Giles Bryan Chichester is a British Conservative Party politician, and was a Member of the European Parliament for South West England and Gibraltar before retiring in 2014.
Background
Chichester was born in London and educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. Since 1969 He has worked in family business Francis Chichester Limited (publishers of maps, guides and educational wallcharts), founded by his father Sir Francis Chichester Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and still lives in the family home at 9 Street James"s Place, London SW1.
Education
University of Oxford. Christ Church; Westminster School.
Career
He was elected as a temporary Vice-President of the European Parliament on 6 July 2011 to replace Silvana Koch-Mehrin who had resigned over plagiarism allegations. He was Member of the European Parliament for Devon and East Plymouth from 1994 to 1999 and has represented South West England in the European Parliament since 1999. On 23 July 2004 he was elected chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.
He is a former Chairman of the Carlton Club Political Committee and is chairman of his family business publishing maps.
Chichester describes himself as a "climate change sceptic". On 5 June 2008, Chichester stepped down as Leader of the Conservative MEPs, after it was alleged that since 1996 he had wrongly sent European parliamentary funds for secretarial and office services through his family business of which he was a paid director
The European Parliament suggested that a change in the Financial Regulation in 2003 meant this arrangement constituted a potential conflict of interest. Chichester remained as a Conservative Member of the European Parliament but not their leader and was replaced by his deputy, Philip Bushill-Matthews.
The revelation came while as Leader of the Conservative MEPs Cameron had tasked Chichester to review and compile a code of conduct for Conservative MEPs" expenses after the embarrassment of Derek Conway.
However, Chichester admitted he had been told the contract was not in order so he cancelled it immediately and described it as a "whoopsy-daisy" surprise to him. In September 2008 after a painstakingly detailed audit process by the European Parliament authorities Chichester received a letter from the Secretary General which cleared him of any conflict of interest, confirmed that all funds had been applied to the purpose intended and that he had received no personal benefit.
Politics
He insists the contract was accepted by the European Union Parliament 1999 and in 2004, he transferred money for his political staff through the company as an easier means of administration. David Cameron did not withdraw the party whip from him as he did with the former Conservative Member of Parliament Derek Conway who then sat as an Independent.