Christopher Fraser
Encyclopedia
Christopher James Fraser is a British
Conservative Party
politician
who was the Member of Parliament
(MP) for South West Norfolk from 2005
to 2010.
and educated at the University of Westminster
where he was awarded a BA
degree. He worked as chairman of a communications company. He was elected as a councillor to the Three Rivers District Council
for four years from 1992.
for the new seat of Mid Dorset and North Poole with a majority of 681. He made his maiden speech
on 4 July 1997. He lost his seat at the 2001 general election
to the Liberal Democrat Annette Brooke
. Although his percentage of the vote increased, Fraser was edged out by the Liberal Democrats by 384 votes, after a tactical voting campaign urging Dorset residents to cast their votes in the best way to defeat the incumbent Conservatives. He returned to Westminster
at the 2005 general election
for South West Norfolk following the retirement of the former Secretary of State for Education Gillian Shephard
. He held the seat with a comfortable majority of 10,086, and managed to achieve a small swing of 0.3 over Labour.
He served as a member of the culture, media and sport
select committee from 1997 until he lost his seat. He was appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary
to Lord Strathclyde
, the Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
. Since his re-election in 2005 he has been a member of the Northern Ireland
select committee and was appointed to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee. He is Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Northern Ireland Group. He was a member of the UK delegation to the Council of Europe
and the Assembly of the Western European Alliance (2005–2007).
In 2009 his expenses claims were highlighted in the Daily Telegraph; according to the newspaper, Fraser claimed £1,800 in public money for buying 215 trees and marking out the boundary of his second home in the constituency. The Lynn News reported "In February 2007 Mr Fraser claimed £1,808.28 for new fencing and hedging to provide security for his new constituency home."
On 28 May 2009 he announced that he would be standing down as an MP at the next General Election citing family reasons.
The Telegraph 2010 election website states that he "stood down on account of his wife's health problems".
in 1992. He receives income from land and property in London and Dorset and has a home in the constituency.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Conservative Party
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who was the 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 South West Norfolk from 2005
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....
to 2010.
Early life
He was born in HertfordshireHertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
and educated at the University of Westminster
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
where he was awarded a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree. He worked as chairman of a communications company. He was elected as a councillor to the Three Rivers District Council
Three Rivers (district)
Three Rivers is a local government district in Hertfordshire in the East of England. Its council is based in Rickmansworth.It was formed on 1 April 1974 by the merger of Rickmansworth Urban District and Chorleywood Urban District with part of Watford Rural District...
for four years from 1992.
Parliamentary career
Fraser was elected to the House of Commons at the 1997 general electionUnited Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
for the new seat of Mid Dorset and North Poole with a majority of 681. He made 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...
on 4 July 1997. He lost his seat at the 2001 general election
United Kingdom general election, 2001
The United Kingdom general election, 2001 was held on Thursday 7 June 2001 to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. It was dubbed "the quiet landslide" by the media, as the Labour Party was re-elected with another landslide result and only suffered a net loss of 6 seats...
to the Liberal Democrat Annette Brooke
Annette Brooke
Annette Lesley Brooke is a British Liberal Democrat politician. She has been the Member of Parliament for Mid Dorset and North Poole since 2001.-Early life:...
. Although his percentage of the vote increased, Fraser was edged out by the Liberal Democrats by 384 votes, after a tactical voting campaign urging Dorset residents to cast their votes in the best way to defeat the incumbent Conservatives. He returned to Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
at 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....
for South West Norfolk following the retirement of the former Secretary of State for Education Gillian Shephard
Gillian Shephard
Gillian Patricia Shephard, Baroness Shephard of Northwold, PC , née Watts, is an English Conservative politician; she was the Member of Parliament for South West Norfolk, and a former Cabinet Minister and is now Chairman of the Association of Conservative Peers.-Early life and career:The daughter...
. He held the seat with a comfortable majority of 10,086, and managed to achieve a small swing of 0.3 over Labour.
He served as a member of the culture, media and sport
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is a department of the United Kingdom government, with responsibility for culture and sport in England, and some aspects of the media throughout the whole UK, such as broadcasting and internet....
select committee from 1997 until he lost his seat. He was appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary
Parliamentary Private Secretary
A Parliamentary Private Secretary is a role given to a United Kingdom Member of Parliament by a senior minister in government or shadow minister to act as their contact for the House of Commons; this role is junior to that of Parliamentary Under-Secretary, which is a ministerial post, salaried by...
to Lord Strathclyde
Thomas Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde
Thomas Galloway Dunlop du Roy de Blicquy Galbraith, 2nd Baron Strathclyde, PC , is a British politician. He is currently the Leader of the House of Lords and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster as well as being the leader of the Conservative Party in the House of Lords...
, the Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
Leader of the House of Lords
The Leader of the House of Lords is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom who is responsible for arranging government business in the House of Lords. The role is always held in combination with a formal Cabinet position, usually one of the sinecure offices of Lord President of the Council,...
. Since his re-election in 2005 he has been a member of the Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Office
The Northern Ireland Office is a United Kingdom government department responsible for Northern Ireland affairs. The NIO is led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and is based in Northern Ireland at Stormont House.-Role:...
select committee and was appointed to the Northern Ireland Grand Committee. He is Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Northern Ireland Group. He was a member of the UK delegation to the Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
and the Assembly of the Western European Alliance (2005–2007).
In 2009 his expenses claims were highlighted in the Daily Telegraph; according to the newspaper, Fraser claimed £1,800 in public money for buying 215 trees and marking out the boundary of his second home in the constituency. The Lynn News reported "In February 2007 Mr Fraser claimed £1,808.28 for new fencing and hedging to provide security for his new constituency home."
On 28 May 2009 he announced that he would be standing down as an MP at the next General Election citing family reasons.
The Telegraph 2010 election website states that he "stood down on account of his wife's health problems".
Personal life
Fraser married in February 1987 and he has a son and a daughter. He became a Freeman of the City of LondonCity of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
in 1992. He receives income from land and property in London and Dorset and has a home in the constituency.
External links
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Christopher Fraser MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Christopher Fraser MP
- South West Norfolk Conservatives
- BBC Politics page