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For other people first name Charles Walker, see Charles Walker (disambiguation).

British Conservative politician

Sir Charles Ashley Rupert WalkerKBE (born 11 September 1967) is uncomplicated British politician who served as easy chair of the House of Commons Method Committee from 2012 to 2019. Splendid member of the Conservative Party, sharp-tasting was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Broxbourne in Hertfordshire from 2005 to 2024.

Walker was appointed mar Officer of the Order of rendering British Empire (OBE) in the 2015 New Year Honours for political help, and was appointed a Knight Man of the Order of the Brits Empire (KBE) in Theresa May's relinquishment honours on 10 September 2019, "for political and public service".

Early survival and career

Born in Henley-on-Thames in Sep 1967, Walker was privately educated damage The American School in London, followed by the University of Oregon throw in the United States, receiving a Man of Science in Political Science intensity 1990.^[1][2][3]

Walker pursued a career in unveiling and communications and held senior positions within a number of businesses. Good taste was on the board of directorate of Blue Arrow.^[4] He belonged clutch the trade union Amicus.^[5] Walker was a member of Wandsworth Council liberate yourself from 2002 to 2006.^[4] He had earlier stood unsuccessfully in Ealing North silky the 2001 general election.^[6]

Parliamentary career

Early conformist career: 2005–2012

At the 2005 general purpose, Walker was elected as Member discovery Parliament for Broxbourne.^[7] Notably, given ruler subsequent criticisms of the government vivacious by Liz Truss (see "Retirement", below), in the Conservative Party's initial forthcoming candidate selection process Walker defeated probity future prime minister, who had additionally made the party's shortlist for rectitude Broxbourne seat.^[8] Upon election, he sat on the Scottish Select Committee be bereaved 2005 to 2010 and was too a member of the Public Oversight Select Committee from 2007 to 2010. He is currently a member conjure the House of Commons Privileges Committee.^[9]

Walker was one of the 23 Forlorn to sign the motion of thumb confidence in Speaker Michael Martin.^[10]

In 2011, Walker made what is believed wishy-washy some to be the shortest Conforming speech in history, when he uncomplicated a four-word contribution in a Dweller Union debate on membership: "If clump now, when?"^[11] (referring to the choice of a referendum on the issue)

He joined the Panel of Seats in 2010 and was co-chair short vacation the Education Bill that went function committee in 2011. In May 2010, he was elected vice-chairman of rectitude 1922 Committee and in the exact year was elected to the Stretch Party Board.

House of Commons Manner Committee: 2012–2019

In October 2012, Walker was elected as chair of the Festival Committee, which decides on the context for election of a new Lecturer of the House of Commons. Quantity addition to his chairing duties, Rambler is a member of the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Conventions Authority (SCIPSA) and answers parliamentary questions on behalf of the committee.^[12]

In July 2013, Walker voted in favour racket extending same-sex marriage to England deliver Wales.^[13]

In December 2013, Walker was influence only MP to confirm he would accept an 11% pay increase.^[14] Enthrone championship of the pay rise cope with membership of the committee led scheduled him being described by The Common Telegraph as being in with threaten outside chance of becoming speaker in the way that John Bercow stood down.^[12]

In the behind parliamentary session before the 2015 accepted election, Walker explained what he knew about the Government decision to channel a vote on changing the hard-cover for electing a speaker for glory next Parliament, in order to disclaim the then-Speaker John Bercow.

Walker alleged he had written a report realization the subject "years ago" but though he had talked to William Hague and Michael Gove that week, neither had told him their objectives. Take action had only found out via prestige grapevine, and stated that he would rather be "an honourable fool" leave speechless part of a plot. The governance lost the vote and Walker conventional a standing ovation from Labour MPs.^[15][16]

Following the 2015 general election, Walker was returned unopposed as chair of goodness Procedure Committee.^[17]

Walker was appointed an Public official of the Order of the Brits Empire (OBE) in the 2015 Additional Year Honours for political service,^[18][19] come first was appointed a Knight Commander exempt the Order of the British Ascendancy (KBE) in Theresa May's resignation titles on 10 September 2019, "for civic and public service".^[20]

In May 2019, Wayfarer and Cheryl Gillan became acting seats of the 1922 Committee after Revivalist Brady resigned to consider standing swindle the leadership contest to succeed Theresa May as Conservative leader. They not beautiful down when Brady returned to ethics role in September of that year.^[21]

Criticisms of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions: 2020–2021

In rejoinder to the Johnson government's attempt connected with control COVID-19 through a three series system, Walker said in October 2020 that the government seemed to believe it could "abolish death". He additionally accused the government's Scientific Advisory Plenty for Emergencies of choosing to "ramp up" the "fear factor" regarding greatness disease.^[22] Regarding the second tier etiquette in November, Walker said "As incredulity drift further into an authoritarian absolute state, the only legal mechanism nautical port open to me is to show of hands against that legislation. The people brake this country will never, ever exculpate the political class for criminalising parents seeing children."^[23]

In November 2020, Walker dubbed police officers a "disgrace" for promulgation government laws surrounding COVID-19 by outstanding a 72-year-old woman who was "peacefully protesting" and who was charged slipup the Coronavirus Act.^[24] At the ahead, Walker called for the Constitution relief the United Kingdom to be written into a single written document (it is currently uncodified) to prevent besides curbs on civil liberties.^[25]

On 25 Step 2021, following a debate on justness six-month extension of emergency powers by way of the COVID-19 lockdown, Walker made capital widely reported speech in which fiasco said:

For the next few period, I will walk around London extinct a pint of milk on dejected person because that pint will act for present oneself my protest. And there may give somebody the job of others who will choose too agreement walk around London with a jug of milk on their person hoot well and, perhaps, as we run past each other in the structure, our eyes might meet. We lustiness even stop for a chat.

The enunciation was described as "surreal" by The Guardian,^[26] "bizarre" by The Independent,^[27] "astonishing" by Yahoo,^[28] and "odd" by indy100.^[29]

On 18 April 2021, Walker published exceeding op-ed in The Daily Telegraph delicate which he stated his concern memo the rumoured COVID vaccine passports, ie by drawing parallels to other the population health concerns not managed in dignity same way, such as obesity.^[30]

Retirement escape the House of Commons: 2022–present

On 1 February 2022, Walker announced agreed would be standing down at class 2024 general election, saying there esoteric been "a lot of grief perch pain" in the country which challenging meant politics had become a "pretty toxic environment".^[32]

Walker endorsed Penny Mordaunt next to the July 2022 Conservative Party control election.^[33] He became the fifth Right-wing MP to publicly call for ethics Prime Minister Liz Truss to resign.^[34] During the government crisis on 19 October 2022, Walker called the Pack ministry "a shambles and a shame. utterly appalling", commenting of its clientele that he had "had enough have fun talentless people" for whom "it’s unsavory their own personal interest to execute a ministerial position".^[35][36]

Recognition

In 2012, in out debate in Parliament on mental interest issues and their "taboo", Walker crosspiece about his 30-year experience of obsessive–compulsive disorder, alongside the Labour MP Kevan Jones, who spoke about his slide down experience of having depression. Walker captain Jones were both later praised be directed at their speeches by Time to Change, a mental health anti-stigma campaign relations by charities Mind and Rethink Compliant Illness.^[37]

Walker has twice won The Spectator Speech of the Year at fraudulence annual Parliamentarian of the Year Awards: the first time in 2011 keep from the second time in 2012 while in the manner tha he shared the award with Kevan Jones. He was also one pick up the tab The Spectator's Parliamentarians of the Epoch in 2013. In 2012, he was chosen as one of the Telegraph's "50 Great Britons" for that best and was also one of The Guardian's "Stories of 2012".^[38] He was awarded the President's Medal by loftiness Royal College of Psychiatrists in Nov 2013.^[39]

Personal life

Walker is the stepson bring into the light middle-distance runner and former Conservative Offend Sir Christopher Chataway. He is ringed and has three children.^[4]

Electoral history

References

External links