Bernard Jenkin

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The Honourable
Bernard Jenkin
MP
File:Bernard Jenkin MP asking a question at Edmund Burke Philosopher, Politician, Prophet.jpg
Shadow Secretary of State for the Regions
In office
11 November 2003 – 6 May 2005
Leader Michael Howard
Preceded by David Davis (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister)
Succeeded by Caroline Spelman (Local Government Affairs and Communities)
Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
In office
18 September 2001 – 6 November 2003
Leader Iain Duncan Smith
Preceded by Iain Duncan Smith
Succeeded by Nicholas Soames
Member of Parliament
for Harwich and North Essex
North Essex (1997–2010)
Colchester North (1992–1997)
Assumed office
9 April 1992
Preceded by Antony Buck
Majority 15,174 (31.3%)
Personal details
Born (1959-04-09) 9 April 1959 (age 65)
Political party Conservative
Spouse(s) Anne Strutt
Alma mater Corpus Christi College, Cambridge

Bernard Christison Jenkin (born 9 April 1959) is a politician in the United Kingdom, and the current Member of Parliament (MP) for Harwich and North Essex, for which he was re-elected with an increased majority of 15,174 in the General Election of 2015.[1] He was elected Chairman of the Public Administration Select Committee in May 2010. He was Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, and had responsibility for candidates until 7 November 2006 when this role was given to John Maples.[2]

Early life

Jenkin was born on 9 April 1959 to Lord Jenkin, the British former minister and life peer. He is a male-line descendant of the scientist Fleeming Jenkin. He was educated at Highgate School (Highgate), William Ellis School (also in Highgate) and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he was awarded a Choral Exhibition and gained an BA honours degree in English literature in 1982. He was President of the Cambridge Union Society in 1982. He worked for Ford and the private equity company 3i as Manager of Legal & General Ventures from 1989-92. From 1992-95, he was an advisor to Legal & General Group plc.[citation needed]

Parliamentary career

Declaring that he wanted to "illustrate that people in the South-East haven't forgotten about Scotland",[3] Jenkin stood for election in Glasgow Central in the 1987 general election. At the 1992 general election he was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Colchester North. When that constituency was abolished for the 1997 general election, he was returned to the House of Commons for the newly-re-established North Essex constituency.

In John Major's 1992-1997 government, Jenkin was one of the "Maastricht rebels" who defied the party whip to oppose the Maastricht treaty. William Hague appointed him Shadow Minister for Transport (1998–2001). He has also served as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence (2001–03) under Iain Duncan Smith and as Shadow Regions Secretary (2003–05) for Michael Howard. He has also been Shadow Energy Minister.

In the 2010 Parliament Jenkin remained a backbencher but chaired the Public Affairs Committee.

In January 2014 Jenkin drafted a letter calling for David Cameron to renegotiate Britain's relationship with the EU to give the House of Commons powers to veto EU legislation, which was ultimately signed by 95 MPs, and reportedly backed by another six.[4] Following the Scottish Independence Referendum and promises made to further devolve powers to Scotland Jenkin called for the creation of an "English First Minister" and for departments responsible for policy that applied only in England to be accountable only to the English MPs[5]

Jenkin, who has a reputation as a "long term critic of the Coalition", also led calls to drop the House of Lords Reform Bill 2012.[6]

Jenkin decided to vote in favour of same sex marriage in 2013 "as a matter of principle", whilst acknowledging the decision to hold the debate caused much "political unhappiness".[7]

Following the 2015 general election, he was returned unopposed as the chairman of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee.[8]

Expenses claims

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Main article: United Kingdom Parliamentary expenses scandal

In May 2009 Jenkin was reported by the Daily Telegraph to have used £50,000 in expenses in order to pay his sister-in-law rent on the property he uses as his constituency home. Jenkin claimed that he was just paying "an honest and reasonable rent" for the property.[9] On 27 October 2009 it was initially recommended that Bernard Jenkin pay back £63,250 by expenses auditor Sir Thomas Legg. This is the highest amount known to have been recommended after an audit of MPs' claims on second homes expenses.[10][11] This amount was reduced to £36,250 following an appeal.[12]

Combat Stress

Jenkin is the Vice-President of the UK charity Combat Stress, which offers residential treatment to ex-servicemen and women suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. To mark his 50th birthday, he held a fundraising event in March 2009 which raised over £50,000 for the charity.[13]

Personal life

Jenkin married Anne Caroline Strutt in 1988 and has two sons.

He is the UK parliament's most famous nudist.[14][15][16]

He is a long-time acquaintance of screenwriter Richard Curtis, who typically includes a character named 'Bernard' in everything he writes. [17]

References

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External links

Video clips

News items

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Colchester North
1992–1997		 Constituency abolished
New constituency Member of Parliament
for North Essex
1997–2010
Member of Parliament
for Harwich and North Essex
2010–present		 Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
2001–2003		 Succeeded by
Nicholas Soames
Preceded by as Shadow Secretary of State for
the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister		 Shadow Secretary of State for the Regions
2003–2005		 Succeeded by
Caroline Spelman
as Shadow Secretary of State for
Local Government Affairs and Communities
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  3. ↑ "Cahoots, mon", The Times, 25 November 1986.
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