Andrew Bridgen
Encyclopedia
Andrew James Bridgen is an English Conservative Party
politician and businessman. Since May 2010 he has been the Member of Parliament
(MP) for the constituency of North West Leicestershire
.
, Staffordshire. He attended Netherseal Junior School and then the state comprehensive school The Pingle School
in Swadlincote
, where he gained 11 O-Levels and 4 A-Levels. He went on to study genetics and behaviour at Nottingham University, graduating with a degree in Biological Sciences.
. He returned home at 23 to help with the family market gardening business. Alongside his brother Paul he diversified the business into the production of pre-washed potatoes and vegetables. They formed AB Produce in 1988, which is based in Measham
and currently employs around 230 staff. Bridgen is a former winner of the 'Young Executive of the Year UK' and 'Young Director of the Year (Midlands) Medium sized business' awards. Bridgen became the East Midlands chairman of the Institute of Directors
.
for North West Leicestershire
for the 2010 general election.
In May 2009 he intervened in the "dirty tricks row" involving a councillor who had offered Conservative backing to ensure a village hall was built if an independent election candidate stood down. Bridgen blamed "intransigence of certain unelected individuals at the very top of the county council" rather than the individual councillors involved. Both Labour and Conservative council leaders criticised his intervention and the Council solicitor wrote to ask for an explanation. There was a police investigation and although he denied wrongdoing one of the councillors subsequently stood down.
Bridgen won the North West Leicestershire seat at the general election on 6 May, becoming the first Conservative MP for the area in thirteen years. The seat had been vacant since the previous MP, David Taylor
, had died of a sudden heart attack on Boxing Day, 2009.
In 2010 Bridgen became a member of the Regulatory Reform Select Committee.
In June 2011, Bridgen attacked critics of Andrew Lansley
's proposed NHS reforms
, claiming that they comprised "Stalinist protectionist elements".
Following very serious injury to a constituent in July 2011, Bridgen called for legislation to ensure Britons travelling abroad have adequate medical insurance.
councillor
for the Oakthorpe and Donisthorpe
ward of North West Leicestershire District Council
from 2007
until losing her seat in 2011
. They have two young sons. Bridgen is separated from his wife, who lives in the family home in Coleorton
, Leicestershire
.
On 9 June 2011 false allegations of sexual assault were levelled against Bridgen, leading to his arrest in London
by the Metropolitan Police
and subsequent release on bail. A week later the allegations were retracted as untrue and the charges dropped.
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 businessman. Since May 2010 he has been 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 the constituency of North West Leicestershire
North West Leicestershire (UK Parliament constituency)
North West Leicestershire is a county 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.- Boundaries :...
.
Education
Bridgen was born in Burton upon TrentBurton upon Trent
Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England. Its associated adjective is "Burtonian"....
, Staffordshire. He attended Netherseal Junior School and then the state comprehensive school The Pingle School
The Pingle School
The Pingle School is a state comprehensive school located at Coronation Street in Swadlincote, South Derbyshire, England. The name comes from the former Pingle Farm; Pingle being a Midlands term for a small field or allotment.-Overview:...
in Swadlincote
Swadlincote
Swadlincote is a town and unparished area in South Derbyshire, about southeast of Burton-upon-Trent and about south of Derby. It is the main town of South Derbyshire and the seat of South Derbyshire District Council....
, where he gained 11 O-Levels and 4 A-Levels. He went on to study genetics and behaviour at Nottingham University, graduating with a degree in Biological Sciences.
Military and business career
After graduation Bridgen trained as an officer in the Royal MarinesRoyal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
. He returned home at 23 to help with the family market gardening business. Alongside his brother Paul he diversified the business into the production of pre-washed potatoes and vegetables. They formed AB Produce in 1988, which is based in Measham
Measham
Measham is a village in Leicestershire, near the Staffordshire and Derbyshire border, located just off the A42 just south of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, and within the National Forest...
and currently employs around 230 staff. Bridgen is a former winner of the 'Young Executive of the Year UK' and 'Young Director of the Year (Midlands) Medium sized business' awards. Bridgen became the East Midlands chairman of the Institute of Directors
Institute of Directors
The Institute of Directors is a UK-based organisation, established in 1903 and incorporated by royal charter in 1906 to support, represent and set standards for company directors...
.
Political career
Bridgen was selected as prospective parliamentary candidateProspective parliamentary candidate
Prospective parliamentary candidate is a term used in British politics to refer to candidates selected by political parties to fight individual constituencies in advance of a general election. This terminology was motivated by the strict limits on the amount of expenses incurred by an actual...
for North West Leicestershire
North West Leicestershire (UK Parliament constituency)
North West Leicestershire is a county 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.- Boundaries :...
for the 2010 general election.
In May 2009 he intervened in the "dirty tricks row" involving a councillor who had offered Conservative backing to ensure a village hall was built if an independent election candidate stood down. Bridgen blamed "intransigence of certain unelected individuals at the very top of the county council" rather than the individual councillors involved. Both Labour and Conservative council leaders criticised his intervention and the Council solicitor wrote to ask for an explanation. There was a police investigation and although he denied wrongdoing one of the councillors subsequently stood down.
Bridgen won the North West Leicestershire seat at the general election on 6 May, becoming the first Conservative MP for the area in thirteen years. The seat had been vacant since the previous MP, David Taylor
David Taylor (British politician)
David Leslie Taylor was an English Labour Co-operative politician, who was the Member of Parliament for North West Leicestershire from 1997 until his death in 2009.-Biography:...
, had died of a sudden heart attack on Boxing Day, 2009.
In 2010 Bridgen became a member of the Regulatory Reform Select Committee.
In June 2011, Bridgen attacked critics of Andrew Lansley
Andrew 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...
's proposed NHS reforms
Health and Social Care Bill 2011
The Health and Social Care Bill 2011 is proposed health care reform legislation introduced in the House of Commons on 19 January 2011. If passed, the Bill would be the most extensive reorganisation of the structure of the National Health Service in England to date. It proposes to abolish NHS...
, claiming that they comprised "Stalinist protectionist elements".
Following very serious injury to a constituent in July 2011, Bridgen called for legislation to ensure Britons travelling abroad have adequate medical insurance.
Personal life
Bridgen is married to Jackie, who was a ConservativeConservative 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...
councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
for the Oakthorpe and Donisthorpe
Oakthorpe and Donisthorpe
Oakthorpe and Donisthorpe is civil parish in the North West Leicestershire district of Leicestershire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2336. It includes Oakthorpe and Donisthorpe....
ward of North West Leicestershire District Council
North West Leicestershire
North West Leicestershire is a local government district in Leicestershire, England. Its main towns are Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Coalville.The district contains East Midlands Airport, which operates flights to the rest of Britain and to various places in Europe...
from 2007
North West Leicestershire District Council election, 2007
Elections to North West Leicestershire District Council took place on 3rd May 2007, with the previous election taking place in 2003 and with the next to be held on 5th May 2011. The election took place across all 20 electoral wards and a total of 38 councillors were elected...
until losing her seat in 2011
North West Leicestershire District Council election, 2011
Elections to the North West Leicestershire District Council took place on May 5th 2011, in line with other local elections in the United Kingdom. A total of 38 councillors were elected from 20 wards as the whole council is up for election....
. They have two young sons. Bridgen is separated from his wife, who lives in the family home in Coleorton
Coleorton
Coleorton is a village and civil parish in North West Leicestershire, England. It is situated on the A512 road approximately 2 miles east of Ashby de la Zouch...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
.
On 9 June 2011 false allegations of sexual assault were levelled against Bridgen, leading to his arrest in London
London
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...
by the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
and subsequent release on bail. A week later the allegations were retracted as untrue and the charges dropped.