Wendy Morton

Wendy Morton (born 9 November 1967) is a British Conservative Party politician who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Aldridge-Brownhills since 2015.[1][2] A former Assistant Government Whip, she currently serves as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for European Neighbourhood and the Americas.

Wendy Morton

MP
Morton in 2020
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for European Neighbourhood and the Americas
Assumed office
13 February 2020
Prime MinisterBoris Johnson
Preceded byChristopher Pincher
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice
In office
26 July 2019 – 13 February 2020
Prime MinisterBoris Johnson
Preceded byPaul Maynard
Succeeded byAlex Chalk
Member of Parliament
for Aldridge-Brownhills
Assumed office
7 May 2015
Preceded byRichard Shepherd
Majority19,836 (50.4%)
Personal details
Born (1967-11-09) 9 November 1967
Yorkshire, England
Political partyConservative
Alma materOpen University
Websitewendymorton.co.uk

Early life and career

Morton was born in Yorkshire where she attended local primary and secondary schools. She later gained an MBA with the Open University.

Her career began as an executive officer in HM Diplomatic Service at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office before working in business, in sales and marketing. She then set up an electronics company, with her husband, designing and manufacturing electronic goods for the agricultural industry.

Parliamentary career

Morton contested Newcastle upon Tyne Central constituency in 2005 coming in third place. Morton was selected to fight Tynemouth constituency in the 2010 General Election, Tynemouth was the top Conservative Party target in 2010.[3] Morton would go on to be defeated by Labour's Alan Campbell. Following Morton's defeat, in September 2010 she contested a North Tyneside Council by-election for Battle Hill ward where she came in third place.

Morton was selected for the seat of Aldridge-Brownhills in January 2015, and won the seat in May with 52% share of the vote. She made her maiden speech on 3 June 2015. During the 2017 Parliament, Morton sat on the International Development Select Committee. She was also the Chair of the APPG for Sustainable Development Goals, as well as taking an active interest in several other APPG's.

Her first Private Members bill, NHS (Charitable Trusts, etc.) Bill, received Royal Assent on 23 March 2016 and is now law.[4] Her Second Private Member's Bill the Local Audit (Public Access to Documents) bill received Royal Assent on 27 April 2017.[5]

Morton was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 referendum.[6]

Morton supported Theresa May in the 2016 Conservative Party leadership election.[7]

In the summer of 2016, she was appointed a Parliamentary Private Secretary at the newly created Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

57th Parliament
Morton in 2017

At the 2017 General Election, Morton stood for reelection and increased her majority to 14,307 and gained 65.4% of the vote.[8] In the government reshuffle following the election Morton was promoted to Parliamentary Private Secretary to Secretary of State for International Development Priti Patel at the Department for International Development.[9]

She was made an assistant government whip during the reshuffle on 9 January 2018.[10]

After Boris Johnson won the 2019 Conservative Party leadership election, Morton said that Johnson would bring “real energy, vision and determination” to the role of PM and said: “Now he must get on and deliver Brexit, and importantly get it done by October 31.[11]

She was made a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Ministry of Justice in the Johnson ministry on 26 July 2019.[12]

58th Parliament

Morton stood for reelection at the December 2019 election. Morton increased her majority yet again, obtaining 27,850 votes, which was 70.8% of the vote.[13]

In February 2020 as Minister for Victims, Morton pledged an increase in government funding for rape support services.[14][15]

In the 2020 cabinet reshuffle, Morton was promoted to Minister for European Neighbourhood & the Americas at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.[16][17]

References
  1. "Aldridge-Brownhills Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  2. "Election 2015 Aldridge-Brownhills". Sky News. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2015.
  3. "Wendy Morton gets a boost in Tynemouth as her Lib Dem opponent goes on holiday". ConservativeHome's Seats & Candidates blog. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  4. "NHS (Charitable Trusts Etc) Bill 2015-16". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  5. "Local Audit (Public Access to Documents) Act 2017 — UK Parliament". services.parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  6. Goodenough, Tom (16 February 2016). "Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  7. "Why Theresa May will be a great Prime Minister | Wendy Morton". Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  8. "Aldridge-Brownhills parliamentary constituency - Election 2017". BBC News. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  9. "New PPS List in Full". Guido Fawkes. 28 June 2017. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  10. correspondent, Peter Walker Political (9 January 2018). "Theresa May's junior ministerial reshuffle: who's in and who's out". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  11. Madeley, Peter. "Get on with Brexit, Boris: Tory MPs' plea to Johnson as new Prime Minister". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  12. MP, Wendy Morton (26 July 2019). "Honoured to have been appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to @MoJGovUK by our new PM @BorisJohnson. I am looking forward to working with @RobertBuckland and the team". @morton_wendy. Archived from the original on 31 August 2019. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  13. "Aldridge-Brownhills parliamentary constituency - Election 2019". Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  14. "Wendy Morton MP: Why we're upping funding for rape support services". www.expressandstar.com. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  15. "Boost for York rape support centre". York Press. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  16. "Ministerial appointments: February 2020". GOV.UK. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  17. Kay, Liam. "Entire DfID junior ministerial team merged with Foreign Office". www.thirdsector.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2020.

Further reading
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Richard Shepherd		 Member of Parliament
for Aldridge-Brownhills
2015–present		 Incumbent
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