members of the Longdendale Siege Committee, who are campaigning for the bypass, and also asked the Prime Minister
about the issue in PMQs on 24th November 2010. Bingham also secured a parliamentary debate about the bypass on 21st December 2010 in which he invited the Transport Minister Norman Baker
to visit the area. The Transport Minister's visit took place on 26th May 2011, where he recommended that local campaigners concentrated on having a plan ready for the next spending review in 2015.
In May 2011 Derbyshire County NHS announced a review of the future of Corbar Birth Centre in Buxton. Bingham immediately spoke out in support of the birth centre and wrote to the health trust, asking them to remove Corbar Birth Centre from the review. Following this, Bingham had a meeting with the National Childbirth Trust
, and with them organised an action day across the constituency on the 18th June 2011, which gained significant media coverage. Bingham took the campaign to Westminster in July 2011, asking the Prime Minister a question about Corbar Birthing Unit during PMQs. On 2nd September 2011 campaigners against the closure travelled to the trust headquarters in Chesterfield
, where Andrew handed over a petition of more than 4,600 names to Derbyshire County NHS bosses.
Bingham has also campaigned for better access to Broadband
in rural parts of his constituency, which he has said would benefit small businesses and the rural economy. He has spoken in various debates on the issue in the House of Commons, and in the course of one of them said that he regards Broadband as the 'fourth utility' "as it is vital that businesses have it".
and football. He has been a follower of Buxton F.C.
since he was a boy, preferring the local aspect of lower division football over the glitzy image of the Premiership. He is also an enthusiastic cook and enjoys cooking for friends and family.
He has been married to Jayne Bingham since 1986 and they live together in Chapel-en-le-Frith
.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician. He has been Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for High Peak
High Peak (UK Parliament constituency)
- Elections in the 2000s :- Elections in the 1990s :- Elections in the 1980s :-Elections in the 1970s:-Elections in the 1960s:...
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
since winning the seat at the 2010 general election.
Early life
Bingham was born in BuxtonBuxton
Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, England. It has the highest elevation of any market town in England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south, Buxton is described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park"...
and grew up there before later moving to Chapel-en-le-Frith
Chapel-en-le-Frith
Chapel-en-le-Frith is a small town in Derbyshire, England, on the edge of the Peak District near the border with Cheshire, from Manchester. Dubbed "The Capital of the Peak District", the settlement was established by the Normans in the 12th century, originally as a hunting lodge within the Forest...
. He attended Long Lane Comprehensive School - now known as Chapel-en-le-Frith High School
Chapel-en-le-Frith High School
Chapel-en-le-Frith High School is a mixed gender comprehensive school in Chapel-en-le-Frith in the county of Derbyshire, England. It serves pupils aged 11 to 16 from the town, from nearby Whaley Bridge, and the surrounding villages.-History:...
.
Profession
Bingham has worked in industry most of his life supplying engineering equipment to companies across the High PeakHigh Peak
High Peak is a non-metropolitan district and borough of the non-metropolitan county of Derbyshire, England. Administered from Buxton, it is mostly composed of high moorland plateau in the Dark Peak of the Peak District....
and North West England
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
.
Political career
Bingham was first elected onto High Peak Borough CouncilHigh Peak Borough Council
High Peak Borough Council is a non-metropolitan district council with borough status in the north of Derbyshire, England. It forms part of the two tier system of local government alongside Derbyshire County Council for the High Peak. The administrative base of High Peak Borough Council is split...
at the 1999 elections, and has been Councillor for Chapel West ward since that time. In 2007, when the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
gained control of the Council he became executive member for Social and Community Development.
He was first elected to the House of Commons at the 2010 general election after 11 years service on High Peak Borough Council. After his election he stated that with respect to his role as Councillor for Chapel West ward, he intended to continue in the role until the next local elections in 2011, Bingham also said this is due to the fact that a by-election would cost council tax payers several thousand pounds.
However he resigned his role as Executive Member for Social and Community Development as he said that it would not be possible to fulfil this role whilst being Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
at the same time. On 11 May 2010, Cllr Jean Wharmby was appointed as Bingham's successor as Executive Member for Social and Community Development.
He was the Conservative candidate for the High Peak in the 2005 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2005
The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005 to elect 646 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party under Tony Blair won its third consecutive victory, but with a majority of 66, reduced from 160....
where he narrowly failed to win the seat by 735 votes to the incumbent MP Tom Levitt
Tom Levitt
Tom Levitt is a British Labour Party politician, and was the longest-serving Labour Member of Parliament for High Peak, from 1997 to 2010.-Early life:...
.
He gave his maiden speech
Maiden speech
A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country...
to the House of Commons on 8 June 2010, in which he claimed to have the most beautiful constituency in the UK.
In 2010 he was appointed to the Work and Pensions Select Committee.
Campaigns
Since being elected Bingham has been involved with the campaign for a bypass of the village of TintwistleTintwistle
Tintwistle is a village and civil parish in the High Peak district of the non-metropolitan county of Derbyshire, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,401. The village is just north of Glossop at the lower end of Longdendale Valley...
in his constituency (commonly known as the A57/A628 bypass
Longdendale Bypass
The Longdendale Bypass was a controversial road scheme in England by the Highways Agency. The aim was to alleviate traffic congestion on the A57 road/A628 road/A616 road routes that presently pass through the villages...
, or the Mottram - Tintwistle Bypass). He has met members of the Longdendale Siege Committee, who are campaigning for the bypass, and also asked the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
about the issue in PMQs on 24th November 2010. Bingham also secured a parliamentary debate about the bypass on 21st December 2010 in which he invited the Transport Minister Norman Baker
Norman Baker
Norman John Baker is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Lewes in East Sussex since 1997. Since May 2010 he has been Parliamentary Under Secretary for the Department for Transport....
to visit the area. The Transport Minister's visit took place on 26th May 2011, where he recommended that local campaigners concentrated on having a plan ready for the next spending review in 2015.
In May 2011 Derbyshire County NHS announced a review of the future of Corbar Birth Centre in Buxton. Bingham immediately spoke out in support of the birth centre and wrote to the health trust, asking them to remove Corbar Birth Centre from the review. Following this, Bingham had a meeting with the National Childbirth Trust
National Childbirth Trust
The National Childbirth Trust is a UK-based charity with registered charity number 801395.The National Childbirth Trust is the leading charity offering information and support in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood.-History:...
, and with them organised an action day across the constituency on the 18th June 2011, which gained significant media coverage. Bingham took the campaign to Westminster in July 2011, asking the Prime Minister a question about Corbar Birthing Unit during PMQs. On 2nd September 2011 campaigners against the closure travelled to the trust headquarters in Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
, where Andrew handed over a petition of more than 4,600 names to Derbyshire County NHS bosses.
Bingham has also campaigned for better access to Broadband
Broadband
The term broadband refers to a telecommunications signal or device of greater bandwidth, in some sense, than another standard or usual signal or device . Different criteria for "broad" have been applied in different contexts and at different times...
in rural parts of his constituency, which he has said would benefit small businesses and the rural economy. He has spoken in various debates on the issue in the House of Commons, and in the course of one of them said that he regards Broadband as the 'fourth utility' "as it is vital that businesses have it".
Personal life
Bingham is a keen follower of most sports particularly cricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and football. He has been a follower of Buxton F.C.
Buxton F.C.
Buxton Football Club are an English football club based in Buxton, Derbyshire. They were established in 1877 and joined the Combination League in 1891. They then joined the Manchester League in 1899 and won the championship in 1932. They reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup in the 1951-52 season....
since he was a boy, preferring the local aspect of lower division football over the glitzy image of the Premiership. He is also an enthusiastic cook and enjoys cooking for friends and family.
He has been married to Jayne Bingham since 1986 and they live together in Chapel-en-le-Frith
Chapel-en-le-Frith
Chapel-en-le-Frith is a small town in Derbyshire, England, on the edge of the Peak District near the border with Cheshire, from Manchester. Dubbed "The Capital of the Peak District", the settlement was established by the Normans in the 12th century, originally as a hunting lodge within the Forest...
.