Matthew Hancock
Encyclopedia
Matthew John David Hancock (born 2 October 1978) is a British
Conservative Party
politician who was elected as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for West Suffolk
at the general election in May 2010.
, in a farming family. Hancock was educated at Farndon County Primary School, in Farndon, Cheshire
and The King's School, an independent school
in Chester
in Cheshire
. He gained a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford
, and a Master's Degree in Economics from the University of Cambridge
. Hancock has been a member of the Conservative Party since 1999.
, specialising in the housing market. In 2005 he became an economic adviser to the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
, George Osborne
, later becoming Osborne's chief of staff..
He stepped down from his role with the party in February 2010 after being selected for the final six potential candidates for the West Suffolk constituency
in the 2010 general election. Hancock narrowly won the selection contest, which took place in Mildenhall
, after four rounds of voting, beating Natalie Elphicke by 88 votes to 81 votes in the final round of voting.
candidate, Belinda Brooks-Gordon. In June, Hancock was elected to the Public Accounts Committee, the select committee responsible for overseeing government expenditures to ensure they are effective and honest.
His appearances in the house and contributions to debates are well above average and he has voted very strongly for tuition fees, encouraging occupational pensions and raising VAT. On 26th November 2011 he was on the panel for BBC Radio 4's Any Questions.
with his wife Martha and daughter and son.
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...
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 who was elected as 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 West Suffolk
West Suffolk (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:- Notes and references :...
at the general election in May 2010.
Early life
Hancock was born in and grew up on a farm in rural CheshireCheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, in a farming family. Hancock was educated at Farndon County Primary School, in Farndon, Cheshire
Farndon, Cheshire
Farndon is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is located on the banks of the River Dee, south of Chester, and close to the border with Wales...
and The King's School, an independent school
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
in Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
. He gained a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, and a Master's Degree in Economics from the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. Hancock has been a member of the Conservative Party since 1999.
Career
After university, Hancock briefly worked for his family’s computer software company, before moving to London to work as an economist at the Bank of EnglandBank of England
The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694, it is the second oldest central bank in the world...
, specialising in the housing market. In 2005 he became an economic adviser to the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
, George Osborne
George Osborne
George Gideon Oliver Osborne, MP is a British Conservative politician. He is the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom, a role to which he was appointed in May 2010, and has been the Member of Parliament for Tatton since 2001.Osborne is part of the old Anglo-Irish aristocracy, known in...
, later becoming Osborne's chief of staff..
He stepped down from his role with the party in February 2010 after being selected for the final six potential candidates for the West Suffolk constituency
West Suffolk (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:- Notes and references :...
in the 2010 general election. Hancock narrowly won the selection contest, which took place in Mildenhall
Mildenhall, Suffolk
Mildenhall is a small market town and civil parish in Suffolk, England. It is run by Forest Heath District Council and has a population of 9,906 people. The town is near the A11 and is located north-west of county town, Ipswich. The large Royal Air Force base, RAF Mildenhall as well as RAF...
, after four rounds of voting, beating Natalie Elphicke by 88 votes to 81 votes in the final round of voting.
Parliament
Hancock won the West Suffolk seat with 24,312 votes, 13,050 votes ahead of Liberal DemocratLiberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
candidate, Belinda Brooks-Gordon. In June, Hancock was elected to the Public Accounts Committee, the select committee responsible for overseeing government expenditures to ensure they are effective and honest.
His appearances in the house and contributions to debates are well above average and he has voted very strongly for tuition fees, encouraging occupational pensions and raising VAT. On 26th November 2011 he was on the panel for BBC Radio 4's Any Questions.
Personal life
He lives in the constituency in Little ThurlowLittle Thurlow
Little Thurlow is a village and civil parish in the St Edmundsbury district of Suffolk in eastern England. Located around a mile north-east of sister village Great Thurlow, and four miles north of Haverhill, in 2005 its population was 230.-External links:...
with his wife Martha and daughter and son.