Graham Charles Stuart is a British Conservative Party politician.
Background
Graham Stuart was born in Carlisle, Cumbria, and studied at Glenalmond College, an independent school in Perthshire, followed by Selwyn College at the University of Cambridge from 1982 to 1985, where he read Philosophy and Law but failed his degree, after focusing his efforts on developing his "What"s on in Cambridge" guide into a profitable business.
Education
Graham Stuart was born in Carlisle, Cumbria, and studied at Glenalmond College, an independent school in Perthshire, followed by at the University of Cambridge from 1982 to 1985, where he read Philosophy and Law but failed his degree, after focusing his efforts on developing his "What"s on in Cambridge" guide into a profitable business
He was Chairman of the Cambridge University Conservative Association during Easter 1985.
Career
Stuart started his publishing business at university and remains non-executive chairman. He contested the Cambridge constituency as the Conservative Party candidate at the 2001 general election, coming in third place with 9,829 votes, 23% of the share. He was reelected to Cambridge City Council in the 2002 local elections and served until 2004.
Following his election, he said "I plan to be upfront and have a high profile, not only within the constituency but nationally".
He was elected as chair of the Select Committee in June 2010. In 2005, he founded Beverley and Holderness Pensioners Action Group, Community Hospitals Acting Nationally Together (CHANT), a cross-party campaign group and Hull and Holderness Opposing the Incinerator (HOTI Group).
He is vice-chairman of the GLOBE United Kingdom branch of Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment. His successful campaigns in the last Parliament also include defeating legislation on home education and saving the Beverley Pasture Masters.
In 2012 he defeated a proposed increase in Value-Added Tax on static caravans, which are largely manufactured in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
In an interview with The Guardian Stuart described himself as socially liberal, a "deficit hawk" who favours faster cuts to public spending, and an end to welfare dependency. Chair of Schools and Families Select Committee In June 2010 Stuart was elected by MPs as Chair of the Select Committee. Despite being a Conservative Member of Parliament, Stuart frequently disagreed with the Secretary of State for Michael Gove.
His Committee produces up to six reports a year ranging from single evidence inquiries to more detailed examinations into, Schools and Family policy.
Support for European Union membership On 27th February 2016 Stuart came out as a supporter of continued British membership of the European Union, saying, "There has been a whole diet of negative media coverage about the European Union but not a great deal recognising the benefits.".
Views
Following the Parliamentary expenses scandal, Stuart defended his expenses in June 2009, which included spending £426 on bed linen and towels.
Quotations:
"I plan to be upfront and have a high profile, not only within the constituency but nationally".
Membership
54th United Kingdom Parliament. 55th United Kingdom Parliament. 56th United Kingdom Parliament]
He was elected Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness in 2005, gaining reelection in 2010 and 2015.
He was elected as a member of Cambridge City Council for the Cherry Hinton Ward in the 1998 local elections.
Stuart was elected to the House of Commons as Member of Parliament (Member of Parliament) for Beverley and Holderness in the 2005 general election with a majority of 2,580. He was elected a member of the Conservative Party Board by his fellow MPs in 2006.