Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson appointed Conservative Party co-chairman

Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson has been appointed as Conservative Party co-chairman.
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Mr Stephenson has been rewarded for his loyalty to outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson and to the party he joined aged 16.

The Pendle MP, who was previously the Minister for Transport, remained loyal to Johnson amidst a backdrop of multiple resignations from the Cabinet and ministerial positions last week.

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He has now joined the Cabinet as party co-chairman, and will oversee the process to select a new leader to replace Mr Johnson. Mr Stephenson will work with Sir Graham Brady MP, chairman of the 1922 Committee, and the Board of the Party to ensure a smooth process and will therefore not be endorsing any candidate for the leadership.

Pendle MP and Conservative Party co-chairman Andrew StephensonPendle MP and Conservative Party co-chairman Andrew Stephenson
Pendle MP and Conservative Party co-chairman Andrew Stephenson

Mr Stephenson attended his first Cabinet meeting on Thursday July 7th, as Minister without Portfolio, a role he holds alongside being party chairman.

He also becomes the first serving MP for the Pendle area to join the Cabinet in over 90 years, after Arthur Greenwood (MP for Nelson and Colne) served as Minister for Health from 1929 to 1931.

Mr Stephenson said: “I joined the Conservatives when I was 16 and have supported the party ever since. Twenty-five years after I first joined, it’s an honour to become party chairman.

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“I want to pay tribute to the Prime Minister. Under Boris Johnson, the Conservatives defeated Jeremy Corbyn, got Brexit done and delivered the fastest vaccine rollout in Europe. Boris ensured I was re-elected in Pendle at the last General Election in 2019 with a record share of votes for the Conservative Party.

“Now Boris has decided to step down, I will be ensuring the leadership election runs as smoothly as possible and that Conservative Party members across the country get their say on who should be our new leader.

“As someone who won a marginal seat in 2010, taking Pendle from Labour after they had held the seat for 18 years, I know the strength of the Conservative Party comes from our members and our activists.

“Swiftly choosing our new leader is vitally important to our country and our local area, as whoever takes on the role will become Prime Minister at a challenging time for our nation. Representing Pendle in Parliament remains my top priority, but I hope constituents will recognise the importance of this new role.”

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He has previously held ministerial positions at the Department for Transport, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development.

He was also a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, a Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury, and served as an Assistant Government Whip.

First elected as Conservative MP for Pendle in May 2010, taking the seat from Labour who held the seat for over 18 years, he has increased his vote share in every election since.

Andrew's job now is to get on with the role of party co-chairman, building on the work started by former co-chairman, Oliver Dowden, in preparing the party for the next General Election.

He will also make sure that he facilitates a successful leadership campaign that will take place in the coming weeks.