Matthew Alexander Vickers[1] (born 24 September 1983)[2] is a British politician who serves as the member of Parliament (MP) for Stockton West and Shadow Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire. Prior to boundary changes, he had previously been the MP for Stockton South from 12 December 2019 to 30 May 2024.
Matt Vickers | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2021 | |
| Shadow Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire | |
| Assumed office 19 July 2024 | |
| Leader | Rishi Sunak |
| Preceded by | Alex Norris |
| Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party | |
| In office 9 July 2022 – 19 August 2024 | |
| Leader | Boris Johnson Liz Truss Rishi Sunak |
| Preceded by | Justin Tomlinson |
| Member of Parliament for Stockton West Stockton South (2019–2024) | |
| Assumed office 12 December 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Williams |
| Majority | 2,139 (4.4%) |
| Member of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council for Hartburn | |
| In office May 2015 – April 2021 Serving with Lynn Hall | |
| Preceded by | Ken Lupton |
| Succeeded by | Niall Innes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 September 1983 Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Alma mater | Teesside University |
| Website | mattvickers |
Early life
editVickers was born in University Hospital of North Tees to local business owners Hilary and Alexander Vickers.[3][4] He grew up in Stockton-on-Tees and has three brothers.[5] He studied law and business management at Teesside University[6] and previously worked at Woolworths and Home Bargains including in a management role.[7][8][9]
Local political career
editVickers stood for election in the Norton West ward on the Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council in 2007 and 2011 losing to Labour Party candidates Ann and Dick Cains[10] and David and Norma Wilburn respectively.[11] In 2015 he stood for election in the Hartburn ward and became a councillor and leader of the Conservative group on the council from May 2015 until April 2021, when he stood down forcing a by-election.[12]
Between 2009 and 2019, he was the constituency agent for Richmond (Yorks). Vickers initially worked with William Hague. Following Hague's retirement, Vickers helped to run Rishi Sunak's successful general election campaigns in 2015 and 2017.[13]
Vickers stood as the Conservative candidate for Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner in 2016 losing to Barry Coppinger after the second preference votes were counted with a 37.9% vote share.[14][15]
After being elected as an MP in 2019 he faced criticism due to his ongoing representation as a councillor whilst an elected MP, being labelled as a "part time MP" by other councillors from the region.[16] In response to criticism, Vickers highlighted how he did not claim any expenses and donated all his councillor salary to three local charities, which helped veterans, those suffering with dementia and homelessness in the constituency.[17] At the time of his departure as a councillor, his allowance amounted to a minimum of £9,300 per year.[18][19] The only confirmed recipient of a donation is The Teesside Dementia Link Services who received a £500 donation from his councillor allowance.[20]
Parliamentary career
editHe was elected as MP for Stockton South at the 2019 general election with a majority of 5,260. The seat had previously been held by Labour's Paul Williams.[21] From March 2020 to 16 January 2021, Vickers sat on the Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union.[22]
As of September 2020, Matt Vickers has served as the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Retail.[23]
On 19 November 2020, Vickers backed the home secretary, Priti Patel, after a Cabinet Office inquiry found evidence that Patel had breached the ministerial code following bullying allegations, publicly supporting Patel: "[Patel] is one of the most hardworking Home Secretaries this country has had."[24]
Vickers, along with 22 other MPs, wrote to Attorney General Suella Braverman in August 2020 requesting that the killing of police officer Andrew Harper case, where the perpetrators were convicted of manslaughter, be referred to the Court of Appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme as he supported a life imprisonment.[25]
He has been a member of the Petitions Committee since 1 March 2021.[22] Vickers opened the debate for e-petition 593775 relating to the use of cages for farmed animals.[26]
On 27 September 2021, Vickers wrote a letter to the House of Commons director of catering requesting that the Teesside dish the chicken Parmo be added to the menu. After a successful campaign, the Parmo was added to the menu for a short period of time.[27]
He was a member of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee from 19 October 2021 to 21 June 2022.[22]
Vickers was a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee and the Justice Select Committee from 15 March to 27 June 2022.[22]
Following a rebellion in which 36 MPs signed Vickers' amendment to the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022, the Secretary of State for Justice pledged to introduce measures to make assaults on those performing a duty to the public a statutory aggravating factor in the form of Lords Amendment 104. Vickers subsequently hailed this as "a landmark victory for shop workers and retail staff across the country".[28][29]
In June 2022, during the vote of no confidence in the Conservative Party leadership of Boris Johnson, Vickers publicly supported Johnson.[30]
On 13 June 2022, Vickers was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Office ministerial team, alongside Luke Evans.[31]
In July 2022, Vickers was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party.[32]
Vickers led a debate in the House of Commons for tougher measures against off-road bikes and other anti-social behaviour in Stockton in July 2023 and continues to advocate for cooperation between local police and his constituents.[33][34]
In November 2023, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt extended the 75% retail, hospitality, and leisure business relief rates until April 2025. Hunt publicly thanked Vickers for his tenacious campaigning on this issue in his Autumn Statement address on 22 November 2023.[35]
In the 2024 general election, he was elected in Stockton West as the only Conservative in the whole of the North East of England.[36] He has been Shadow Minister of State for Crime, Policing and Fire since July 2024.[37]
References
edit- ^ "Members Sworn". UK Parliament. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ Brunskill, Ian (19 March 2020). The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election. HarperCollins Publishers Limited. p. 342. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1. OCLC 1129682574.
- ^ "VICKERS CONSTRUCTION LIMITED people - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ "Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council - Register of Interests for Cllr Hilary Vickers". www.egenda.stockton.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ GB News (2 November 2021). The Real Me: Matt Vickers, MP for Stockton South. YouTube. Event occurs at 00:33.
- ^ "Teesside University | 🎓 Always good to visit my former uni: Teesside University. It has gone through some big changes since my time there, ready to nurture and provide the... | By Matt Vickers MP | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ Brown, Mike (13 December 2019). "Who is Matt Vickers? Meet the councillor and Brexiteer who's the new MP for Stockton South". Teesside Live. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ Hill, Henry (2 November 2018). "Matthew Vickers selected for Stockton South". Conservative Home. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ Courtez, Jack (9 June 2021). "Conservative MP calls on government to back down and support new laws to protect shop workers". betterRetailing. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project - 2007 - Stockton-on-Tees". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project - 2011 - Stockton-on-Tees". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ Metcalfe, Alex (10 March 2021). "Teesside MP Matt Vickers to step down from role as councillor". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ "Join Rishi in saying farewell and thanks to Matt". Richmond (Yorks). Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ "Barry Coppinger re-elected as Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner". BBC News. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
- ^ "Barry Coppinger re-elected as Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner". BBC News. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
- ^ Metcalfe, Alex (28 July 2020). "Matt Vickers criticised as 'part time MP' - but claims he was 'booted out' of fiery council meeting". Teesside Live. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
- ^ Nolan, Laura (19 August 2020). "MP speaks on decision to remain as a local councillor after criticism". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ "Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council – Annual Financial Statements 2020/21 (Members' Allowances 1 April 2020 – 31 March 2021)". Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ "Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Member Expenses for 2019–20 (Members' Allowances)" (PDF). Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- ^ "Teesside Dementia Link Services – Thank you Matt Vickers". tdls2016.org. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ "Stockton South parliamentary constituency – Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ a b c d "Parliamentary career for Matt Vickers". UK Parliament. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ Jahshan, Elias (2 September 2020). "Cross party parliamentary group formed to back retail industry". Retail Gazette. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
- ^ Scott, Jim (20 November 2020). "North-East MPs defend Priti Patel amid allegations of bullying". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ Vickers, Matt (5 August 2020). "Matt Vickers: The killing of Andrew Harper. Why I, alongside 22 other MPs, wrote to the Attorney General last Friday". Conservative Home. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
- ^ "Hansard". 20 June 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ Dawson, Kirsty (27 September 2021). "Teesside MP calls for Parmos to be served in Parliament – but not everyone is impressed". Teesside Live. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ Vickers, Matt (6 July 2021). Very happy with the Government's commitment to legislate to protect retail workers following yesterday's debate. Twitter. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
- ^ "Matt Vickers applauds "fair and just" new measures in PCSC Bill to protect retail workers". Matt Vickers. 15 March 2022. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ "Full list: the Tory MPs backing Boris Johnson". The Spectator. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ Heale, James [@JAHeale] (13 June 2022). "-Luke Evans and Matt Vickers to the Home Office team" (Tweet). Retrieved 14 June 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Larman, Connor (12 July 2022). "Stockton MP Matt Vickers 'delighted' to be appointed deputy chairman of Conservative Party". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Antisocial Behaviour and Off-road Bikes". Hansard. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ Lightfoot, Gareth (13 July 2023). "MP Matt Vickers leads off-road bikes debate in Parliament". Teesside Gazette. Teesside Live. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ Hunt, Jeremy. "Autumn Statement 2023". Hansard. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ "General election: Matt Vickers re-elected as last Conservative MP standing on Teesside". Yahoo News. 5 July 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Conservative Party announces interim Opposition Front Bench". policymogul.com. Retrieved 25 July 2024.