Mark Simon Eastwood[1] (born 14 March 1971)[2][3] is a British Conservative Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Dewsbury from 2019 to 2024.[4]
Mark Eastwood | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2019 | |
| Member of Parliament for Dewsbury | |
| In office 12 December 2019 – 30 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Paula Sherriff |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 March 1971 |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Batley Boys High School |
Early life
editEastwood grew up in Thornhill Lees, before moving to the Wilton Estate in Batley at the age of six. He joined the Conservative Party at the age of seventeen, while he was a student at Batley Boys High School, now Upper Batley High School.[5]
Career
editEastwood had a total of six unsuccessful attempts standing for the Dewsbury East ward of Kirklees Council.[6] Before he became an MP, he worked for a company which provides medical furniture and equipment to the NHS, and served as Yorkshire and Humber representative of the Conservative Workers & Trade Unionists.[7] Eastwood was elected as the MP for Dewsbury at the 2019 general election, gaining the seat from Labour's Paula Sherriff.[8]
He was a member of the Regulatory Reform Committee and the Committee on the Future Relationship with the European Union.[9] Eastwood is also a member of the APPGs on British Muslims, Football, and the Furniture Industry, as well as being a member of the Parliamentary Football Club.[10]
His first overseas trip was to Pakistan in 2020 as part of an all-party delegation.[11] On 23 August 2021, Prime Minister Boris Johnson appointed him as the UK's trade envoy to the country.[12] His constituency of Dewsbury was abolished for the 2024 general election due to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies. He instead contested the new constituency of Ossett and Denby Dale but lost, placing second with 28.9 per cent of the vote.[13]
Political views
editEastwood identifies as a "moderate, compassionate Conservative". He is a supporter of Brexit, having worked on local Vote Leave campaigns during the 2016 referendum.[5]
During the Conservative Party leadership election in 2022, Eastwood supported Liz Truss.[14] He was a supporter of Boris Johnson's time in Number 10, saying he was “saddened and disappointed” at his resignation, and he continued to have his full support.[15]
Personal life
editEastwood has a wife, two children and is a Leeds United season ticket holder.[16][6][7] He has been known to DJ at private events held locally.[16]
References
edit- ^ "Members Sworn". Hansard.parliament.uk. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ Brunskill, Ian (2020). The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election. Glasgow. p. 171. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Lavigueur, Nick (19 December 2019). "Meet Mark Eastwood, new MP for Dewsbury, Denby Dale and Kirkburton". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ "Dewsbury parliamentary constituency - Election 2019" – via www.bbc.com.
- ^ a b Scott, Geraldine (26 January 2020). "From a Batley council estate to serving under Boris Johnson - meet one of the new Yorkshire Tory MPs who helped dismantle the Red Wall". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ a b Lavigueur, Nick (19 December 2019). "Meet Mark Eastwood, new MP for Dewsbury, Denby Dale and Kirkburton". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Tories' Dewsbury challenger revealed". The Press. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
- ^ Lavigueur, Nick (13 December 2019). "Conservatives take the Dewsbury constituency". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Mark Eastwood". Parallel Parliament. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
- ^ "Mark Eastwood". www.parallelparliament.co.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
- ^ "British MPs meet Sarwar, assure raising voice over Kashmir". www.thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ "PM announces new Trade Envoys to boost British business around the world". GOV.UK (Press release). 23 August 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- ^ "Ossett and Denby Dale - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ https://www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk/news/politics/dewsbury-mp-mark-eastwood-reveals-why-he-is-supporting-liz-truss-in-the-conservative-leadership-contest-3783397 [bare URL]
- ^ https://www.dewsburyreporter.co.uk/must-read/dewsbury-mp-says-he-is-saddened-and-disappointed-by-the-resignation-of-prime-minister-boris-johnson-3760335 [bare URL]
- ^ a b "About Mark Eastwood". Mark Eastwood. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
External links
edit
- Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
- Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
- Voting record at Public Whip
- Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
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