James Clappison
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James Clappison MP
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Member of Parliament
for Hertsmere |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 9 April 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Cecil Parkinson |
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| Majority | 11,093 (26.1%) |
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| Born | 14 September 1956 Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | Helen Margherita Carter |
| Alma mater | Queen's College, Oxford |
William James Clappison, commonly known as James Clappison, (born September 14, 1956) British politician and barrister. He is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hertsmere.
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[edit] Personal life
The son of a Yorkshire farmer, James Clappison was born in Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire and educated at the independent St Peter's School, York, before attending The Queen's College, Oxford where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics in 1978. While at Queen's, he was elected to the presidency of the Junior Common Room as a Conservative.
He was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn in 1981 and has been a practising barrister since.
He married Helen Margherita Carter in July 1984 in Leeds and they have a son (born March 1987) and three daughters (born April 1985, August 1989 and April 1995). He was a supporter of Kenneth Clarke.
[edit] Parliamentary career
He contested the safe Labour parliamentary seat of Barnsley East at the 1987 General Election where he came second, some 23,511 votes behind Terry Patchett. He also contested the Yorkshire South European Parliament seat at the Euro elections of 1989. He was selected to fight the May 1990 Bootle by-election following the death of Allan Roberts. He was defeated by Mike Carr by 23,517 votes. Carr served as the Labour MP for Bootle for just 57 days before he died of a heart attack on July 20, 1990. Clappison contested Bootle again at the November by-election where he was defeated heavily once more by the new Labour candidate Joe Benton to the tune of 19,465 votes.
He was rewarded for his efforts by securing the nomination for the safely Conservative seat of Hertsmere which became vacant on the retirement of Cecil Parkinson. James Clappison was safely elected at the 1992 General Election with a majority of 18,735. He made his maiden speech on May 19, 1992, [1] during which he spoke of the organised crimes and anti-semitism against his Jewish constituents. On his election he became the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Emily Blatch at the Department of Education, and from 1994 at the Home Office. He was promoted to government by John Major in 1995 as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for the Environment until the defeat of the Major government at the 1997 General Election.
In opposition Clappison was a spokesman on Home Affairs, before being moved to Education and Employment by William Hague in 1999 and then to speak on treasury matters in 2000. Under the leadership of Iain Duncan Smith he was a spokesman of Work and Pensions until he left the frontbench in 2002, and has been a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee since.
In 2009, Mr Clappison was involved in the Parliamentary expenses scandal, claiming over £100,000 over a seven year period whilst owning 24 houses. He made claims for maintenance, groceries, utility bills and gardening, including regularly billing for the £400 per month maximum permitted for food, including periods when Parliament was in recess.
Other claims included mobile phone bills of over £100 per month (including over a 7 month period in 2006, he ran up a mobile phone bill of £631.82, of which the taxpayer were billed £315.91), £3,166 since 2004 for work on his garden, a new bed for £719, a new washing machine for £578, and an ice cream maker for £69.50, right down to items like an alarm clock for £2, and a "smoothie glass" for 50p.
According to the Telegraph, in a typical month, he claimed £300 for food, and up to £125 for a cleaner.
He claimed the astonishingly large amount of £871 for spouse travel, despite her being unelected and their main home being less than 20 miles from Westminster. He charged £256 for his family to travel too.
In response, Clappison stated, as have so many other MPs, that the “fees office found my claims were not only entirely within the rules but also within the spirit of the rules”.
The only item he has repaid the taxpayer are for bedding plants, worth £38.50.
[edit] External links
- Guardian Unlimited Politics - Ask Aristotle: James Clappison MP
- TheyWorkForYou.com - James Clappison MP
- The Public Whip - James Clappison MP voting record
- BBC News - James Clappison profile 10 February, 2005
[edit] News items
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
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| Preceded by Cecil Parkinson |
Member of Parliament for Hertsmere 1992 – present |
Incumbent |
