Andrew Bingham

Andrew Bingham MP
Member of Parliament for High Peak
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 May 2010
Preceded by	Tom Levitt
Majority	4,894 (9.6%)
Personal details
Born	23 June 1962 Buxton, Derbyshire, England
Nationality	British
Political party	Conservative
Residence	Chapel-en-le-Frith
Alma mater	University of Derby
Profession	Businessman
Website	andrewbingham.org parliament..andrew-bingham

Andrew Russell Bingham^[1] (born 23 June 1962)^[2] is a British Conservative Party politician. He was first elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for High Peak in Derbyshire^[3] at the 2010 general election gaining the seat from Labour. Bingham was appointed the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Minister of State for the Armed Forces Mark Francois MP in July 2014.^[4]

Early life

Bingham was born in Buxton and was raised there before his family moved to Chapel-en-le-Frith. He attended Long Lane Comprehensive School (now known as Chapel-en-le-Frith High School).^[5] He worked as a Director in his father's business before being elected to parliament, supplying engineering equipment to companies across the High Peak and North West England.

Political career

Bingham was first elected onto High Peak Borough Council in the 1999 district council elections, and was Councillor for Chapel West ward until the 2011 local elections. When the Conservatives gained control of the council in 2007 he became executive member for Social and Community Development.^[6]

After losing by 735 votes to the incumbent Labour MP Tom Levitt at the 2005 general election, Bingham regained the High Peak seat for the Conservatives at the 2010 general election. He gave his maiden speech in the House of Commons on 8 June 2010, during which he claimed to have the most beautiful constituency in the UK.

In 2010 he was appointed to the Work and Pensions Select Committee.^[7]

In July 2014, Bingham was appointed to the Government, to be Parliamentary Private Secretary to the newly promoted Minister of State for the Armed Forces Mark Francois.^[8] Although not paid other than their salary as an MP, PPSs help government ministers to track backbench MPs' opinions in Parliament. They are subject to some restrictions as outlined in the Ministerial Code of the British government such as avoiding "associating themselves with recommendations critical of, or embarrassing to the Government", and must not make statements or ask questions on matters affecting the minister's department. He was re-elected for his constituency in the 2015 general election with 45% of votes. Following the 2015 general election he was appointed as PPS to Justine Greening, Secretary of State for International Development.

Rebellions

Bingham has rarely rebelled against his party's line since being elected (just 2.9% of votes).^[9] Some of the his rebellions were over voting against the reform of the House of Lords, the introduction of same-sex marriage, reducing the voting age to 16,^[10] and the introduction of the right to recall MPs.^[11]

Other rebellions include:

• voting to require payments to Equitable Life policyholders to be made irrespective of the date on which policies were taken out. of Bingham's first rebellions was to vote for payments to Equitable Life policyholders to be made irrespective of the date on ^[12]
• on the issue of legal aid reform for victims of mesothelioma.^[13] Bingham spoke in the debate.^[14]
• against increases to the 2011 EU budget,^[15] and he also rebelled against the Government in October 2012, calling for the EU to cut its budget.^[16]
• In addition to his rebellions about the EU budget, Bingham was one of the 81 Conservative MPs who voted against the Government in October 2011, supporting a motion proposing a debate on UK membership of the European Union.^[17]
• In August 2013 he was among 30 Conservative MPs who voted against the Government on the issue of the UK's military involvement in the Syrian civil war.^[18]

Before becoming bound by the Ministerial Code, as a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Mr Bingham's various rebellions against the Government once led to one national newspaper to describe him as a 'serial rebel'.^[19]

Same-sex marriage

Mr Bingham also controversially opposed the government's ultimately successful legislation to introduce same-sex marriage.^[20] He stated that he knew his decision would 'upset' people but "felt after much thought and consideration that marriage as the union of one man and woman has existed for thousands of years and [he] couldn't support the changes proposed".^[21]

Campaigns

Mottram–Tintwistle Bypass

Since being elected Bingham has been involved with the campaign for a bypass of the village of Tintwistle in his constituency (commonly known as the A57/A628 bypass, or the Mottram–Tintwistle Bypass). He has met campaigners for the bypass,^[22] raised the issue at PMQs,^[23] held a parliamentary debate about the bypass,^[24][25] and secured a visit by the Transport Minister, Norman Baker.^[26][27]

Since the Minister's visit, Bingham has organised a number of meetings with a group of key stakeholders to find a way forward,^[28] as well as continuing to raise the issue of the bypass with Ministers in the House of Commons.^[29]

Corbar Birth Centre

In May 2011, Derbyshire County NHS announced a review of the future of Corbar Birth Centre in Buxton. Bingham spoke out in support of the birth centre^[30] and joined the campaign to save it.^[31] Amongst other things,^[32] Bingham raised the issue at PMQs^[33][34] and organised an action day across the constituency in conjunction with the National Childbirth Trust.^[35][36]

Despite this, members of the NHS Derby City and NHS Derbyshire County cluster voted unanimously to close Corbar,^[37][38] a decision which Bingham described as 'misinformed, misguided and wrong'.^[39]

East Midlands Ambulance Service

In the summer of 2012, East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) announced plans to close the ambulance stations in Buxton and New Mills and replace them with a central hub in Chesterfield. Bingham met with EMAS to put his concerns to them and to state the case for an extra hub in the High Peak.^[40] A vocal opponent of the EMAS proposals,^[41] Bingham consistently warned about the length of the journey from the proposed central hub in Chesterfield,^[42] saying he had 'grave concerns' that the plans would put lives at risk.^[43] He also secured a short debate about the EMAS proposals in the House of Commons chamber,^[44] during which he re-stated his opposition to the plans.^[45][46]

In March the following year, EMAS announced that they had agreed to retain an ambulance station in the High Peak,^[47] a decision which Bingham cautiously welcomed.^[48]

Rural broadband

Bingham has also campaigned for better access to broadband in rural parts of his constituency, which he has said would benefit small businesses and the rural economy.^[49] He has spoken in various debates on the issue in the House of Commons,^[50] and in the course of one of them said that he regards broadband as the 'fourth utility' "as it is vital that businesses have it".^[51]

Local events organised

Since being elected, Bingham has organised a number of local events either to raise money for charity or to support activities in the High Peak.^[52] These have included a funding information day for local charities in early 2011,^[53] a sponsored walk with Conservative MEP Emma McClarkin and a charity cricket match in 2013. In 2011 he organised a 'Small Business Day', with the aim of giving local businesses easy access to useful information^[54] and in September 2012 Bingham hosted a 'Business Export Seminar' to help local businesses that wanted to start exporting.^[55]

Personal life

Bingham follows most sports, particularly cricket and football. He has supported Buxton F.C. since he was a boy, saying that he prefers lower division football over the "glitzy image of the Premiership".^[56] He is also an enthusiastic cook and enjoys cooking for friends and family.

He has been married to Jayne Bingham^[57] since 1986 and they live together in Chapel-en-le-Frith.

References

1. The London Gazette: no. 59418. p. 8740. 13 May 2010.
2. "Andrew Bingham MP". BBC Democracy Live. BBC. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
3. "Getting to Work". Andrew Bingham. 15 May 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
4. "Full PPS Reshuffle List". Guido Fawkes. 22 July 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
5. "Andrew Bingham". London: Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
6. "High Peak Borough Council – Press Releases – Profile: Cllr Andrew Bingham – Executive, Social and Community Development". High Peak Borough Council. 17 September 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
7. "Andrew Bingham MP Biography". www.parliament.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
8. "Reshuffle (continued): The full list of every PPS". www.conservativehome.com. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
9. "Voting Record – Andrew Bingham MP, High Peak". publicwhip.org.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
10. "Reduce Voting Age to 16 – 24 Jan 2013 at 14:11". publicwhip.org.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
11. "Recall of MPs Bill – Process for Prompting a New Election for a Constituency's MP – 27 Oct 2014 at 21:45". publicwhip.org.uk. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
12. "Equitable Life (Payments) Bill – Clause 1 – Payments – 10 Nov 2010 at 14:45". publicwhip.org.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
13. "Exception in respiratory (industrial disease or illness) cases". Hansard. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
14. "Exception in respiratory (industrial disease or illness) cases". Andrew Bingham. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
15. "Draft EU Budget 2011 – 13 Oct 2010 at 20:24". publicwhip.org.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
16. "Multiannual Financial Framework". Hansard. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
17. "In full: MPs who backed EU referendum motion". BBC. 25 October 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
18. "Syria debate: the Tory rebels who voted against government on military action". The Guardian. 30 August 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
19. "Tory rebels entrench their positions". The Independent. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
20. "MP-by-MP: Gay marriage vote". BBC News. 5 February 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
21. "Marriage (Same-Sex Couples) Bill". Andrew Bingham. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
22. "Andrew meets with Longdendale Bypass Siege Committee". Glossop Chronicle. 18 January 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
23. "Oral Answers to Questions: Prime Minister". Hansard. 24 November 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
24. "Andrew Bingham MP – Mottram / Tintwistle Bypass Debate 21/12/10". Youtube. 11 January 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
25. "MP Andrew Bingham win promise of ministerial visit over Tintwistle-Mottram bypass". Manchester Evening News. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
26. "New hope for Glossopdale bypass". Glossop Advertiser. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
27. "Bypass Wait". Glossop Chronicle. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
28. "Supporters to put business case forward for Mottram-Tintwistle bypass". Glossop Advertiser. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
29. "Road Capacity (North-West)". Hansard. 29 November 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
30. "A6 birth fears". Buxton Advertiser. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
31. "MP Andrew asks for Corbar to be removed from consultation". Buxton Advertiser. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
32. "Petition calls for Corbar to be saved". Buxton Advertiser. 9 September 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
33. "Prime Minister's Questions". Hansard. 6 July 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
34. "Corbar fight goes to Westminster". Buxton Advertiser. 15 July 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
35. "Chance to sign petition during NCT Action day". Buxton Advertiser. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
36. "People Power!". Buxton Advertiser. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
37. "Darley Dale and Corbar maternity units to close". BBC News. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
38. "Corbar's future could go to Health Secretary". Buxton Advertiser. 18 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
39. "Andrew reacts to Corbar closure decision". Andrew Bingham. 7 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
40. "'Void' at heart of 999 proposal". Buxton Advertiser. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
41. "Anger over new pledge". Buxton Advertiser. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
42. "Concerns over High Peak ambulance hub plans". itv.com. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
43. "Ambulance hubs 'put lives at risk'". The Sunday Express. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
44. "Christmas Adjournment – Health". Hansard. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
45. "Andrew Bingham MP – EMAS speech 20-12-12". Youtube. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
46. "MP takes case to the top". Derbyshire Times. 29 December 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
47. "High Peak to keep an ambulance station". Derbyshire Times. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
48. "Andrew reacts to EMAS decision". Andrew Bingham. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
49. "Andrew delighted at New Mills broadband news". Andrew Bingham. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
50. Warman, Matt (20 May 2011). "MPs push for better rural broadband". London: Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
51. "Rural Broadband and Mobile Coverage". Hansard. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
52. "Supporting and promoting the High Peak". Andrew Bingham. 11 June 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
53. "Andrew's Funding Information Day proves a success". Andrew Bingham. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
54. "Minister hails business event". Buxton Advertiser. 21 September 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
55. "Peak MP's bid to help businesses". Buxton Advertiser. 25 June 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
56. "About Andrew". Andrew Bingham. 8 June 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2011.
57. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/new-mps-win-dedicated-to-dad-889453

External links

• The Conservative Party – People – Members of Parliament – Cllr Andrew Bingham MP
• High Peak Conservatives
• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Current session contributions in Parliament at Hansard
• Voting record at Public Whip
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou