Jane Stevenson (politician)
Jane Stevenson | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2019 | |
| Member of Parliament for Wolverhampton North East | |
| In office 12 December 2019 – 30 May 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Emma Reynolds |
| Succeeded by | Sureena Brackenridge |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jane Fiona Catherine Stevenson 18 February 1971 Wolverhampton, Staffordshire |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Alma mater | Guildhall School of Music |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Singer, soprano |
Jane Fiona Catherine Stevenson[1] (born 18 February 1971)[2] is a British Conservative Party politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wolverhampton North East from the 2019 general election[3] until her defeat in the 2024 general election.[4]
Early life and music career
[edit]Stevenson was born and raised in Wolverhampton. Her father was from Northern Ireland and settled in Wolverhampton in the 1950s. He lived in Bushbury for the last 30 years of his life. Her mother is from the Mattox family, whose roots in Wednesfield go back to the 18th century.
Before entering politics, Stevenson worked as a classical singer. Having performed with local orchestras while studying at Wolverhampton Girls' High School, she won an entrance scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music in London. After completing post-graduate opera studies. Stevenson freelanced as a soprano soloist for many years. She has also taught singing.
Her singing engagements included roles with English Touring Opera and the Early Opera Company. She also performed at concerts at the Royal Albert Hall and Symphony Hall, Birmingham. International work included the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) in Zimbabwe and concerts in the United Arab Emirates and Uganda. European cities she performed in included Paris, Rome, Berlin, Salzburg and Vienna. She has also performed in Subotica, Serbia, one of Wolverhampton's twin towns.[5]
Political career
[edit]Stevenson has been interested in politics since her teens. She first attended the Conservative Party Conference in the early 1990s with a group from Wolverhampton, which included then MP Nick Budgen, one of the original Maastricht Rebels. Having campaigned for Vote Leave in Wolverhampton, in 2016 Stevenson decided to get more involved in the Conservative Party. Before standing for Parliament in 2019, she served as Deputy Chairman (Political) for the Black Country Area and was elected as a city councillor for Wolverhampton in 2018.[6] At the 2019 general election, she defeated the incumbent Labour MP, Emma Reynolds, who had represented the constituency since the 2010 general election.[3] As of March 2020 Stevenson is on the Consolidation, &c., Bills (Joint Committee).[7]
On 16 June 2021, Stevenson introduced a ban on glue traps to Parliament, saying, "When pest control is needed, we have a responsibility to use the most humane methods in order to prevent unnecessary suffering. A rodent stuck in a glue trap will suffer a slow and painful death, which isn't acceptable when other pest control methods are available."[8]
On 16 January 2024, Stevenson resigned her position as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in order to vote for an amendment on the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill.[9]
Personal life
[edit]Stevenson is a descendant of the well-known Mattox family in Wolverhampton.[10] She is a passionate dog advocate and animal lover, owning two,[11] and her favourite biscuit is the Garibaldi biscuit.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Members Sworn". Hansard.parliament.uk. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ Brunskill, Ian (19 March 2020). The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election. HarperCollins Publishers Limited. p. 389. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1. OCLC 1129682574.
- ^ a b "Wolverhampton North East parliamentary constituency – Election 2019". BBC News. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "Wolverhampton North East - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Stevenson, Jane. "About Jane Stevenson". Jane Stevenson. Andrew McNeil. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ "Tory candidate hopes local family history will help her win Wolverhampton seat". Birmingham Mail. 3 December 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Jane Stevenson – MPs and Lords". UK Parliament. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ "Government backs Bill banning the use of glue traps for pest control". GOV.UK. 16 June 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ "Lee Anderson resigns as deputy Tory chair to rebel over Rwanda bill". BBC News. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
- ^ "Tory hopes local family history will help her win Wolverhampton seat". 3 December 2019.
- ^ https://twitter.com/Jane_Stevenson_/status/1363592132238462980 [bare URL]
- ^ "Jane Stevenson for Wolverhampton North East in the UK Parliament elections".
External links
[edit]
- 1971 births
- Living people
- UK MPs 2019–2024
- Conservative Party (UK) councillors
- Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
- Councillors in Wolverhampton
- English operatic sopranos
- English people of Northern Ireland descent
- Female members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies
- Musicians from Staffordshire
- Musicians from Wolverhampton
- Politicians from Staffordshire
- 20th-century British women opera singers
- 21st-century British women politicians
- 21st-century British women opera singers
- Women councillors in England