James Brokenshire
Encyclopedia
James Peter Brokenshire (born 7 January 1968, Southend-on-Sea
, Essex
) is a British Conservative Party
politician. He is the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Old Bexley and Sidcup and Minister for Security
at the Home Office
that grants him a seat on the National Security Council
.
, the University of Exeter
, and City of London Polytechnic
. The name Brokenshire is of Cornish
origin.
Specifically, Brokenshire advised Hanson on a series of acquisitions and disposals, including the disposal of Melody Radio to EMAP Group (1998) and the disposal of Hanson Waste Management to WRG Group (2001). He was adviser to Standard Bank London Limited on general corporate finance and corporate lending transactions and advised the bank on its strategic acquisitions, including the acquisition of Jardine Fleming Bank in Hong Kong (2001).
to the parliamentary consituency of Hornchurch
, defeating the Labour candidate and incumbent MP John Cryer
by just 480 votes.
Boundary changes in east London divided his constituency and made it difficult for him to seek re-election there. Brokenshire therefore sought selection in other constituencies; he was unsuccessful in Witham
in November 2006, Hornchurch and Upminster
(containing part of his constituency at that time) in March 2007, Gillingham and Rainham in July 2007, Grantham and Stamford in October 2007, North East Cambridgeshire in January 2008, and Maidstone and The Weald later that same month. Brokenshire was finally selected as Conservative candidate for Old Bexley and Sidcup in June 2008.
He was duly elected as Member of Parliament for Old Bexley and Sidcup in May 2010, and was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary for Crime Reduction in the Home Office within the new Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government. In May 2011, his Home Office brief was changed from Crime Reduction to that of him becoming Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
for Crime and Security following the resignation of Baroness Neville-Jones, although he was not appointed to the more senior rank of Minister of State.
, Essex in 1999. They have two daughters, both born in Harlow
, Essex: Sophie Amy Brokenshire (born November 2002) and Jemma Chloe Brokenshire (born April 2005), and one son, Benjamin James Brokenshire (born Truro
, Cornwall
, August 2006).
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea is a unitary authority area, town, and seaside resort in Essex, England. The district has Borough status, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, North Shoebury, Prittlewell, Shoeburyness, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay, and Westcliff-on-Sea. The district is situated...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
) is a British 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. He is 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 Old Bexley and Sidcup and Minister for Security
Minister for Security
The Minister for Security is a junior ministerial position in the Home Office. The post was created by Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown on 3 June 2009 by splitting the now-defunct post of the Minister for Security, Counter-Terrorism, Crime and Policing between this post and the new post of...
at the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
that grants him a seat on the National Security Council
National Security Council (United Kingdom)
The National Security Council of the United Kingdom is a Cabinet Committee tasked with overseeing all issues related to national security, intelligence coordination, and defence strategy. The NSC was established on 12 May 2010 by Prime Minister David Cameron...
.
Early life
He was educated at Davenant Foundation Grammar SchoolDavenant Foundation School
Davenant Foundation School is a coeducational, Christian Ecumenical School, founded in 1680, currently located in Loughton, Essex, England. The school is a specialist Sports College.-Foundation in Whitechapel:...
, the University of Exeter
University of Exeter
The University of Exeter is a public university in South West England. It belongs to the 1994 Group, an association of 19 of the United Kingdom's smaller research-intensive universities....
, and City of London Polytechnic
London Guildhall University
London Guildhall University was a university in the United Kingdom from 1992 to 2002. On 1 August 2002, it merged with the University of North London to form London Metropolitan University...
. The name Brokenshire is of Cornish
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
origin.
Professional career
Brokenshire used to practise in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate finance, public fund-raisings, and debt finance. He advised on private and public companies concerns and to banks and other financial institutions on corporate and commercial issues, including: acting for companies on acquisitions and disposals as well as on the provisions of finance as they relate to a deal; advising companies on the establishment and development of joint projects with third parties; advising banks and borrowers on secured lending transactions; acting for public companies, underwriters, and sponsors on flotations, placings, rights issues, open offers, and reverse takeovers; and providing general advice on company and commercial issues to corporate clients.Specifically, Brokenshire advised Hanson on a series of acquisitions and disposals, including the disposal of Melody Radio to EMAP Group (1998) and the disposal of Hanson Waste Management to WRG Group (2001). He was adviser to Standard Bank London Limited on general corporate finance and corporate lending transactions and advised the bank on its strategic acquisitions, including the acquisition of Jardine Fleming Bank in Hong Kong (2001).
Political career
He was first elected at the 2005 general electionUnited 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 the parliamentary consituency of Hornchurch
Hornchurch (UK Parliament constituency)
Hornchurch was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
, defeating the Labour candidate and incumbent MP John Cryer
John Cryer
John Robert Cryer is an English Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Leyton and Wanstead since the general election in May 2010...
by just 480 votes.
Boundary changes in east London divided his constituency and made it difficult for him to seek re-election there. Brokenshire therefore sought selection in other constituencies; he was unsuccessful in Witham
Witham (UK Parliament constituency)
Witham is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
in November 2006, Hornchurch and Upminster
Hornchurch and Upminster (UK Parliament constituency)
Hornchurch and Upminster is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
(containing part of his constituency at that time) in March 2007, Gillingham and Rainham in July 2007, Grantham and Stamford in October 2007, North East Cambridgeshire in January 2008, and Maidstone and The Weald later that same month. Brokenshire was finally selected as Conservative candidate for Old Bexley and Sidcup in June 2008.
He was duly elected as Member of Parliament for Old Bexley and Sidcup in May 2010, and was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary for Crime Reduction in the Home Office within the new Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government. In May 2011, his Home Office brief was changed from Crime Reduction to that of him becoming Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
A Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State is the lowest of three tiers of government minister in the government of the United Kingdom, junior to both a Minister of State and a Secretary of State....
for Crime and Security following the resignation of Baroness Neville-Jones, although he was not appointed to the more senior rank of Minister of State.
Personal life
He married Cathrine A. Mamelok in Epping ForestEpping Forest (district)
Epping Forest is a local government district of the county of Essex, England. It is named after Epping Forest, of which the district contains a large part...
, Essex in 1999. They have two daughters, both born in Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
, Essex: Sophie Amy Brokenshire (born November 2002) and Jemma Chloe Brokenshire (born April 2005), and one son, Benjamin James Brokenshire (born Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, August 2006).