Geoffrey Cox
Encyclopedia
Charles Geoffrey Cox, QC
, MP
(born 30 April 1960 in Wroughton
), is a British
politician
and barrister
. A member of the Conservative Party
, he is currently a Member of Parliament
(MP) representing the constituency of Torridge and West Devon.
, and Downing College, Cambridge
, where he read Law and Classics. He was called to Bar
at the Middle Temple
in 1982, following which he practiced as a barrister. He co-founded Thomas More Chambers in 1992 and served as its Head of Chambers. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel
in 2003.
For part of his career as a barrister, Geoffrey Cox was Standing Counsel to the government of Mauritius
.
He is widely regarded as a gifted advocate and successfully led for the defence in numerous high profile cases. One case in which Mr Cox was instructed prior to his election to parliament, that of Nicholas van Hoogstraten
, is often raised by political opponents seeking to imply a measure of controversy to Mr Cox's legal career, which, however, has also encompassed a very wide range of cases in the constitutional and human rights field both in the UK and overseas.
, he was narrowly defeated by the Liberal Democrat John Burnett
reducing his majority to 1,194 votes.
After the 2001 election Geoffrey Cox was reselected. In 2003 John Burnett announced he would not be contesting the seat again. Geoffrey Cox successfully contested the seat again at the 2005 general election
, and defeated a new Liberal Democrat candidate, David Walter, with a majority of 3,236.
Cox made his maiden speech
in the House of Commons on 28 June 2005, which was voted one of the four best maiden speeches of the parliament.
Cox is a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.
Geoffrey Cox was re-elected as MP for Torridge and West Devon at the 2010 general election with a majority of 2,957, which represents an increased share of the vote after a change of boundaries.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, MP
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 30 April 1960 in Wroughton
Wroughton
Wroughton is a large village in Wiltshire, England. It is part of the Borough of Swindon and is south of Swindon.-History:The earliest evidence of human presence in the area is from the Mesolithic period, although this is fairly limited...
), is a British
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
. A member of the 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...
, he is currently a Member of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
(MP) representing the constituency of Torridge and West Devon.
Early life
Geoffrey Cox was educated at King's College, TauntonKing's College (Taunton)
King's College is a coeducational, secondary boarding school in Taunton, Somerset, England. It is an independent school of 430 pupils aged 13 to 18, including about 300 boarders. The head of the school is currently Richard Biggs, who started his first academic year in the winter of...
, and Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
, where he read Law and Classics. He was called to Bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
at the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
in 1982, following which he practiced as a barrister. He co-founded Thomas More Chambers in 1992 and served as its Head of Chambers. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 2003.
For part of his career as a barrister, Geoffrey Cox was Standing Counsel to the government of Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
.
He is widely regarded as a gifted advocate and successfully led for the defence in numerous high profile cases. One case in which Mr Cox was instructed prior to his election to parliament, that of Nicholas van Hoogstraten
Nicholas van Hoogstraten
Nicholas van Hoogstraten is a British businessman and real estate magnate. van Hoogstraten is known for his business empire as well as his controversial life story: In 1968, he was convicted, and sent to prison, for paying a gang to attack a business associate...
, is often raised by political opponents seeking to imply a measure of controversy to Mr Cox's legal career, which, however, has also encompassed a very wide range of cases in the constitutional and human rights field both in the UK and overseas.
Parliamentary career
Geoffrey Cox was first selected to stand for Parliament in 2000 by the Torridge and West Devon Conservatives. In the following 2001 general electionUnited 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...
, he was narrowly defeated by the Liberal Democrat John Burnett
John Burnett, Baron Burnett
John Patrick Aubone Burnett, Baron Burnett is a Liberal Democrat politician in the United Kingdom, and was a Member of Parliament for Torridge and West Devon between 1997 and 2005 general elections...
reducing his majority to 1,194 votes.
After the 2001 election Geoffrey Cox was reselected. In 2003 John Burnett announced he would not be contesting the seat again. Geoffrey Cox successfully contested the seat again 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....
, and defeated a new Liberal Democrat candidate, David Walter, with a majority of 3,236.
Cox 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...
in the House of Commons on 28 June 2005, which was voted one of the four best maiden speeches of the parliament.
Cox is a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.
Geoffrey Cox was re-elected as MP for Torridge and West Devon at the 2010 general election with a majority of 2,957, which represents an increased share of the vote after a change of boundaries.
External links
- Geoffrey Cox QC MP - Parliamentary site
- Campaign site
- Thomas More Chambers - Chambers of Geoffrey Cox QC MP
- Conservative Party - Geoffrey Cox MP - biography
- Torridge and West Devon Conservatives - constituency site
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: Geoffrey Cox MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - Geoffrey Cox MP
- The Public Whip - Geoffrey Cox MP - voting record