Priti Patel
Encyclopedia
Priti Patel is a Conservative Party
politician
in the United Kingdom
. First elected in the 2010 general election, she is the Member of Parliament
for the Witham constituency
, and an officer of the Conservative Friends of Israel
group.
, England of Uganda
n India
n immigrant parents and grew up in South Harrow
and Ruislip
. Her parents ran a post office in rural Norfolk
and then a successful small shop in south east England. She joined the Conservative Party during the time John Major
was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
. Patel attended a comprehensive school
in Watford
, before studying economics
at Keele University
and then going on to the University of Essex
.
(now a frontbencher, then a Head of the Conservative Research Department) to give her a job at Conservative Central Office. From 1995 to 1997, she worked for Sir James Goldsmith
's Referendum Party
, heading the press office.
After the 1997 General Election
, the Conservative Party changed its policy on the euro, asserting they now would only join the currency if there was a referendum on the issue. Patel rejoined the Conservative Party to work for the new leader William Hague
in his press office dealing with media relations in London and the South East.
Following an article in the Financial Times
in August 2003, where she controversially stated that racist attitudes persisted in the Conservative Party ("Racist attitudes do persist within the party.... There's a lot of bigotry around."), she wrote to the FT. to complain that the article misinterpreted her comments in implying that she had been blocked as a candidate for the party because of her ethnicity.
She left politics and worked for Weber Shandwick, a public affairs consultancy, advising major companies. In the 2005 General Election
, she stood as the Conservative Party candidate for Nottingham North
, losing to Labour incumbent Graham Allen.
On Question Time, she said that she would be in favour of the death penalty returning to the UK.
candidates ahead of the next general election. On 20 November 2006, she was adopted as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the notionally safe Conservative seat of Witham
, a new constituency. Boundary Review Priti Patel was elected in the 2010 general election, with a majority of 15,196 votes.
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...
in the United Kingdom
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...
. First elected in the 2010 general election, she 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,...
for the Witham constituency
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....
, and an officer of the Conservative Friends of Israel
Conservative Friends of Israel
Conservative Friends of Israel, abbreviated to CFI, is a British parliamentary group affiliated to the Conservative Party and dedicated to strengthening business, cultural and political ties between the United Kingdom and Israel. CFI is an unincorporated associationIt was founded by the late...
group.
Early life
Patel was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England of Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n immigrant parents and grew up in South Harrow
South Harrow
South Harrow has grown out of the village of Roxeth as a result of urbanization and easier access from Central London by rail. South of the old village centre , and beyond the newly developed shopping area, lies South Harrow tube station and the High Street .-History:Much of the local history,...
and Ruislip
Ruislip
Ruislip is a suburban area, centred on an old village in Greater London, and is part of the London Borough of Hillingdon.It was formerly also a parish covering the neighbouring areas of Eastcote, Northwood, Ruislip Manor and South Ruislip in the area. The parish appears in the Domesday Book, and...
. Her parents ran a post office in rural Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
and then a successful small shop in south east England. She joined the Conservative Party during the time John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
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...
. Patel attended a comprehensive school
Comprehensive school
A comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
in Watford
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
, before studying economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
at Keele University
Keele University
Keele University is a campus university near Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire, England. Founded in 1949 as an experimental college dedicated to a broad curriculum and interdisciplinary study, Keele is most notable for pioneering the dual honours degree in Britain...
and then going on to the University of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
.
Political career
After graduating, Patel persuaded Andrew LansleyAndrew Lansley
Andrew David Lansley, CBE, MP is the UK Secretary of State for Health, who has been the Conservative Member of Parliament for South Cambridgeshire since the 1997 general election, and was Shadow Secretary of State for Health from June 2004 until becoming Secretary of State for Health in May 2010...
(now a frontbencher, then a Head of the Conservative Research Department) to give her a job at Conservative Central Office. From 1995 to 1997, she worked for Sir James Goldsmith
James Goldsmith
Sir James Michael "Jimmy" Goldsmith was an Anglo-French billionaire financier and tycoon. Towards the end of his life, he became a magazine publisher and a politician. In 1994, he was elected to represent France as a Member of the European Parliament and he subsequently founded the short-lived...
's Referendum Party
Referendum Party
The Referendum Party was a Euro-sceptic, single issue party in the United Kingdom formed by Sir James Goldsmith to fight the 1997 General Election. The party called for a referendum on aspects of the UK's relationship with the European Union.-Policy:...
, heading the press office.
After the 1997 General Election
United 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...
, the Conservative Party changed its policy on the euro, asserting they now would only join the currency if there was a referendum on the issue. Patel rejoined the Conservative Party to work for the new leader William Hague
William Hague
William Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001...
in his press office dealing with media relations in London and the South East.
Following an article in the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
in August 2003, where she controversially stated that racist attitudes persisted in the Conservative Party ("Racist attitudes do persist within the party.... There's a lot of bigotry around."), she wrote to the FT. to complain that the article misinterpreted her comments in implying that she had been blocked as a candidate for the party because of her ethnicity.
She left politics and worked for Weber Shandwick, a public affairs consultancy, advising major companies. 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....
, she stood as the Conservative Party candidate for Nottingham North
Nottingham North (UK Parliament constituency)
Nottingham North is a borough 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...
, losing to Labour incumbent Graham Allen.
On Question Time, she said that she would be in favour of the death penalty returning to the UK.
Member of Parliament
Priti Patel was placed on the "A-List" of Conservative PartyConservative 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...
candidates ahead of the next general election. On 20 November 2006, she was adopted as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the notionally safe Conservative seat of 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....
, a new constituency. Boundary Review Priti Patel was elected in the 2010 general election, with a majority of 15,196 votes.
External links
- Priti Patel MP official constituency website
- NRI Priti Patel has been nominated as an official MP candidate by Tory Party, NRIpress, 29 December 2004