Angela Richardson – A Tory Rebel’s Story

Angela Richardson is the MP for Guildford, a constituency in Surrey, England. She is also one of the most rebellious MPs in the Conservative Party, having defied the government whip on several occasions and resigned from her junior ministerial role in protest of Boris Johnson’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. In this article, we will explore the life and career of Angela Richardson MP, from her origins in New Zealand to her rise and fall in British politics. We will also examine her views on various issues, such as Brexit, education, climate change, and social justice. Angela Richardson is a Tory rebel with a story to tell.

Angela Richardson – Birth, Parents and Background

Born in West Auckland, New Zealand on 21 October 1974, Angela Richardson MP is the child of John and Joy Richardson, who both worked as teachers. She has two siblings: a brother named David, who practises law in New Zealand, and a sister named Sarah, who works as a nurse in Australia.  Angela Richardson came to the UK in 1998 and tied the knot with Jeremy Bruce Richardson, a British national, in 2000. They are parents to three children: James, Emily and Oliver. They reside in Ewhurst, Surrey, which is part of her Guildford constituency.

Career Journey

Angela Richardson started her career in investment banking operations in Auckland, New Zealand, before moving to the UK in 1998. She worked for Axa Investment Managers in the City of London.  She got involved in local politics and ran for Waverley Borough Council in May 2019, but did not get elected. She became a member of Cranleigh Parish Council later that month.

She was chosen as the Conservative Party candidate for Guildford in November 2019, after the previous MP Anne Milton left the party over Brexit.  She won the seat at the 2019 general election, beating Milton who stood as an independent. She took her oath in the House of Commons on 18 December 2019. She was appointed as a vice-chair of the APPG for Australia and New Zealand and worked as a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the ministerial team at the Department for Education. She then became a PPS to Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove.

Present Role

Angela Richardson MP serves on various parliamentary committees at present, such as the Human Rights (Joint Committee), the Cultural Objects (Protection From Seizure) Bill Committee, and the Skills and Post-16 Education [HL] Bill Committee. She also holds the position of vice-chair of the APPG for Australia and New Zealand. She is the Conservative MP for Guildford and has been an MP without interruption since 12 December 2019. She won the seat with a majority of 3,337 over the Liberal Democrats.

Controversies

Angela Richardson MP has faced some controversies in her political career. These are some of the major ones:

• She lost and regained her job as a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to the ministerial team at the Department for Education and Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove in November 2021, after she did not vote on a motion to change the rules to prevent Owen Paterson, a Tory MP who was found to have breached lobbying rules, from being temporarily banned from parliament.
• She quit as a PPS to Michael Gove in January 2022, after Sue Gray’s report on violations of lockdown rules in Downing Street was published. She said she was “deeply disappointed” by the way the partygate scandal was handled and said there were “failings” at No.10 that “let us all down.”
• She opposed the government’s plan to raise National Insurance in September 2021, calling it “unfair” and “regressive”. She also questioned the lack of detail on how the money would be used for social care.
• She received criticism from some of her constituents for backing Brexit and voting for Boris Johnson’s withdrawal deal, even though Guildford voted to stay in the EU in the 2016 referendum. She said she respected the outcome of the referendum and wanted to fulfil the people’s wish.

Social Media

Angela Richardson’s Instagram account is @angelajrichardson_mp, whereas her X account is @AJRichardsonMP. Additionally, she also has a Facebook profile @Angela Richardson MP.

Bottom Line

Angela Richardson’s story as a Tory rebel showcases her determination to stand up for her beliefs and challenge the Conservative Party’s agenda. From her defiance on crucial issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit to her work as an MP serving her constituents, Richardson remains a prominent figure in British politics.