Chris McDonald FREng FRGS FIMMM FIChemE (born 1976 or 1977[1]) is a British Labour Party politician, chemical engineer and former business executive, who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Stockton North since 2024.
Chris McDonald | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of Parliament for Stockton North | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Alex Cunningham |
| Majority | 7,939 (21.2%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1976 or 1977 (age 47–48)[1] Hartlepool[1] |
| Political party | Labour |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge (BA, MEng) University of Warwick (MBA) |
| Website | Official website  |
Between 2014 and 2024, McDonald was the CEO of the Materials Processing Institute, after leading its divestment from Tata Steel.
Early life and education
editChris McDonald was born in Hartlepool, and grew up in Blackhall.[1] He first worked at British Steel before they sponsored him to read Chemical Engineering at Churchill College, Cambridge, where he graduated with BA and MEng degrees in 2000.[2][3] He thereafter read for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at the University of Warwick.[citation needed]
Industrial career
edit
Upon graduation, McDonald worked in various roles in the steel industry, but focused on research.[2][4]
In 2008, McDonald became a laboratory manager within the research division of Tata Steel.[4]
In 2014, McDonald led the divestment of Tata Steel UK's research and development centre in Grangetown, which would form the independent Materials Processing Institute, becoming it's CEO.[5][4] In 2016, he launched the Institute's commercial steel-making operation from its facility on Teesside.[6][7][8]
In 2018, McDonald appeared on BBC Radio 4 Today, to discuss the future of the British steel industry.[9][10][11][12][13] As CEO of the Materials Processing Institute, McDonald helped secure a £3 million investment from the Tees Valley Growth Deal to build the Institute's SME Technology Centre.[14] He has also oversaw the development of a doctoral academy at the Institute, "The Millman Scholarships".[15] He also, jointly with the Institution of Chemical Engineers, launched a fellowship in the memory of chemical engineer and MP Ashok Kumar, who died in 2010.[16]
He is a fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers,[17][16] the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining,[17] the Royal Geographical Society,[18][17] and Royal Academy of Engineering.[19][20]
Politics
editIn March 2023, McDonald was selected as Parliamentary candidate for Labour in the 2024 election for the constituency of Stockton North, to replace Alex Cunningham, who had announced he was standing down.[21][22] On being selected, he said his two main priorities were "creating opportunities for young people" and transitioning industry, particularly in Billingham, "to [a] green industry"[23] At the election he came first with a majority of 7,939 over second place Reform.[24][25] In July, McDonald was made a parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.[16]
As an MP he has advocated for residence of council estates for which the developer has not finished the necessary infrastructure, such as roads, and has called for the government to take action in the area.[26][27]
Personal life
editMcDonald plays the cornet in a brass band.[28]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Lightfoot, Gareth (9 March 2023). "Hartlepool-born businessman Chris McDonald selected by Labour to fight Billingham seat at next General Election". Hartlepool Mail. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ a b Hughes, Mike (7 December 2022). "Chris McDonald of MPI in Middlesbrough gives Hatfield Lecture". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ "Congregations of the Regent House on 29 June, 30 June, and 1 July 2000". Cambridge University Reporter. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Hughes, Mike (31 October 2023). "Chris McDonald of MPI: Out of the furnace and into politics". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- ^ Barley, Sophie (3 December 2014). "TATA Steel UK'S research and development centre returns to independent ownership". TeessideLive. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- ^ "Commercial steel-making returns to Teesside – The Manufacturer". The Manufacturer. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ Tovey, Alan (14 March 2016). "Teesside gains new hope with launch of specialised steel plant". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ Hughes, Mike (14 March 2016). "Tees testing facility to start producing and selling own steel". gazettelive. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ "Meet the MD: Chris McDonald, Materials Processing Institute". Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ "Materials Processing Institute managing director to speak at Chinese steel conference | Steel Times International". www.steeltimesint.com. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ Samantha Lee (5 August 2015). "Chris McDonald, MPI CEO, full interview for The Politics Show". YouTube. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ McDonald, Chris (3 April 2016). "We cannot afford to allow British steel producers to rust in peace". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ "The future of steel in Britain – The Manufacturer". The Manufacturer. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ "£3m funding boost for Teesside steel centre of excellence". The Northern Echo. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
- ^ Hughes, Mike (2 March 2023). "Teesside mum wins prestigious scholarship – after taking an eight-year break". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ a b c Duckett, Adam (23 July 2024). "UK MP and chemical engineer Chris McDonald keen to unite the worlds of engineering and politics". The Chemical Engineer. Institution of Chemical Engineers. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Craddock, Nicola (4 May 2022). "Chris McDonald presents the future of Redhills at Durham Energy Institute". Redhills Durham.
- ^ "Steel without the fossil fuels - RGS". Royal Geographic Society. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Chris McDonald FREng". Royal Academy of Engineering. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Gonzalez, Elena (13 March 2023). "Alumnus Chris McDonald been elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering". www.ceb.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Lightfoot, Gareth (7 March 2023). "Chris McDonald selected as Labour candidate for Stockton North". TeessideLive. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Jones, Leigh. "Local party members select candidate for next election as MP plans to retire". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Lightfoot, Gareth (7 March 2023). "New Labour candidate Chris McDonald: 'I'm raring to go'". TeessideLive. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
- ^ Lightfoot, Gareth (5 July 2024). "Labour strengthen Stockton North majority as Reform beat Tories". Teesside Live. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ O'Leary, Alex (3 July 2024). "'Raring to go': Labour's Chris McDonald elected as Stockton North MP". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Lightfoot, Gareth (25 October 2024). "MP's anger over new-build residents 'in limbo' paying for unfinished estates". Teesside Live. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ "Road repairs on Queensgate estate: MP Chris McDonald steps in". northeastbylines.co.uk. 21 August 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
- ^ Jones, Morgan (14 July 2024). "'40 years on from the miners' strike, this Durham Miners' Gala was a special one'". LabourList. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
External links
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