Guto Bebb
Encyclopedia
Guto ap Owain Bebb MP
(born 9 October 1968) is a Welsh
Conservative Party
politician and the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Aberconwy
. He was first elected in the 2010 general election having previously contested elections to both the Welsh Assembly and the House of Commons.
in 1968 to a family who originated from Bangor and Blaenau Ffestiniog
, and was a student at Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen
in Caernarfon
. He graduated from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 1990 with a BA in history. He subsequently ran an economic development consultancy and also worked as the business development director of Innovas Wales. He was also a partner in his wife's bookshop.
actvist and was chair of the party in Caernarfon
. He defected to the Conservatives because of his Eurosceptic
views.
Bebb first stood for the Conservatives in 2002 when he contested the safe Labour seat of Ogmore
in 2002 by-election
caused by the death of the veteran MP Sir Raymond Powell. He finished in fourth place many votes behind the victor, Huw Irranca-Davies
. He stood again in the 2003 Welsh Assembly election in which he was a candidate in the now-defunct constituency of Conwy
. He came third, behind Labour
and Plaid Cymru.
At the 2005 general election
he stood again in Conwy
, this time coming second behind Labour.
In the 2010 general election, boundary changes led to the creation of a new constituency called Aberconwy, based on the former Conwy. Bebb was selected as the Conservative candidate for this new seat. The Conservatives won the seat and Bebb was returned as the MP for Aberconwy with a majority of 3,398 or 11.3%.
Despite defecting to the Conservatives because of his Eurosceptic views; since becoming a Conservative MP Mr Bebb has voted strongly in favour of EU integration.
. He is married to Esyllt Bebb, and they have five children.
He is the grandson of Ambrose Bebb
, co-founder of Plaid Cymru.
He is an avid collector of vinyl records.
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,...
(born 9 October 1968) is a Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
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 and 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 Aberconwy
Aberconwy (UK Parliament constituency)
Aberconwy is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . The seat was created by the Welsh Boundary Commission for the 2010 general election, and replaced the old north Wales seat of Conwy seat....
. He was first elected in the 2010 general election having previously contested elections to both the Welsh Assembly and the House of Commons.
Early life
Bebb was born in WrexhamWrexham
Wrexham is a town in Wales. It is the administrative centre of the wider Wrexham County Borough, and the largest town in North Wales, located in the east of the region. It is situated between the Welsh mountains and the lower Dee Valley close to the border with Cheshire, England...
in 1968 to a family who originated from Bangor and Blaenau Ffestiniog
Blaenau Ffestiniog
Blaenau Ffestiniog is a town in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. It has a population of 5,000, including Llan Ffestiniog, which makes it the third largest town in Gwynedd, behind Caernarfon & Porthmadog. Although the population reached 12,000 at the peak of the slate industry, the population fell due to...
, and was a student at Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen
Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen
Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen is a secondary school located in Caernarfon, Gwynedd, North Wales. The school was opened in 1894 and is named after the educator Sir Hugh Owen....
in Caernarfon
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
. He graduated from the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 1990 with a BA in history. He subsequently ran an economic development consultancy and also worked as the business development director of Innovas Wales. He was also a partner in his wife's bookshop.
Political career
Bebb is a former Plaid CymruPlaid Cymru
' is a political party in Wales. It advocates the establishment of an independent Welsh state within the European Union. was formed in 1925 and won its first seat in 1966...
actvist and was chair of the party in Caernarfon
Caernarfon (UK Parliament constituency)
Caernarfon was a parliamentary constituency centred on the town of Caernarfon in Wales. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system....
. He defected to the Conservatives because of his Eurosceptic
Euroscepticism
Euroscepticism is a general term used to describe criticism of the European Union , and opposition to the process of European integration, existing throughout the political spectrum. Traditionally, the main source of euroscepticism has been the notion that integration weakens the nation state...
views.
Bebb first stood for the Conservatives in 2002 when he contested the safe Labour seat of Ogmore
Ogmore (UK Parliament constituency)
Ogmore is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Boundaries :Taking its name from the River Ogmore, the constituency is situated close to the source of the river in the Ogwr valley and excludes the village of Ogmore-by-Sea, which is the...
in 2002 by-election
Ogmore by-election, 2002
The Member of Parliament for Ogmore in Mid Glamorgan, Sir Raymond Powell, of the Labour Party died on 7 December 2001.The by-election to fill his seat was held on 14 February 2002. Labour faced no realistic challenge in this very safe seat and retained it easily, with only Plaid Cymru making...
caused by the death of the veteran MP Sir Raymond Powell. He finished in fourth place many votes behind the victor, Huw Irranca-Davies
Huw Irranca-Davies
Ifor Huw Irranca-Davies , born Ifor Huw Davies, is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Ogmore since 2002...
. He stood again in the 2003 Welsh Assembly election in which he was a candidate in the now-defunct constituency of Conwy
Conwy (National Assembly for Wales constituency)
Conwy was a constituency of the National Assembly for Wales from 1999 to 2007. It elected one Assembly Member by the first past the post method of election...
. He came third, behind Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and Plaid Cymru.
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....
he stood again in Conwy
Conwy (UK Parliament constituency)
Conwy was an electoral constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It returned one Member of Parliament by the single-member district plurality system of voting....
, this time coming second behind Labour.
In the 2010 general election, boundary changes led to the creation of a new constituency called Aberconwy, based on the former Conwy. Bebb was selected as the Conservative candidate for this new seat. The Conservatives won the seat and Bebb was returned as the MP for Aberconwy with a majority of 3,398 or 11.3%.
Despite defecting to the Conservatives because of his Eurosceptic views; since becoming a Conservative MP Mr Bebb has voted strongly in favour of EU integration.
Personal life
Bebb's native language is WelshWelsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
. He is married to Esyllt Bebb, and they have five children.
He is the grandson of Ambrose Bebb
Ambrose Bebb
William Ambrose Bebb was a Welsh author and politician.Ambrose Bebb was the son of diarist Edward Hughes Bebb, and the father of noted Welsh rugby international Dewi Bebb...
, co-founder of Plaid Cymru.
He is an avid collector of vinyl records.
External links
- Guto Bebb's blog
- Bebb Guto MP Conservative Party profile
- Guto Bebb MP Welsh Conservative Party profile
- Aberconwy Conservatives