Neil Hudson (politician)
Neil Hudson | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2019 | |
| Member of Parliament for Epping Forest | |
| Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Dame Eleanor Laing |
| Majority | 5,682 (13.6%) |
| Member of Parliament for Penrith and The Border | |
| In office 12 December 2019 – 30 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Rory Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Islington, London, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation |
|
| Website | www |
Neil Peter Hammerton Hudson[1] FRCVS (born 1969) is a British Conservative Party politician, academic, and veterinary surgeon who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Epping Forest since 2024, and previously for Penrith and The Border from 2019 to 2024. He served on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee for four years, beginning in 2020. He is the first vet elected to the House of Commons since 1884.[2]
Early life and career
Neil Hudson was born in 1969 in Islington, north London.[3][4] He is the son of obstetrics and gynaecology professor Christopher Hudson and nurse Caryl Shaw. Hudson has a sister Jayne who works as a physiotherapist and brother Grahame who is an associate head at De Montfort University.[5][6] He studied at Chigwell School and Queens' College, Cambridge, which was the alma mater of his father,[7] qualifying from the veterinary school in 1994. While there he was in the Footlights theatrical group and was in charge of auditions.[8] He later performed four times at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[9]
Hudson completed an internship at the University of Sydney, gaining a diploma in 1995, and later a PhD in Grass Sickness and Equine Gastroenterology at the University of Edinburgh.[10] Hudson is a senior lecturer at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies but, after becoming an MP, he has been on sabbatical leave since January 2020.[11] He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2018.[10]
Parliamentary career
Hudson reports that he first became interested in becoming a politician following the 2001 United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak.[12]
At the 2005 general election, Hudson stood as the Conservative candidate in Newcastle upon Tyne North, coming third with 15.7% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP Doug Henderson and the Liberal Democrat candidate.[13][14]
Hudson stood in Edinburgh South at the 2010 general election, coming third with 21.6% of the vote behind the Labour candidate Ian Murray and the Liberal Democrat candidate.[15][16][17] In the 2010 election, his brother Grahame also stood as a candidate but for the Liberal Democrats in Rutland and Melton.[8]
Hudson was elected to Parliament as MP for Penrith and The Border at the 2019 general election with 60.4% of the vote and a majority of 18,519.[18][19]
Upon his election to Parliament, Hudson became a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.[20]
Hudson announced in September 2021 that he no longer supported the building of the Woodhouse Colliery, a proposed coal mine in Cumbria.[21][22] The project was approved by the government in December 2022.[23]
As part of the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, Penrith and The Border was abolished and he lost selection for the new seat of Penrith and Solway in February 2023 to fellow Conservative MP Mark Jenkinson.[24] Hudson also lost out on the selection for the West Suffolk seat in July 2023 to former political adviser Nick Timothy.[25] West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock had previously announced that he would stand down at the 2024 general election in December 2022.[26]
At the 2024 general election, Hudson was elected to Parliament as MP for Epping Forest with 43.2% of the vote and a majority of 5,682.[27][28][29]
Personal life
Hudson is married to Nicola Chedgey. They have two children.[7][30] His late father Professor Chris Hudson was a councillor in North Weald, Essex.[31]
References
- ^ "Members Sworn". Hansard. 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ "Neil Hudson – 2020 Maiden Speech in the House of Commons – UKPOL.CO.UK". 16 February 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
- ^ "Members of Parliament". Queens' College, Cambridge. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ "Entry Information". FreeBMD. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ "Christopher Hudson, 89: Bowler-hatted gynaecologist and third world adviser". The Times. 18 July 2020. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.(subscription required)
- ^ "Mr Grahame Hudson". De Montfort University. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ a b "The Record 2019–20" (PDF). Queens' College, Cambridge. p. 84. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ a b Macdonell, Hamish (5 April 2010). "Oh brother, where art thou? Not in Parliament I hope". The Times. Archived from the original on 3 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.(subscription required)
- ^ Guthrie, Arlo (25 November 2019). "Veterinary profession now fielding three candidates in the 2019 elections". VetSurgeon. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Dr Neil Hudson". University of Edinburgh. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019.
- ^ "Register of Interests for Dr Neil Hudson". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ Loeb, Josh (11 July 2020). "Talking politics with a veterinary MP". The Veterinary Record. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
- ^ "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
- ^ "Result: Newcastle upon Tyne North". BBC News. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Edinburgh South". BBC News. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ General Election 2010 - Edinburgh South BBC News
- ^ "Penrith & The Border". BBC News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "General Election results 2019". Eden District Council. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Dr Neil Hudson". UK Parliament. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ Hudson, Neil (7 September 2021). "Statement from Dr Neil Hudson MP on the proposed West Cumbria Coal Mine". Neil Hudson. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ Cavanagh, Gareth (7 September 2021). "Penrith and the Borders MP on change of heart about coal mine as inquiry begins". News & Star. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ Mawson, Brandon (7 December 2022). "Government approves plans for Whitehaven coal mine". News & Star. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ Dempsey, Bridget (8 February 2023). "Penrith and Border MP congratulates colleague on seat selection". News & Star. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
- ^ Major, Melissa (31 July 2023). "Cumbria Tory MP loses in bid to replace Matt Hancock after Penrith and The Border seat abolished". Lancs Live.
- ^ Walker, Peter (7 December 2022). "Row grows over Matt Hancock's announcement he is quitting as MP". The Guardian.
- ^ "EEF NEWS - VOTE 2024 - GENERAL ELECTION". us12.campaign-archive.com. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ "Notice of Poll" (PDF).
- ^ "Epping Forest - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ "Dr Neil Hudson". Cumbria Conservatives. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Tributes paid to former parish councillor and Barts Hospital researcher". East London and West Essex Guardian Series. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
