Kris Hopkins

Kristan Frederick Hopkins[1] (born 8 June 1963)[2] is a British Conservative Party politician, who was formerly the Member of Parliament for Keighley in West Yorkshire.[3] Elected in 2010, he served as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household, a government whip. He was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Department for Communities and Local Government[4] and the former housing minister. He lost his seat in the 2017 general election.

Kris Hopkins
Hopkins in 2015
Minister of State for Northern Ireland
In office
17 July 2016 – 9 June 2017
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Preceded byBen Wallace
Succeeded byChloe Smith
Vice-Chamberlain of the Household
In office
11 May 2015 – 17 July 2016
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byAnne Milton
Succeeded byJulian Smith
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Communities and Local Government
In office
15 July 2014 – 11 May 2015
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byBrandon Lewis
Succeeded byBaroness Williams of Trafford
Minister of State for Housing and Local Government
In office
7 October 2013 – 15 July 2014
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byMark Prisk
Succeeded byBrandon Lewis
Member of Parliament
for Keighley
In office
6 May 2010 – 3 May 2017
Preceded byAnn Cryer
Succeeded byJohn Grogan
Personal details
Born (1963-06-08) 8 June 1963
NationalityBritish
Political partyConservative
ResidenceOakworth, West Yorkshire
Alma materLeeds Trinity University
Websitewww.krishopkins.co.uk

Military career

Hopkins served in Kenya, Northern Ireland and Germany as a Private in the Duke of Wellington's Regiment.[5][6]

Academic career

According to his CV, on leaving the Army he completed a degree in communications and cultural studies at Leeds University before going on to lecture in media theory, communications and digital media. His CV gives neither dates nor places for any of these activities. He actually studied at Trinity and All Saints College in Horsforth, Leeds (now Leeds Trinity University).[7] The college's degrees at that time were awarded externally by the University of Leeds.

Political career

Hopkins had stood twice for Parliament before being elected, when he was second to Linda Riordan in the 2005 election for the seat of Halifax, also in West Yorkshire and for the Leeds West Constituency in 2001.

Before his election to Parliament, Hopkins had been a member of Bradford Council since 1998, rising to become the council's deputy leader in 2004 and leader in 2006.

In 2012, Hopkins alleged that some Muslim gangs were targeting young white girls for rape, saying: "if we deny that fact in this House then the BNP and everybody else climbs on board" and suggested that law enforcement was hindered in pursuing them by "political correctness".[8]

In October 2013, Hopkins appointed Minister for Housing.[9] Conservative Party colleague Nadine Dorries called the promotion of Hopkins to a junior ministerial posts "a really awful decision", describing him on Twitter as "one of parliament's slimiest, nastiest MP's".[10] Therese Coffey defended Hopkins, describing him as "authentic and brave"[10]

In the July 2014 reshuffle, Hopkins became minister for local government and adult social care.[11]

Following the May 2015 general election, Hopkins was appointed Vice-Chamberlain of the Household - a senior position within the whips' office. He was a losing candidate in the general election of 8 June 2017.[12] He later became a Special Adviser at the Northern Ireland Office.[13]

References
  1. "No. 59418". The London Gazette. 13 May 2010. p. 8739.
  2. "Democracy Live: Your representatives: Kris Hopkins". BBC. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  3. "Election 2010: Keighley". BBC News. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  4. "Kris Hopkins - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  5. "Conservative MP Hopkins questions Sinn Fein expenses" news.bbc.co.uk 27 July 2010 Link retrieved 27 July 2010
  6. Watt, Nicholas (29 April 2012). "New Conservative MPs bid to oust old guard from key committee". The Guardian. London.
  7. "Alumni". Leeds Trinity University. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  8. "Muslim gang 'white rape' claim prompts row". BBC News. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  9. Kelly, Liam (8 October 2013). "Reshuffle: Kris Hopkins appointed housing minister". The Guardian. London.
  10. "Nadine Dorries launches Twitter attack on promoted Tory MP". The Guardian. 8 October 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  11. Kelly, Liam (15 July 2014). "Brandon Lewis promoted to housing and planning minister in reshuffle". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  12. "'I'll hit the ground running,' says Keighley's new Labour MP John Grogan after taking seat from Conservatives' Kris Hopkins". Telegraph & Argus. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
  13. Blanchard, Jack (22 May 2018). "London Playbook: Ruth bomb for No. 10 — Manchester remembers — Hammond sandwich". POLITICO. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Ann Cryer		 Member of Parliament for Keighley
2010–2017		 Succeeded by
John Grogan
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