Andrew Stunell
Encyclopedia
Robert Andrew Stunell, known as Andrew Stunell, OBE
(born 24 November 1942) is a Liberal Democrat
politician in the United Kingdom
. He is the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Hazel Grove
, and was first elected at the 1997 general election
. Since 2010 he has served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
at the Department of Communities and Local Government.
and educated at Surbiton County Grammar School for Boys (moved to Thames Ditton
as Esher County Grammar School with the former buildings becoming Hollyfield School
, then became Esher College
in 1977) on St Marks Hill in Surbiton, then studied Architecture at University of Manchester
and Liverpool Polytechnic
. He became a member of RIBA
in 1969. After graduation he was an architectural assistant until 1989, working for CWS Manchester
from 1965-7, Runcorn New Town from 1967–81, then freelance 1981-5. From 1989–96 he worked as Political Secretary of the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors and was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1993. Stunell married Gillian Chorley in 1967. They have three sons and two daughters and he is a former Baptist
lay preacher and an active member of his local Methodist church.
in 1997
having fought the seat previously in 1992
when he came second with 43.1% of the vote. The General election of 1997
resulted in a majority of 11814 and a 54.5% of the vote, taking the seat from the Conservatives. He retained the seat at the 2001
(52%), 2005
(49.5%) and 2010 (48.8%) general elections.
, a role he performed until 2005. At the same time Stunell operated as the party's deputy chief whip, only stepping down from that position in 2001 when he was elected to the position of Chief Whip
, a position he was re-elected to in 2005. He stood down form the role in March 2006 to serve as the Shadow Secretary of State for communities and local government which concluded in December 2007 when Nick Clegg
asked him to become chair of the Liberal Democrat local elections team. In January 2009 Stunell was appointed to be the Liberal Democrat representative on the International Development Select Committee and in August 2009 he was asked to take on the role of vice-chair of the General Election campaign.
in 2004. As part of the bill Stunell wanted to see all new and existing homes either built or renovated with security and energy saving features with Stunell saying that he wanted the bill to promote "greener and safer buildings".
, Chris Huhne
and David Laws
acted as the negotiating team for the Liberal Democrats with William Hague
, Oliver Letwin
, George Osborne
and Edward Llewellyn
acting for the Conservatives.
under Secretary of State Eric Pickles
. His responsibilities in the role were community cohesion, race equality, building regulations and the implementation of the Big Society particularly with regard to housing and regeneration.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 24 November 1942) is a Liberal Democrat
Liberal 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...
politician 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...
. He 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,...
(MP) for Hazel Grove
Hazel Grove (UK Parliament constituency)
Hazel Grove 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 :...
, and was first elected at 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...
. Since 2010 he has served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
A Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State is the lowest of three tiers of government minister in the government of the United Kingdom, junior to both a Minister of State and a Secretary of State....
at the Department of Communities and Local Government.
Early life, Career and Education
Andrews Stunell was born in Sutton, SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and educated at Surbiton County Grammar School for Boys (moved to Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton is a village in Surrey, England, bordering Greater London. It is situated 12.2 miles south-west of Charing Cross between the towns of Kingston upon Thames, Surbiton, Esher and East Molesey...
as Esher County Grammar School with the former buildings becoming Hollyfield School
Hollyfield School
Hollyfield School is a co-educational comprehensive foundation school, located in Surbiton, in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, London – with Technology College status. There are approximately 1,100 students on roll, with 220 in the sixth form...
, then became Esher College
Esher College
Esher College is a sixth form college located in Thames Ditton, Elmbridge, U.K-Admissions:It has just under 1700 students enrolled. Esher College is very close to Thames Ditton railway station on the northern edge of Surrey...
in 1977) on St Marks Hill in Surbiton, then studied Architecture at University of Manchester
Victoria University of Manchester
The Victoria University of Manchester was a university in Manchester, England. On 1 October 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to form a new entity, "The University of Manchester".-1851 - 1951:The University was founded in 1851 as Owens College,...
and Liverpool Polytechnic
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University is a British 'modern' university located in the city of Liverpool, England. The university is named after John Moores and was previously called Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts and later Liverpool Polytechnic before gaining university status in 1992, thus...
. He became a member of RIBA
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
in 1969. After graduation he was an architectural assistant until 1989, working for CWS Manchester
The Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group Ltd. is a United Kingdom consumer cooperative with a diverse range of business interests. It is co-operatively run and owned by its members. It is the largest organisation of this type in the world, with over 5.5 million members, who all have a say in how the business is...
from 1965-7, Runcorn New Town from 1967–81, then freelance 1981-5. From 1989–96 he worked as Political Secretary of the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors and was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1993. Stunell married Gillian Chorley in 1967. They have three sons and two daughters and he is a former Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
lay preacher and an active member of his local Methodist church.
Hazel Grove
Stunell was elected as the member of parliament for Hazel GroveHazel Grove
-Education:Hazel Grove has a number of primary schools and Hazel Grove High School, the local high school. Some do decide to go to other local high schools, such as local Marple Hall, in neighbouring village Marple. The main primary schools in the area are, Hazel Grove Primary School, Torkington...
in 1997
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...
having fought the seat previously in 1992
United Kingdom general election, 1992
The United Kingdom general election of 1992 was held on 9 April 1992, and was the fourth consecutive victory for the Conservative Party. This election result was one of the biggest surprises in 20th Century politics, as polling leading up to the day of the election showed Labour under leader Neil...
when he came second with 43.1% of the vote. The General election of 1997
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...
resulted in a majority of 11814 and a 54.5% of the vote, taking the seat from the Conservatives. He retained the seat at the 2001
United 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...
(52%), 2005
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....
(49.5%) and 2010 (48.8%) general elections.
Liberal Democrat Frontbench
On entering parliament in 1997 Stunell was appointed the Shadow Energy minister under Paddy AshdownPaddy Ashdown
Jeremy John Durham Ashdown, Baron Ashdown of Norton-sub-Hamdon, GCMG, KBE, PC , usually known as Paddy Ashdown, is a British politician and diplomat....
, a role he performed until 2005. At the same time Stunell operated as the party's deputy chief whip, only stepping down from that position in 2001 when he was elected to the position of Chief Whip
Chief Whip
The Chief Whip is a political office in some legislatures assigned to an elected member whose task is to administer the whipping system that ensures that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires.-The Whips Office:...
, a position he was re-elected to in 2005. He stood down form the role in March 2006 to serve as the Shadow Secretary of State for communities and local government which concluded in December 2007 when Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
asked him to become chair of the Liberal Democrat local elections team. In January 2009 Stunell was appointed to be the Liberal Democrat representative on the International Development Select Committee and in August 2009 he was asked to take on the role of vice-chair of the General Election campaign.
Sustainable and Secure Buildings Act 2004
In 2003 Stunell came top in the regular ballot of Private Members' Bills and was successful in having his Sustainable and Secure Buildings Bill become an Act of ParliamentAct of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
in 2004. As part of the bill Stunell wanted to see all new and existing homes either built or renovated with security and energy saving features with Stunell saying that he wanted the bill to promote "greener and safer buildings".
Coalition Negotiations
Following the General Election of 2010, no one political party was able to secure a majority in the House of Commons. As a result the Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties entered into negotiations with each other to form the United Kingdom's first coalition government since the Second World War. Andrew Stunell along with Danny AlexanderDanny Alexander
Daniel Grian Alexander is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has been Chief Secretary to the Treasury since 2010. He has been the Member of Parliament for the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey constituency since 2005....
, Chris Huhne
Chris Huhne
Christopher Murray Paul-Huhne, generally known as Chris Huhne is a British politician and cabinet minister, who is the current Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for the Eastleigh constituency in Hampshire...
and David Laws
David Laws
David Anthony Laws is a British politician. He is Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Yeovil and former Chief Secretary to the Treasury....
acted as the negotiating team for the Liberal Democrats with 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...
, Oliver Letwin
Oliver Letwin
Oliver Letwin MP FRSA is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he is currently the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, and a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of West Dorset...
, 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...
and Edward Llewellyn
Edward Llewellyn (Conservative advisor)
Edward Llewellyn is a Conservative Party advisor to its Leader, David Cameron. He was at Eton College at the same time as the Conservative Leader, though not in the same year. Llewellyn left Eton in 1983 and shortly afterwards worked at Conservative Central Office, before going to Oxford where he...
acting for the Conservatives.
Coalition Government (2010 - )
Following the formation of the coalition, Stunell was appointed a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local GovernmentDepartment for Communities and Local Government
The Department for Communities and Local Government is the UK Government department for communities and local government in England. It was established in May 2006 and is the successor to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, established in 2001...
under Secretary of State Eric Pickles
Eric Pickles
Eric Jack Pickles is a British Conservative Party politician. Pickles was appointed Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of the coalition government headed by Prime Minister David Cameron on 12 May 2010....
. His responsibilities in the role were community cohesion, race equality, building regulations and the implementation of the Big Society particularly with regard to housing and regeneration.
External links
- Andrew Stunell MP official constituency website
- Profile at the Liberal Democrats