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'''Alberto Castrenze Costa'''<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=61230 |date=18 May 2015 |page=9123}}</ref> (born 13 November 1971) is a British [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] [[politician]]. He has been the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[South Leicestershire (UK Parliament constituency)|South Leicestershire]] since the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000940#election2017-logo |work=Election 2017|date=9 June 2017|title=Leicestershire South Parliamentary constituency|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=15 July 2022}}</ref>
'''Alberto Castrenze Costa'''<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=61230 |date=18 May 2015 |page=9123}}</ref> (born 13 November 1971) is a British [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] [[politician]]<nowiki/>who has been the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[South Leicestershire (UK Parliament constituency)|South Leicestershire]] since [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000940#election2017-logo |work=Election 2017|date=9 June 2017|title=Leicestershire South Parliamentary constituency|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=15 July 2022}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life and career==
Costa was born in England<ref>https://www.albertocosta.org.uk/news/alberto-gives-his-maiden-speech-house-commons</ref> to Italian parents who have lived in Scotland for 50 years.<ref>{{cite news|first=Mandy|last=Rhodes|publisher=DC Thomson Media|title=It cost him his job but MP Alberto Costa revealed a common decency despite Brexit|url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/mandy-rhodes-it-cost-him-his-job-but-mp-alberto-costa-revealed-a-common-decency-despite-brexit/|date=3 March 2019|access-date=29 January 2021|work=The Sunday Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://neweuropeans.net/article/1541/british-mp-italian-origin-makes-plea-pm-parents-right-remain|title = British MP of Italian origin makes plea to PM for parents' right to remain|date = 16 November 2016|publisher=New Europeans|accessdate=15 July 2022}}</ref> He grew up in [[Bishopbriggs]] attending [[Turnbull High School]] and the [[University of Glasgow]], where he served as President of the [[Glasgow University Students' Representative Council]] in 1995/6. He trained as a [[solicitor]] and worked at the Treasury Solicitor's Department.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://l2b.thelawyer.com/home/insight/city-solicitors-a-22-year-old-ukip-law-grad-and-a-barrister-standing-for-the-whigs-the-legal-professions-mp-hopefuls/3033862.article|work=The Lawyer|title=Meet the lawyers standing for Parliament|first=Richard|last=Simmons|date=10 April 2015|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626120216/http://l2b.thelawyer.com/home/insight/city-solicitors-a-22-year-old-ukip-law-grad-and-a-barrister-standing-for-the-whigs-the-legal-professions-mp-hopefuls/3033862.article|archive-date=26 June 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
Alberto Costa was born on 13 November 1971 in England<ref>https://www.albertocosta.org.uk/news/alberto-gives-his-maiden-speech-house-commons</ref> to Italian parents who have lived in Scotland for 50 years.<ref>{{cite news|first=Mandy|last=Rhodes|publisher=DC Thomson Media|title=It cost him his job but MP Alberto Costa revealed a common decency despite Brexit|url=https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/mandy-rhodes-it-cost-him-his-job-but-mp-alberto-costa-revealed-a-common-decency-despite-brexit/|date=3 March 2019|access-date=29 January 2021|work=The Sunday Post}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://neweuropeans.net/article/1541/british-mp-italian-origin-makes-plea-pm-parents-right-remain|title = British MP of Italian origin makes plea to PM for parents' right to remain|date = 16 November 2016|publisher=New Europeans|accessdate=15 July 2022}}</ref> He grew up in [[Bishopbriggs]] attending [[Turnbull High School]], before studying at the [[University of Glasgow]], where he served as President of the [[Glasgow University Students' Representative Council]] in 1995/6.


He trained as a [[solicitor]] and worked at the Treasury Solicitor's Department.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://l2b.thelawyer.com/home/insight/city-solicitors-a-22-year-old-ukip-law-grad-and-a-barrister-standing-for-the-whigs-the-legal-professions-mp-hopefuls/3033862.article|work=The Lawyer|title=Meet the lawyers standing for Parliament|first=Richard|last=Simmons|date=10 April 2015|access-date=9 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626120216/http://l2b.thelawyer.com/home/insight/city-solicitors-a-22-year-old-ukip-law-grad-and-a-barrister-standing-for-the-whigs-the-legal-professions-mp-hopefuls/3033862.article|archive-date=26 June 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
⚫
==Political career==

At the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], Costa unsuccessfully contested the [[Angus (UK Parliament constituency)|Angus]] constituency; where he finished in second place behind the sitting MP [[Mike Weir (politician)|Mike Weir]] of the [[Scottish National Party]].<ref>
⚫
==Parliamentary career==
{{cite news
At the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], Costa stood as the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] candidate in [[Angus (UK Parliament constituency)|Angus]], coming second with 30.9% of the vote behind the incumbent [[Scottish National Party|SNP]] MP [[Mike Weir (politician)|Mike Weir]].<ref name="electoralcalculus2010">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2010 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-date=26 July 2013 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref>
| url = http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Tories-choose-Alberto-Costa-stand-South/story-25282720-detail/story.html

| title = Tories choose Alberto Costa to stand for South Leicestershire in 2015 General Election, after Andrew Robathan decided not to defend his seat
Costa was elected to Parliament at the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] as MP for [[South Leicestershire (UK Parliament constituency)|South Leicestershire]] with 53.2% of the vote and a majority of 16,824.<ref name="electoralcalculus">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref>
| date = 6 December 2014
| work= Leicester Mercury
| accessdate = 17 May 2015
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150518095905/http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Tories-choose-Alberto-Costa-stand-South/story-25282720-detail/story.html
| archive-date = 18 May 2015
| publisher=Local World
| url-status = dead
| df = dmy-all
}}
</ref>


Costa was opposed to Brexit prior to the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 EU referendum]].<ref name="thespectatorwhichtorympsbackbrexit">{{cite news|last1=Goodenough|first1=Tom|title=Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?|url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/|accessdate=11 October 2016|work=The Spectator|date=16 February 2016|archive-date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203120144/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Costa was opposed to Brexit prior to the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 EU referendum]].<ref name="thespectatorwhichtorympsbackbrexit">{{cite news|last1=Goodenough|first1=Tom|title=Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?|url=http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/|accessdate=11 October 2016|work=The Spectator|date=16 February 2016|archive-date=3 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203120144/http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/2016/02/which-tory-mps-back-brexit-who-doesnt-and-who-is-still-on-the-fence/|url-status=dead}}</ref>


At the snap [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], Costa was re-elected as MP for South Leicestershire with an increased vote share of 61.4% and an increased majority of 18,631.<ref>{{cite news |date=9 June 2017 |title=General Election 2017: South Leicestershire |url=http://www.express.co.uk/politics/constituencies/515/south-leicestershire |access-date=14 June 2017 |work=The Daily Express}}</ref>
He currently leads the House of Commons delegation of MPs affiliated to the Conservative Friends of Greece parliamentary group,<ref>{{cite web |date=6 February 2017 |title=Who we are |url=http://cfgreece.org/who-we-are |access-date=27 February 2019 |publisher=Conservative Friends of Greece}}</ref> he is also co-Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Italy,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Italy APPG |url=https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/APPG/italy |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=www.parallelparliament.co.uk}}</ref> co-Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Medical Cannabis under Prescription<ref>{{Cite web |title=Medical Cannabis under Prescription APPG |url=https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/APPG/medical-cannabis-under-prescription |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=www.parallelparliament.co.uk}}</ref> and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for [[Microplastics]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microplastics APPG |url=https://www.parallelparliament.co.uk/APPG/microplastics |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=www.parallelparliament.co.uk}}</ref>


Since 2018, he has campaigned against the release of the convicted child-killer [[Colin Pitchfork]], who murdered two girls in the South Leicestershire constituency in the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fagan |first=Ciaran |date=2018-01-11 |title=This is all we're allowed to know about Pitchfork's time in jail |url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/allowed-know-colin-pitchforks-time-1045150 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=LeicestershireLive |language=en}}</ref> Pitchfork was released from prison on 1 September 2021 before being recalled to prison weeks later for breaching his licence conditions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-11-19 |title=Double child killer Colin Pitchfork sent back to prison |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59354638 |access-date=2022-07-20}}</ref> On 13 July 2022, Costa asked the Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] for the Government's help in intervening in Pitchfork's next parole hearing which was scheduled to take place in September 2022.
Since 2018, he has campaigned against the release of the convicted child-killer [[Colin Pitchfork]], who murdered two girls in the South Leicestershire constituency in the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fagan |first=Ciaran |date=2018-01-11 |title=This is all we're allowed to know about Pitchfork's time in jail |url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/allowed-know-colin-pitchforks-time-1045150 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=LeicestershireLive |language=en}}</ref> Pitchfork was released from prison on 1 September 2021 before being recalled to prison weeks later for breaching his licence conditions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-11-19 |title=Double child killer Colin Pitchfork sent back to prison |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-59354638 |access-date=2022-07-20}}</ref> On 13 July 2022, Costa asked the Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] for the Government's help in intervening in Pitchfork's next parole hearing which was scheduled to take place in September 2022.


On 27 February 2019, he was asked to resign, and did so, from his role as parliamentary private secretary in the [[Scotland Office]] following his tabling of an amendment to protect rights of EU citizens. Shortly before his resignation, [[Home Secretary]] [[Sajid Javid]] backed the amendment in a committee meeting and said that the Government would support it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/27/confusion-reigns-over-brexit-amendment-as-tory-mp-alberto-costa-sacked|work=The Guardian|title=Confusion reigns over Brexit amendment as Tory MP sacked|accessdate=15 July 2022|first=Lisa|last=O'Carroll|date=27 February 2019}}</ref> It was later passed unopposed, approved 'on the nod' by the Commons.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/feb/27/brexit-debate-latest-news-developments-pmqs-chair-jacob-rees-mogg-drops-his-calls-for-wholesale-removal-of-backstop-politics-live|title=Hardline Tory Brexiters split as MPs overwhelmingly back move to allow vote to extend article 50 – Politics live|last=Sparrow|first=Andrew|date=27 February 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=3 March 2019|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
On 27 February 2019, he resigned from his role as parliamentary private secretary in the [[Scotland Office]] following his tabling of an amendment to protect rights of EU citizens. Shortly before his resignation, [[Home Secretary]] [[Sajid Javid]] backed the amendment in a committee meeting and said that the Government would support it.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/27/confusion-reigns-over-brexit-amendment-as-tory-mp-alberto-costa-sacked|work=The Guardian|title=Confusion reigns over Brexit amendment as Tory MP sacked|accessdate=15 July 2022|first=Lisa|last=O'Carroll|date=27 February 2019}}</ref> It was later passed unopposed, approved 'on the nod' by the Commons.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/feb/27/brexit-debate-latest-news-developments-pmqs-chair-jacob-rees-mogg-drops-his-calls-for-wholesale-removal-of-backstop-politics-live|title=Hardline Tory Brexiters split as MPs overwhelmingly back move to allow vote to extend article 50 – Politics live|last=Sparrow|first=Andrew|date=27 February 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=3 March 2019|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>


In 2019, Costa sent a survey to 11,000 residents in villages close to the site of the proposed Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawson |first=Nick |date=2019-08-30 |title=Most residents oppose Hinckley rail hub plans, survey finds |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/most-residents-oppose-hinckley-rail-3266508 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=LeicestershireLive |language=en}}</ref> In February 2020, he held a [[Westminster Hall debate]] in Parliament to discuss the plans and local concerns in more detail,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-02-11/debates/F0BD8FE5-904B-4286-9EDA-81B63708F585/HinckleyNationalRailFreightInterchange |access-date=2023-02-16 |title= Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange |website=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |date=2020-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205161108/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-02-11/debates/F0BD8FE5-904B-4286-9EDA-81B63708F585/HinckleyNationalRailFreightInterchange |archive-date=2022-12-05 |url-status=live}}</ref> in June 2022 he held a further debate in Parliament on the proposals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2022-06-14/debates/9953B3A3-8085-4AF6-919A-48561BA96927/HinckleyNationalRailFreightInterchange |access-date=2023-02-16 |title=Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange |website=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |date=2022-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808084502/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2022-06-14/debates/9953B3A3-8085-4AF6-919A-48561BA96927/HinckleyNationalRailFreightInterchange |archive-date=2022-08-08 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2019, Costa sent a survey to 11,000 residents in villages close to the site of the proposed Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawson |first=Nick |date=2019-08-30 |title=Most residents oppose Hinckley rail hub plans, survey finds |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/most-residents-oppose-hinckley-rail-3266508 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=LeicestershireLive |language=en}}</ref> In February 2020, he held a [[Westminster Hall debate]] in Parliament to discuss the plans and local concerns in more detail,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-02-11/debates/F0BD8FE5-904B-4286-9EDA-81B63708F585/HinckleyNationalRailFreightInterchange |access-date=2023-02-16 |title= Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange |website=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |date=2020-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205161108/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-02-11/debates/F0BD8FE5-904B-4286-9EDA-81B63708F585/HinckleyNationalRailFreightInterchange |archive-date=2022-12-05 |url-status=live}}</ref> in June 2022 he held a further debate in Parliament on the proposals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2022-06-14/debates/9953B3A3-8085-4AF6-919A-48561BA96927/HinckleyNationalRailFreightInterchange |access-date=2023-02-16 |title=Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange |website=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |date=2022-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808084502/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2022-06-14/debates/9953B3A3-8085-4AF6-919A-48561BA96927/HinckleyNationalRailFreightInterchange |archive-date=2022-08-08 |url-status=live}}</ref>


He has also been campaigned for safety improvements to be made to the A5 road in South Leicestershire, specifically the High Cross and Smockington Hollow junctions which are known locally as accident blackspots,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawson |first=Nick |date=2021-11-20 |title=Call for action on A5 crash blackspot after another death |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/call-action-a5-crash-blackspot-6222091 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=LeicestershireLive |language=en}}</ref> in January 2020 he welcomed £3 million improvements put forward by [[National Highways]] to improve safety.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Chris |date=2020-01-20 |title=Highways England to make £3m safety improvements to A5 |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/highways-england-make-3m-safety-3746652 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=LeicestershireLive |language=en}}</ref>
At the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], Costa was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 64% and an increased majority of 24,004.<ref>{{cite news |title=Leicestershire South Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000940 |access-date=22 November 2019 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC}}</ref>
He has also been campaigned for safety improvements to be made to the A5 road in South Leicestershire, specifically the High Cross and Smockington Hollow junctions which are known locally as accident blackspots.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawson |first=Nick |date=2021-11-20 |title=Call for action on A5 crash blackspot after another death |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/call-action-a5-crash-blackspot-6222091 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=LeicestershireLive |language=en}}</ref> In January 2020 he welcomed £3 million improvements put forward by [[National Highways]] to improve safety.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Chris |date=2020-01-20 |title=Highways England to make £3m safety improvements to A5 |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/highways-england-make-3m-safety-3746652 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=LeicestershireLive |language=en}}</ref>


In January 2021, he asked the then Vaccination Minister [[Nadhim Zahawi]] to reopen the Feilding Palmer Hospital in Lutterworth as a vaccination hub during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2021-01-12/debates/921537B1-3179-4F1F-B5F9-B3DE18D7B937/FeildingPalmerHospital?highlight=feilding%20palmer#contribution-3210C099-E9D2-4AAC-9DD1-F3D8310FE68E |access-date=2023-02-16 |title=Feilding Palmer Hospital |website=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |date=2021-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720095554/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2021-01-12/debates/921537B1-3179-4F1F-B5F9-B3DE18D7B937/FeildingPalmerHospital?highlight=feilding%20palmer |archive-date=2022-07-20 |url-status=live}}</ref> the hospital was then reopened as a vaccination hub in February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-11 |title=Lutterworth hospital's reopening praised by local MP |url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/lutterworth-hospitals-reopening-praised-by-local-mp/ |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=InYourArea.co.uk}}</ref> In June 2021, Costa asked the then Health Secretary [[Sajid Javid]] for his help in keeping the Feilding Palmer Hospital in Lutterworth open.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2021-06-28/debates/16849758-096E-4650-B84D-643DF5458417/Covid-19Update?highlight=feilding%20palmer#contribution-718FCCEC-4309-488C-8EB4-7866ABDC7C67 |access-date=2023-02-16 |title=Covid-19 Update |website=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |date=2021-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720095555/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2021-06-28/debates/16849758-096E-4650-B84D-643DF5458417/Covid-19Update?highlight=feilding%20palmer |archive-date=2022-07-20 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In January 2021, he asked the then Vaccination Minister [[Nadhim Zahawi]] to reopen the Feilding Palmer Hospital in Lutterworth as a vaccination hub during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2021-01-12/debates/921537B1-3179-4F1F-B5F9-B3DE18D7B937/FeildingPalmerHospital?highlight=feilding%20palmer#contribution-3210C099-E9D2-4AAC-9DD1-F3D8310FE68E |access-date=2023-02-16 |title=Feilding Palmer Hospital |website=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |date=2021-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720095554/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2021-01-12/debates/921537B1-3179-4F1F-B5F9-B3DE18D7B937/FeildingPalmerHospital?highlight=feilding%20palmer |archive-date=2022-07-20 |url-status=live}}</ref> the hospital was then reopened as a vaccination hub in February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-11 |title=Lutterworth hospital's reopening praised by local MP |url=https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/lutterworth-hospitals-reopening-praised-by-local-mp/ |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=InYourArea.co.uk}}</ref> In June 2021, Costa asked the then Health Secretary [[Sajid Javid]] for his help in keeping the Feilding Palmer Hospital in Lutterworth open.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2021-06-28/debates/16849758-096E-4650-B84D-643DF5458417/Covid-19Update?highlight=feilding%20palmer#contribution-718FCCEC-4309-488C-8EB4-7866ABDC7C67 |access-date=2023-02-16 |title=Covid-19 Update |website=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |date=2021-06-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720095555/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2021-06-28/debates/16849758-096E-4650-B84D-643DF5458417/Covid-19Update?highlight=feilding%20palmer |archive-date=2022-07-20 |url-status=live}}</ref>
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Linked to his work as Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Microplastics, Costa introduced a [[Ten Minute Rule]] Bill in Parliament on 30 November 2021, the 'Microplastic Filters (Washing Machine) Bill' required washing machine manufacturers to fit microplastic catching filters in new washing machines to help stop microplastic pollution.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microplastic Filters (Washing Machines) Bill |url=https://www.cen.uk.com/our-blog-list/washing-machines-bill |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=Conservative Environment Network |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunphy |first=Finvola |date=2021-12-01 |title=Washing machines could help tackle microplastics, says MP |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/leicestershire-mp-alberto-costa-proposes-6282187 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=LeicestershireLive |language=en}}</ref>
Linked to his work as Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Microplastics, Costa introduced a [[Ten Minute Rule]] Bill in Parliament on 30 November 2021, the 'Microplastic Filters (Washing Machine) Bill' required washing machine manufacturers to fit microplastic catching filters in new washing machines to help stop microplastic pollution.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microplastic Filters (Washing Machines) Bill |url=https://www.cen.uk.com/our-blog-list/washing-machines-bill |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=Conservative Environment Network |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunphy |first=Finvola |date=2021-12-01 |title=Washing machines could help tackle microplastics, says MP |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/leicestershire-mp-alberto-costa-proposes-6282187 |access-date=2022-07-20 |website=LeicestershireLive |language=en}}</ref>

In March 2023, Costa was re-selected as the Conservative candidate for South Leicestershire at the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]].<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1636837821397827586 |user=AlbertoCostaMP |title=This evening I was delighted to be reselected as the @Conservatives candidate for South Leicestershire. Hugely grateful to all at the @SLConservatives for their faith and support and I look forward to continue doing all I can for the great people of South Leicestershire. |author=[[Alberto Costa MP]] |date=March 17, 2023}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 15:25, 31 May 2024

Alberto Costa
Official portrait, 2020
Member of Parliament
for South Leicestershire
Incumbent
Assumed office
7 May 2015
Preceded byAndrew Robathan
Majority24,004 (41.8%)
Personal details
Born
Alberto Castrenze Costa

(1971-11-13) 13 November 1971 (age 52)
England[1]
Political partyConservative
Alma materUniversity of Glasgow
Websitealbertocosta.org.uk Edit this at Wikidata

Alberto Castrenze Costa[2] (born 13 November 1971) is a British Conservative Party politicianwho has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Leicestershire since 2015.[3]

Early life and career

Alberto Costa was born on 13 November 1971 in England[4] to Italian parents who have lived in Scotland for 50 years.[5][6] He grew up in Bishopbriggs attending Turnbull High School, before studying at the University of Glasgow, where he served as President of the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council in 1995/6.

He trained as a solicitor and worked at the Treasury Solicitor's Department.[7]

Parliamentary career

At the 2010 general election, Costa stood as the Conservative candidate in Angus, coming second with 30.9% of the vote behind the incumbent SNP MP Mike Weir.[8]

Costa was elected to Parliament at the 2015 general election as MP for South Leicestershire with 53.2% of the vote and a majority of 16,824.[9]

Costa was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 EU referendum.[10]

At the snap 2017 general election, Costa was re-elected as MP for South Leicestershire with an increased vote share of 61.4% and an increased majority of 18,631.[11]

Since 2018, he has campaigned against the release of the convicted child-killer Colin Pitchfork, who murdered two girls in the South Leicestershire constituency in the 1980s.[12] Pitchfork was released from prison on 1 September 2021 before being recalled to prison weeks later for breaching his licence conditions.[13] On 13 July 2022, Costa asked the Prime Minister Boris Johnson for the Government's help in intervening in Pitchfork's next parole hearing which was scheduled to take place in September 2022.

On 27 February 2019, he resigned from his role as parliamentary private secretary in the Scotland Office following his tabling of an amendment to protect rights of EU citizens. Shortly before his resignation, Home Secretary Sajid Javid backed the amendment in a committee meeting and said that the Government would support it.[14] It was later passed unopposed, approved 'on the nod' by the Commons.[15]

In 2019, Costa sent a survey to 11,000 residents in villages close to the site of the proposed Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange.[16] In February 2020, he held a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament to discuss the plans and local concerns in more detail,[17] in June 2022 he held a further debate in Parliament on the proposals.[18]

At the 2019 general election, Costa was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 64% and an increased majority of 24,004.[19]

He has also been campaigned for safety improvements to be made to the A5 road in South Leicestershire, specifically the High Cross and Smockington Hollow junctions which are known locally as accident blackspots.[20] In January 2020 he welcomed £3 million improvements put forward by National Highways to improve safety.[21]

In January 2021, he asked the then Vaccination Minister Nadhim Zahawi to reopen the Feilding Palmer Hospital in Lutterworth as a vaccination hub during the COVID-19 pandemic,[22] the hospital was then reopened as a vaccination hub in February 2021.[23] In June 2021, Costa asked the then Health Secretary Sajid Javid for his help in keeping the Feilding Palmer Hospital in Lutterworth open.[24]

In November 2021, he called on the government to allow more prescriptions of medical cannabis to children with rare forms of epilepsy, citing the case of two of his young constituents.[25]

Linked to his work as Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Microplastics, Costa introduced a Ten Minute Rule Bill in Parliament on 30 November 2021, the 'Microplastic Filters (Washing Machine) Bill' required washing machine manufacturers to fit microplastic catching filters in new washing machines to help stop microplastic pollution.[26][27]

In March 2023, Costa was re-selected as the Conservative candidate for South Leicestershire at the 2024 general election.[28]

References

  1. ^ https://www.albertocosta.org.uk/news/alberto-gives-his-maiden-speech-house-commons
  2. ^ "No. 61230". The London Gazette. 18 May 2015. p. 9123.
  3. ^ "Leicestershire South Parliamentary constituency". Election 2017. BBC News. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  4. ^ https://www.albertocosta.org.uk/news/alberto-gives-his-maiden-speech-house-commons
  5. ^ Rhodes, Mandy (3 March 2019). "It cost him his job but MP Alberto Costa revealed a common decency despite Brexit". The Sunday Post. DC Thomson Media. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  6. ^ "British MP of Italian origin makes plea to PM for parents' right to remain". New Europeans. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  7. ^ Simmons, Richard (10 April 2015). "Meet the lawyers standing for Parliament". The Lawyer. Archived from the original on 26 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  9. ^ "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  10. ^ Goodenough, Tom (16 February 2016). "Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  11. ^ "General Election 2017: South Leicestershire". The Daily Express. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  12. ^ Fagan, Ciaran (11 January 2018). "This is all we're allowed to know about Pitchfork's time in jail". LeicestershireLive. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  13. ^ "Double child killer Colin Pitchfork sent back to prison". BBC News. 19 November 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  14. ^ O'Carroll, Lisa (27 February 2019). "Confusion reigns over Brexit amendment as Tory MP sacked". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  15. ^ Sparrow, Andrew (27 February 2019). "Hardline Tory Brexiters split as MPs overwhelmingly back move to allow vote to extend article 50 – Politics live". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  16. ^ Dawson, Nick (30 August 2019). "Most residents oppose Hinckley rail hub plans, survey finds". LeicestershireLive. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 11 February 2020. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  18. ^ "Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 14 June 2022. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Leicestershire South Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  20. ^ Dawson, Nick (20 November 2021). "Call for action on A5 crash blackspot after another death". LeicestershireLive. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  21. ^ Jones, Chris (20 January 2020). "Highways England to make £3m safety improvements to A5". LeicestershireLive. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  22. ^ "Feilding Palmer Hospital". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 12 January 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  23. ^ "Lutterworth hospital's reopening praised by local MP". InYourArea.co.uk. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  24. ^ "Covid-19 Update". Parliament of the United Kingdom. 28 June 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  25. ^ Patel, Asha (10 November 2021). "MP says medical cannabis should be prescribed more freely". LeicestershireLive. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  26. ^ "Microplastic Filters (Washing Machines) Bill". Conservative Environment Network. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  27. ^ Dunphy, Finvola (1 December 2021). "Washing machines could help tackle microplastics, says MP". LeicestershireLive. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  28. ^ Alberto Costa MP [@AlbertoCostaMP] (17 March 2023). "This evening I was delighted to be reselected as the @Conservatives candidate for South Leicestershire. Hugely grateful to all at the @SLConservatives for their faith and support and I look forward to continue doing all I can for the great people of South Leicestershire" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for South Leicestershire
2015–present 		Incumbent
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