Andrew Bingham

Andrew Bingham MP
Member of Parliament for High Peak
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 May 2010
Preceded by	Tom Levitt
Majority	4,677 (9.3%)
Personal details
Born	(1962-06-23) 23 June 1962 (age 49) Buxton, Derbyshire, England
Nationality	British
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Jayne Bingham
Residence	Chapel-en-le-Frith
Alma mater	University of Derby
Profession	Businessman
Website	http://www.andrewbingham.org/

Andrew Russell Bingham^[1] (born 23 June 1962)^[2] is a British Conservative Party politician. He has been Member of Parliament (MP) for High Peak in Derbyshire^[3] since winning the seat at the 2010 general election.

Early life

Bingham was born in Buxton and grew up there before later moving to Chapel-en-le-Frith. He attended Long Lane Comprehensive School - now known as Chapel-en-le-Frith High School.^[4]

Profession

Bingham has worked in industry most of his life supplying engineering equipment to companies across the High Peak and North West England.

Political career

Bingham was first elected onto High Peak Borough Council at the 1999 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.^[5]

He was first elected to the House of Commons at the 2010 general election after 11 years service on High Peak Borough Council. After his election he stated that with respect to his role as Councillor for Chapel West ward, he intended to continue in the role until the next local elections in 2011, Bingham also said this is due to the fact that a by-election would cost council tax payers several thousand pounds.

However he resigned his role as Executive Member for Social and Community Development as he said that it would not be possible to fulfil this role whilst being Member of Parliament at the same time.^[6] On 11 May 2010, Cllr Jean Wharmby was appointed as Bingham's successor as Executive Member for Social and Community Development.^[7]

He was the Conservative candidate for the High Peak in the 2005 general election where he narrowly failed to win the seat by 735 votes to the incumbent MP Tom Levitt.

He gave his maiden speech to the House of Commons on 8 June 2010, in which he claimed to have the most beautiful constituency in the UK.

In 2010 he was appointed to the Work and Pensions Select Committee.^[8]

Campaigns

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 members of the Longdendale Siege Committee, who are campaigning for the bypass,^[9] and also asked the Prime Minister about the issue in PMQs on 24 November 2010.^[10] Bingham also secured a parliamentary debate about the bypass on 21 December 2010^[11] in which he invited the Transport Minister Norman Baker to visit the area.^[12][13][14] The Transport Minister's visit took place on 26 May 2011, where he recommended that local campaigners concentrated on having a plan ready for the next spending review in 2015.^{[15][16][17][18]}

In May 2011 Derbyshire County NHS announced a review of the future of Corbar Birth Centre in Buxton.^[19] Bingham immediately spoke out in support of the birth centre^[20][21] and wrote to the health trust, asking them to remove Corbar Birth Centre from the review.^[22] Following this, Bingham had a meeting with the National Childbirth Trust, and with them organised an action day across the constituency on the 18th June 2011,^[23][24] which gained significant media coverage.^[25] Bingham took the campaign to Westminster in July 2011, asking the Prime Minister a question about Corbar Birthing Unit during PMQs.^[26][27][28] On 2 September 2011 campaigners against the closure travelled to the trust headquarters in Chesterfield, where Andrew handed over a petition of more than 4,600 names to Derbyshire County NHS bosses.^[29][30] The day before the decision was due to be made, Bingham wrote a final letter to Derbyshire County NHS bosses^[31] which they read out at the meeting on 7 December 2011. During the meeting, members of the NHS Derby City and NHS Derbyshire County cluster voted unanimously to close Corbar.^[32][33] Following their decision, Bingham expressed his disappointment, saying that he thought the decision was 'misinformed, misguided and wrong',^[34] and adding that he hoped the Improvement and Scrutiny Committee on Derbyshire County Council would refer the decision to the Secretary of State for Health. This too was unsuccessful, although Bingham had already written to the Secretary of State seeking a meeting if the decision had been referred.^[35]

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.^[36] He has spoken in various debates on the issue in the House of Commons,^[37][38] 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".^[39]

Personal life

Bingham is a keen follower of most sports particularly cricket and football. He has been a follower of Buxton F.C. since he was a boy, preferring the local aspect of lower division football over the glitzy image of the Premiership.^[40] He is also an enthusiastic cook and enjoys cooking for friends and family.

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

References

External links

• The Conservative Party - People - Members of Parliament - Cllr Andrew Bingham MP
• High Peak Conservatives