Geoffrey Clifton-Brown

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English {{#invoke:infobox|infoboxTemplate | bodyclass = vcard | bodystyle = {{#if:|width: {{{mainwidth}}}}} | child = {{{embed}}}

| abovestyle = font-size: 100%;

| above = {{#if:|

{{{honorific-prefix}}}

}}

{{#if:Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown|Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown|Template:PAGENAMEBASE}}

{{#if:Template:Post-nominals|

Template:Post-nominals

}}

| subheaderstyle = font-size:125%; font-weight:bold;

| subheader = {{#ifeq:{{{embed}}}|yes||{{#if:|{{#if:|

}}{{{native_name}}}{{#if:|

}}}}}}

| image = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image=Official portrait of Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP crop 2.jpg|size=|upright=1|alt=|suppressplaceholder=yes}} | image2 = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image=|size=|upright=1|alt=|suppressplaceholder=yes}} | image3 = {{#invoke:InfoboxImage|InfoboxImage|image=|upright=1|alt=|suppressplaceholder=yes}} | captionstyle = line-height:normal;padding-top:0.2em; | caption{{#if:|3|{{#if:|2}}}} = Official portrait, 2020

| headerstyle = color: #202122; {{#ifeq:{{{embed}}}|yes|background:#eee|background:lavender}}

| data1 = {{#if:| {{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}}}Template:Infobox officeholder/office{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| {{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}{{#if:|| Template:Infobox officeholder/office}}

| data2 = | header3 = {{#if:Template:Birth date and ageCambridge, EnglandBritishConservativeTemplate:MarriageDouglas Clifton Brown, 1st Viscount Ruffside (great-granduncle)
Sir Alexander Brown, 1st Baronet (great-great-granduncle)
Sir William Brown, 1st Baronet, of Richmond Hill (great-great-great-grandfather)
Tom Hiddleston (distant cousin)Jacqueline, EdwardGloucestershireRoyal Agricultural CollegeMember of ParliamentPolitician and Surveyor|Personal details}} | label4 = Pronunciation | data4 =

| label5 = Born | data5 = {{#invoke:Separated entries|br 

  |1={{#if:|}}
  |2={{#invoke:person date|birth}}

|3={{#if:Cambridge, England|

Cambridge, England

}}

}}

| label6 = Died | data6 = {{#invoke:Separated entries|br 

 |1={{#invoke:person date|death}}

|2={{#if:|

}}

}}

| label7 = {{#ifexpr: Template:Strfind short 

   | Manner |{{#if:|Manner|Cause}} }} of death

| data7 = {{#if:||}}

| label8 = Resting place | class8 = label | data8 = {{#invoke:Separated entries|br||}}

| label9 = Citizenship | data9 =

| label10 = Nationality | data10 = {{#if:British|{{#if:{{#invoke:find country|main|string=Cambridge, England}}|{{#switch:{{#invoke:delink|delink|British}}| {{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Country2nationality||{{#invoke:find country|main|string={{#invoke:delink|delink|Cambridge, England}}}}|nocat=true}}|{{#invoke:delink|delink|British}}|{{#invoke:delink|delink|British}}}} = | {{#ifeq:{{#invoke:find country|main|string=Cambridge, England}}|England|British}} = | #default = British}}|British}}|}} | label11 = Political party | data11 = {{#switch:Conservative | = | Democrat | Democratic | Democrat = Democratic | Republican | United States Republican Party | Republican | Republican Party = Republican | Conservative Party | Conservative = Conservative | Labour Party | Labour = Labour | Conservative Party | Conservative = Conservative | Liberal Party | Liberal = Liberal | KMT | Kuomintang | KMT | KMT | Kuomintang | Kuomintang (KMT) | Kuomintang (KMT) = Kuomintang | DPP | DPP | Democratic Progressive Party = Democratic Progressive Party | #default = Conservative }}

| label12 = Other political
affiliations | data12 =

| label13 = Height | data13 = {{#if:|Template:Infobox person/height}}

| label14 = Spouse{{#if:|s|{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize|Template:Marriage|likely=(s)|plural=s}}}} | data14 = Template:Marriage

| label15 = Domestic partner{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}} | data15 =

| label16 = Relations | data16 = Douglas Clifton Brown, 1st Viscount Ruffside (great-granduncle)
Sir Alexander Brown, 1st Baronet (great-great-granduncle)
Sir William Brown, 1st Baronet, of Richmond Hill (great-great-great-grandfather)
Tom Hiddleston (distant cousin)

| label17 = Children | data17 = Jacqueline, Edward

| label18 = Parent{{#if:|{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}}|{{#ifexpr:Template:Count > 1|s}}}} | data18 = {{#if:|{{{parents}}}|{{#invoke:list|unbulleted|{{#if:|{{{father}}} (father)}}|{{#if:|{{{mother}}} (mother)}}}}}}

| label19 = Relatives | data19 =

| label20 = Residence{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize|Gloucestershire|likely=(s)|plural=s}} | class20 = {{#if:||label}} | data20 = Gloucestershire

| label21 = Education | data21 =

| label22 = Alma mater | data22 = Royal Agricultural College

| label23 = Occupation | data23 = Member of Parliament

| label24 = Profession | data24 = Politician and Surveyor

| label25 = Known for | data25 =

| label26 = Salary | data26 =

| label27 = Cabinet | data27 =

| label28 = Committees | data28 =

| label29 = Portfolio | data29 =

| label30 = {{#if:|Civilian awards|Awards}} | data30 =

| label31 = {{{blank1}}} | data31 =

| label32 = {{{blank2}}} | data32 =

| label33 = {{{blank3}}} | data33 =

| label34 = {{{blank4}}} | data34 =

| label35 = {{{blank5}}} | data35 =

| label36 = Signature | data36 = {{#if:|[[File:|{{#if:|{{{signature_size}}}|128x80px}}|class=skin-invert notpageimage|alt=|Geoffrey Clifton-Brown's signature]]}}

| label37 = Website | data37 = cliftonbrown.co.uk

| label38 = Nickname{{#invoke:Detect singular|pluralize||likely=(s)|plural=s}} | data38 =

| header39 = {{#if:|Military service}}

| label40 = Allegiance | data40 =

| label41 = {{#if:||Branch/service}} | data41 =

| label42 = {{#if:||Years of service}} | data42 =

| label43 = {{#if:||Rank}} | data43 =

| label44 = {{#if:||Unit}} | data44 =

| label45 = Commands | data45 =

| label46 = {{#if:||Battles/wars}} | data46 =

| label47 = {{#if:|Military awards|Awards}} | data47 =

| label48 = {{{military_blank1}}} | data48 =

| label49 = {{{military_blank2}}} | data49 =

| label50 = {{{military_blank3}}} | data50 =

| label51 = {{{military_blank4}}} | data51 =

| label52 = {{{military_blank5}}} | data52 =

| data53 = | data54 = | data55 = | data56 = | data57 = | data58 = | belowstyle = border-top: 1px solid right;

| below =

{{#if:| As of {{{date}}}{{#if:|, {{{year}}}}}}}

{{#if:|Source: [{{{source}}}]}}

}}{{#if:|{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}} }}{{#if:|{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}} }}{{#if:|{{#if:||{{#ifeq:{{#ifeq:|no|yes}}|yes||}}}} }}{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox officeholder with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| regexp1 = 1blankname[%d]* | regexp2 = 1namedata[%d]* | regexp3 = 2blankname[%d]* | regexp4 = 2namedata[%d]* | regexp5 = 3blankname[%d]* | regexp6 = 3namedata[%d]* | regexp7 = 4blankname[%d]* | regexp8 = 4namedata[%d]* | regexp9 = 5blankname[%d]* | regexp10 = 5namedata[%d]* | allegiance | alma_mater | regexp11 = alongside[%d]* | alt | regexp12 = ambassador_from[%d]* | regexp13 = appointed[%d]* | regexp14 = appointer[%d]* | regexp15 = assembly[%d]* | awards | battles | battles_label | birth_date | birth_name | birth_place | birthname | regexp16 = blank[%d]* | bodyclass | branch | branch_label | cabinet | candidate | caption | categories | regexp17 = chancellor[%d]* | children | citizenship | regexp18 = co%-leader[%d]* | commands | committees | regexp19 = constituency[%d]* | regexp20 = constituency_AM[%d]* | regexp21 = constituency_MP[%d]* | regexp22 = convocation[%d]* | regexp23 = country[%d]* | regexp24 = data[%d]* | date | death_cause | death_date | death_manner | death_place | demo | regexp25 = deputy[%d]* | regexp26 = district[%d]* | education | election_date | embed | father | regexp28 = firstminister[%d]* | footnotes | regexp29 = governor[%d]* | regexp30 = governor_general[%d]* | regexp31 = governor%-general[%d]* | height | honorific_prefix | honorific-prefix | honorific_suffix | honorific-suffix | image | image name | image_name_alt | image_size | imagesize | image_upright | incumbent | regexp32 = jr/sr[%d]* | regexp33 = jr/sr and state[%d]* | known_for | regexp34 = leader[%d]* | regexp35 = legislature[%d]* | regexp36 = lieutenant[%d]* | regexp37 = lieutenant_governor[%d]* | mainwidth | regexp38 = majority[%d]* | regexp39 = majority_floor_leader[%d]* | regexp40 = majority_leader[%d]* | regexp41 = majorityleader[%d]* | mawards | regexp42 = military_blank[%d]* | regexp43 = military_data[%d]* | regexp44 = minister[%d]* | regexp45 = minister_from[%d]* | regexp46 = minority_floor_leader[%d]* | regexp47 = minority_leader[%d]* | regexp48 = minorityleader[%d]* | regexp49 = module[%d]* | regexp50 = monarch[%d]* | mother | name | nationality | native_name | native_name_lang | nickname | nocat | regexp51 = nominator[%d]* | nominee | occupation | regexp52 = office[%d]* | opponent | regexp53 = order[%d]* | otherparty | parents | regexp54 = parliament[%d]* | regexp55 = parliamentarygroup[%d]* | partner | party | party_election | portfolio | regexp56 = preceded[%d]* | regexp57 = preceding[%d]* | regexp58 = predecessor[%d]* | regexp59 = premier[%d]* | regexp60 = president[%d]* | regexp61 = primeminister[%d]* | regexp62 = prior_term[%d]* | profession | pronunciation | rank | rank_label | relations | relatives | residence | resting_place | resting_place_coordinates | restingplace | restingplacecoordinates | regexp63 = riding[%d]* | runningmate | salary | serviceyears | serviceyears_label | signature | signature_alt | signature_size | smallimage | smallimage_alt | source | speaker | speaker_office | spouse | spouses | regexp64 = state[%d]* | regexp65 = state_assembly[%d]* | regexp66 = state_delegate[%d]* | regexp67 = state_house[%d]* | regexp68 = state_legislature[%d]* | regexp69 = state_senate[%d]* | regexp70 = status[%d]* | regexp71 = suboffice[%d]* | regexp72 = subterm[%d]* | regexp73 = succeeded[%d]* | regexp74 = succeeding[%d]* | regexp75 = successor[%d]* | regexp76 = taoiseach[%d]* | regexp77 = term[%d]* | regexp78 = term_end[%d]* | regexp79 = term_label[%d]* | regexp80 = term_start[%d]* | regexp81 = termend[%d]* | regexp82 = termlabel[%d]* | regexp83 = termstart[%d]* | regexp84 = title[%d]* | unit | unit_label | regexp85 = vicegovernor[%d]* | regexp86 = vicepremier[%d]* | regexp87 = vicepresident[%d]* | regexp88 = viceprimeminister[%d]* | regexp89 = assuming[%d]* | website | width | year }} Sir Geoffrey Robert Clifton-Brown (born 23 March 1953)<ref name="x3">Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 1, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, p. 538</ref> is a British Conservative Party politician who has served as a Member of Parliament (MP) since 1992. He has represented North Cotswolds since the 2024 general election, having previously represented Cirencester and Tewkesbury, then The Cotswolds.

Early life and career

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown was born on 23 March 1953 in Cambridge, the eldest of four children of farmer Robert Lawrence Clifton-Brown (1929–2016), of Maltings Farmhouse, Haverhill, Suffolk, a councillor and mayor of St Edmundsbury, Suffolk,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and (Florence) Elizabeth Lindsay (1926–2006), granddaughter of Sir Edmund Hoyle Vestey, 1st Baronet.<ref name="x3"/> Clifton-Brown is therefore distantly related to the actor Tom Hiddleston, who is Edmund Vestey's great-great-grandson.

He was privately educated, first at Tormore School in Deal, Kent, and then at Eton College. He then studied at the Royal Agricultural College where he qualified as a chartered surveyor in 1975. He began his career as a graduate estate surveyor at the Property Services Agency in Dorchester and, later in 1975, became an investment surveyor with Jones Lang Wootton. He became the vice chairman of the Norfolk North Conservative Association in 1984. He was elected as Constituency Chairman in 1986, a position he held until he resigned in 1991 in order to stand for election as a Conservative candidate.

Parliamentary career

During 1991, Clifton-Brown was selected as the candidate for the then Conservative parliamentary constituency of Cirencester and Tewkesbury, following the retirement of the former Cabinet minister Nicholas Ridley. He won the seat at the 1992 general election with 55.6% of the vote and a majority of 16,058,<ref name=electoralcalculus1992>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Politics Resources">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> both slightly higher than at the 1987 general election.<ref name=electoralcalculus1987>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Clfiton-Brown made his maiden speech on 12 June 1992.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

When newly elected Clifton-Brown became a member of the Environment Select Committee, where he remained until 1995. He was then appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Douglas Hogg, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The constituency of Cirencester and Tewkesbury was abolished, but Clifton-Brown contested and was elected for the newly drawn constituency of Cotswold at the 1997 general election. He won with 46.4% of the vote, a decrease of 8% from 1992, and a majority of 11,965, down from 16,058.<ref name=electoralcalculus1997>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>Template:Efn He was again re-elected at the 2001 general election with an increased vote share of 50.3% and an increased majority of 11,983.<ref name=electoralcalculus2001>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2002, after Iain Duncan Smith became leader of the Conservative party, Clifton-Brown became the Shadow Minister for Local and Devolved Government Affairs.<ref name="Geoff C-B">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Clifton-Brown was re-elected at the 2005 general election with a decreased vote share of 49.3% and a decreased majority of 9,688.<ref name=electoralcalculus2005>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He returned to Westminster as assistant Chief Conservative Whip. On the accession of David Cameron as Leader of the Conservative Party, he was appointed the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Investment.<ref name="Geoff C-B" />

During the parliamentary expenses scandal in 2009, Clifton-Brown switched his main residence from his house in the Cotswolds to a London flat.<ref name="x13">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Cotswolds Conservative Party Association said that Clifton-Brown had acted within the rules.<ref name="x13"/>

Clifton-Brown was again re-elected at the 2010 general election, increasing his vote share to 53% and his majority to 12,864.<ref name=electoralcalculus2010>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref>Percentage change and swing for 2010 is calculated relative to the PA (Rallings and Thrasher) 2005 notional result, not actual 2005 result {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After the formation of the subsequent coalition government, he returned as a backbencher, making overseas visits in his role as Chairman of the Conservative Party's International Office. At this time he became the Parliamentary Chairman of the Conservative Friends of the Chinese.<ref name="Geoff C-B" /> In 2014, he received critical attention in the media following a visit to China paid for by the Chinese authorities.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In a 2015 interview with CNN, Clifton-Brown stated that his family has been doing business in China since the 1920s.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Clifton-Brown has remained engaged with the Chinese authorities.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Clifton-Brown was again re-elected at the 2015 general election with an increased vote share of 56.5% and an increased majority of 21,477.<ref name=electoralcalculus>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He was again re-elected at the snap 2017 general election with an increased vote share of 60.1% and an increased majority of 25,499.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the 2018 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Bachelor for political and public service.<ref>Template:London Gazette</ref>

In 2019, Clifton-Brown was asked to leave the Conservative Party Conference being held in Manchester, following a dispute with security staff who prevented him from entering a meeting room with a guest who did not have a relevant identification pass. He later apologised and described the incident as a "minor verbal misunderstanding".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

He was again re-elected at the 2019 general election, with a decreased vote share of 58% and a decreased majority of 20,214.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

He has previously been voted as the worst MP in parliament in a survey of constituents ranking MPs on categories such as attendance and helping constituents.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Due to the 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, Clifton-Brown's constituency of The Cotswolds was abolished, and replaced with North Cotswolds. At the 2024 general election, Clifton-Brown was elected to Parliament as MP for North Cotswolds with 34.7% of the vote and a majority of 3,357.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following the general election, he ran against Bob Blackman to become chairman of the 1922 Committee, of which he had previously been treasurer; he lost by 28 votes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

On 11 September 2024, Clifton-Brown was elected Chair of the Public Accounts Committee.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

In 1979, Clifton-Brown married Alexandra, daughter of Wing Commander Denis Noel Peto-Shepherd, RAF. They have one son and one daughter.<ref name="x3"/> They divorced in 2004.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He is now married to Kym Clifton-Brown.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He is a Freeman of the City of London.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Clifton-Brown is related to seven other previous members of Parliament, including his grandfather Geoffrey Benedict Clifton-Brown, his great-uncle Douglas Clifton Brown, and Douglas' son-in-law<ref>Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 1, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, p. 539</ref> Harry Hylton-Foster (husband of Audrey Clifton-Brown). Both Douglas and Harry became Speaker of the House of Commons. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown's great-uncle Howard Clifton Brown was elected as member of Parliament on several occasions.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He is also a descendant of the Army officer and MP James Clifton Brown,<ref>Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 1, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, 2003, pp. 484, 538</ref> and of Sir William Brown, 1st Baronet, a Liberal MP and the co-founder of banking house Brown Shipley.

References

Template:Reflist

Notes

Template:Notelist

Template:Sister project

Template:S-start Template:S-par Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-non |- Template:S-new Template:S-ttl |- Template:S-ttl Template:S-inc Template:S-off Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-inc Template:S-endTemplate:Conservative Party UK MPs Template:Authority control

Retrieved from "https://wiki.sarg.dev/index.php?title=Geoffrey_Clifton-Brown&oldid=262307"