View source for Stephen Timms

{{Short description|British Labour politician (born 1955)}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = Sir Stephen Timms
| honorific-suffix    = [[Member of Parliament|MP]]
| image               = Official portrait of Stephen Timms MP crop 2, 2024.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2024
| office              = [[Minister of State for Social Security and Disability]]
| term_start          = 8 July 2024
| term_end            = 
| primeminister       = [[Keir Starmer]]
| predecessor         = [[Mims Davies]]
| successor           =
| office1             = Chair of the [[Work and Pensions Select Committee]]
| term_start1         = 29 January 2020
| term_end1           = 30 May 2024
| predecessor1        = [[Frank Field, Baron Field of Birkenhead|Frank Field]]
| successor1          = [[Debbie Abrahams]]
| office2             = [[Chief Secretary to the Treasury]]
| primeminister2      = [[Tony Blair]]
| term_start2         = 5 May 2006
| term_end2           = 28 June 2007
| predecessor2        = [[Des Browne]]
| successor2          = [[Andy Burnham]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|last=yes|Shadow portfolios
|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey}}{{Infobox officeholder
|embed = yes
| office2 = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions]]
| termlabel2 = Acting
| leader2 = [[Harriet Harman]] (Acting)
| term_start2 = 8 June 2015
| term_end2 = 13 September 2015
| predecessor2 = [[Rachel Reeves]]
| successor2 = [[Owen Smith]]
| office3 = [[Department for Work and Pensions|Shadow Minister for Employment]]
| leader3 = [[Ed Miliband]]<br />[[Harriet Harman]] (Acting)
| term_start3 = 8 October 2010
| term_end3 = 13 September 2015
| predecessor3 = [[Mark Hoban]]
| successor3 = [[Emily Thornberry]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
}}
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|last=yes|Junior ministerial offices
|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey}}{{Infobox officeholder
|embed = yes
| office4 = [[Department for Business, Innovation and Skills|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Digital Britain]]
| primeminister4 = [[Gordon Brown]]
| term_start4 = 6 August 2009
| term_end4 = 11 May 2010
| predecessor4 = ''Position established''
| successor4 = ''Position abolished''
| office5 = [[Financial Secretary to the Treasury]]
| primeminister5 = [[Gordon Brown]]
| term_start5 = 5 October 2008
| term_end5 = 11 May 2010
| predecessor5 = [[Jane Kennedy (politician)|Jane Kennedy]]
| successor5 = [[Mark Hoban]]
| primeminister6 = [[Tony Blair]]
| term_start6 = 12 September 2004
| term_end6 = 6 May 2005
| predecessor6 = [[Ruth Kelly]]
| successor6 = [[John Healey]]
| primeminister7 = [[Tony Blair]]
| term_start7 = 29 July 1999
| term_end7 = 8 June 2001
| predecessor7 = [[Barbara Roche]]
| successor7 = [[Paul Boateng]]
| office8 = [[Minister of State for Employment and Welfare Reform]]
| primeminister8 = [[Gordon Brown]]
| term_start8 = 25 January 2008
| term_end8 = 3 October 2008
| predecessor8 = [[Caroline Flint]]
| successor8 = [[Tony McNulty]]
| office9 = [[Minister of State for Competitiveness]]{{efn|{{nowrap|e-Commerce}} and Competitiveness (2002–04)}}
| primeminister9 = [[Gordon Brown]]
| term_start9 = 2 July 2007
| term_end9 = 25 January 2008
| predecessor9 = ''Position re-established''
| successor9 = [[Shriti Vadera, Baroness Vadera|The Baroness Vadera]]
| primeminister10 = [[Tony Blair]]
| term_start10 = 29 May 2002
| term_end10 = 9 September 2004
| predecessor10 = [[Douglas Alexander]]
| successor10 = ''Position abolished''
| office11 = [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions and Financial Inclusion#List of Ministers|Minister of State for Pensions]]
| primeminister11 = [[Tony Blair]]
| term_start11 = 6 May 2005
| term_end11 = 5 May 2006
| predecessor11 = [[Malcolm Wicks]]
| successor11 = [[James Purnell]]
| primeminister12 = [[Tony Blair]]
| term_start12 = 23 December 1998
| term_end12 = 29 July 1999
| predecessor12 = [[John Denham (politician)|John Denham]]
| successor12 = [[Jeff Rooker]]
| office13 = [[Department for Education and Skills (United Kingdom)|Minister of State for Schools]]
| primeminister13 = [[Tony Blair]]
| term_start13 = 11 June 2001
| term_end13 = 24 October 2002
| predecessor13 = [[Estelle Morris]]
| successor13 = [[David Miliband]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
}}
| office15            = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[East Ham (UK Parliament constituency)|East Ham]]<br />{{nobold|[[Newham North East (UK Parliament constituency)|Newham North East]] (1994–1997)}}
| term_start15        = 9 June 1994
| term_end15          = 
| predecessor15       = [[Ron Leighton]]
| successor15         = 
| majority15          = 12,863 (33.9%)
| birth_name          = Stephen Creswell Timms
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1955|7|29|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Oldham]], England
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Hui-Leng Lim|1986}}
| alma_mater          = [[Emmanuel College, Cambridge]]
| website             = {{URL|https://www.stephentimms.org.uk/}}
| termend1            = 30 May 2024
}}
'''Sir Stephen Creswell Timms''' (born 29 July 1955) is a British [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] politician who has been [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[East Ham (UK Parliament constituency)|East Ham]], formerly [[Newham North East]], since [[1994 Newham North East by-election|1994]]. He has served as [[Minister of State for Social Security and Disability]] since July 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ministerial Appointments: July 2024 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-july-2024 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Minister of State (Minister for Social Security and Disability) – GOV.UK |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/minister-of-state--192 |access-date=2024-07-25 |website=www.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref> 

Timms served in the [[New Labour]] governments of [[Tony Blair]] and [[Gordon Brown]] under several portfolios. He served for three periods as [[Financial Secretary to the Treasury]]; from 1999 to 2001, 2004 to 2005, and 2008 to 2010. As [[Chief Secretary to the Treasury]], Timms attended [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]] from 2006 to 2007.

In May 2010, [[Stabbing of Stephen Timms|Timms survived an attempted murder]] by [[Islamist]] terrorist Roshonara Choudhry who stabbed him twice in the abdomen at his constituency surgery. Choudhry was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

Timms served on the [[His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition|Official Opposition]] frontbench as Shadow Minister for Employment, and later served in the [[Shadow cabinet]] as [[Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions]]. He returned to the backbenches in September 2015.

==Early life and career==
Stephen Timms was born on 29 July 1955 in [[Oldham]], [[Lancashire]], to Ronald James Timms, an engineer, and Margaret Joyce Timms, a teacher.<ref>[http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/eastham East Ham] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517090501/http://ukpollingreport.co.uk/guide/seat-profiles/eastham |date=17 May 2010 }} UK Polling Report</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XhMWAQAAIAAJ&q=%22stephen+timms%22+farnborough |title=Dod's parliamentary companion guide ... |access-date=12 November 2010 |isbn=9780905702575 |last1=Passmore |first1=Valerie |year=2005 |publisher=Dod's Parliamentary Companion |archive-date=20 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320145954/https://books.google.com/books?id=XhMWAQAAIAAJ&q=%22stephen+timms%22+farnborough |url-status=live }}</ref> He was educated at [[Farnborough Grammar School]] in [[Farnborough, Hampshire]], before studying mathematics at [[Emmanuel College, Cambridge]], where he gained a degree in mathematics in 1977 and an [[MPhil]] in [[operational research]] in 1978.<ref name="telegraph1">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/7726242/Stephen-Timms-MP-with-the-safest-seat-in-Commons.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517050502/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/7726242/Stephen-Timms-MP-with-the-safest-seat-in-Commons.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 May 2010 |title=Stephen Timms: MP with the safest seat in Commons |publisher=Telegraph |date=14 May 2010 |access-date=11 November 2010 |location=London}}</ref>

Before entering politics, Timms worked in the [[telecommunications]] industry for 15 years, first for [[Logica]] from 1978 to 1986, and then for [[Ovum Ltd.|Ovum]] from 1986 to 1994, where he worked as a manager responsible for producing reports on the future of telecommunications. He was elected as a councillor for the [[Little Ilford]] Ward on [[Newham London Borough Council]] in a [[by-election]] in 1984, and served as Leader of the Council from 1990 to 1994.<ref name="telegraph1"/>

==Parliamentary career==
At the [[1994 Newham North East by-election]], Timms was elected to Parliament as MP for [[Newham North East]] with 75% of the vote and a majority of 11,838.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UK Parliament |url=https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/2076/election-history}}</ref>

Prior to the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]], Timms' constituency of Newham North East was abolished, and replaced with [[East Ham (UK Parliament constituency)|East Ham]]. At the election, Timms was elected to Parliament as MP for East Ham with 64.6% of the vote and a majority of 19,358.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election 1997 Results – Election Polling |url=https://www.electionpolling.co.uk/results/1997 |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=www.electionpolling.co.uk}}</ref>

Timms served as Parliamentary Private Secretary to [[Andrew Smith (British politician)|Andrew Smith]] from May 1997 to March 1998, and later to [[Mo Mowlam]] from March to July 1998.<ref name="Parliament-career">{{cite web |title=Sir Stephen Timms |url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/163/career |website=UK Parliament |access-date=29 May 2024}}</ref>

In 1998, Timms was appointed [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State]] at the Department of Social Security, rising to Minister of State in that department in 1999.<ref name="Parliament-career" />

At the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], Timms was re-elected as MP for East Ham with an increased vote share of 73.1% and an increased majority of 21,032.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC NEWS {{!}} VOTE 2001 {{!}} RESULTS & CONSTITUENCIES {{!}} East Ham |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/constituencies/219.stm |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> He was again re-elected at the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]], with a decreased vote share of 53.9% and a decreased majority of 13,155.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2005 – 2005 General Election – East Ham |url=https://webtest.parliament.uk/uk-general-elections/elections/24642 |access-date=2024-05-27 |website=webtest.parliament.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In May 2006, Timms was promoted to the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]] as [[Chief Secretary to the Treasury]], a post in which he remained until 28 June 2007, when he was removed from the cabinet by new prime minister [[Gordon Brown]].<ref name="telegraph1" /> It was later announced that he had been appointed [[Minister of State for Competitiveness]] at the newly created [[Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform]].

Following a government reshuffle on 24 January 2008, Timms moved to the Department for Work and Pensions, and became Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dwp.gov.uk/aboutus/ministers/stimms.asp |title= Department for Work and Pensions – Stephen Timms official profile|access-date=14 May 2010|publisher= [[The National Archives (United Kingdom)|The National Archives]] |archive-url= http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080727005118/http://www.dwp.gov.uk/aboutus/ministers/stimms.asp/ |archive-date= 27 July 2008}}</ref> On 3 October 2008, Timms returned to his former role as Financial Secretary to the Treasury.<ref name="telegraph1"/>

In August 2009, Timms was given additional responsibility for [[Digital Britain]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8187884.stm Timms to lead 'Digital Britain'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320150014/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8187884.stm |date=20 March 2022 }}, BBC News, 6 August 2009</ref> In September 2009, he announced plans for a tax of £6 per year to be levied on each phone account in the UK. At the time, this was characterised as a [[stealth tax]] in the media. In April 2010, Timms' department made an embarrassing slip when a letter purporting to be from him mistakenly identified [[IP address]] as "[[intellectual property]] address".<ref>[http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/995688/Minister-Digital-Britain-blunders-embarrassing-IP-slip-up/ Minister for Digital Britain blunders in embarrassing 'IP' slip-up] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412202810/http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/995688/Minister-Digital-Britain-blunders-embarrassing-IP-slip-up/ |date=12 April 2010 }}, ''MediaWeek'', 9 April 2010</ref> According to the accountants' magazine ''[[Accountancy Age]]'', he was highly regarded by finance professionals despite such gaffes.<ref>[http://www.accountancyage.com/accountancyage/news/2263017/accountants-storm-treasury Accountants storm the Treasury] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100517055008/http://www.accountancyage.com/accountancyage/news/2263017/accountants-storm-treasury |date=17 May 2010 }}, ''Accountancy Age'', 14 May 2010</ref>

At the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], Timms was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 70.4% and an increased majority of 27,826.<ref>[http://www.newham.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4BC0D348-BFED-45FF-B3A4-44D2C7201901/0/StatementofpersonsnominatedEastHamconstituency.pdf Statement of Persons Nominated] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928031742/http://www.newham.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4BC0D348-BFED-45FF-B3A4-44D2C7201901/0/StatementofpersonsnominatedEastHamconstituency.pdf|date=2011-09-28}}, Newham Council</ref>

In February 2013 Timms abstained on the second reading of the [[Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=Owen |date=11 June 2012 |title=Labour's U-turn on equal marriage: why is equality for minority groups a matter of conscience? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/labours-uturn-on-equal-marriage-why-is-equality-for-minority-groups-a-matter-of-conscience-8405578.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402203902/http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/labours-uturn-on-equal-marriage-why-is-equality-for-minority-groups-a-matter-of-conscience-8405578.html |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=29 March 2015 |website=Independent}}</ref><ref name="Edwards 2013">{{cite web |last=Edwards |first=Peter |title=How will each Labour MP vote on Equal Marriage? |website=LabourList |date=5 February 2013 |url=http://labourlist.org/2013/02/how-will-each-labour-mp-vote-on-equal-marriage/ |access-date=16 June 2016 |archive-date=8 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808093427/http://labourlist.org/2013/02/how-will-each-labour-mp-vote-on-equal-marriage/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Sparrow 2013">{{cite web |last=Sparrow |first=Andrew |title=MPs vote in favour of gay marriage: Politics live blog |website=The Guardian |date=6 February 2013 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2013/feb/05/gay-marriage-debate-politics-live-blog |access-date=16 June 2016 |archive-date=5 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505002507/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2013/feb/05/gay-marriage-debate-politics-live-blog |url-status=live }}</ref> Subsequently, in May 2013 he voted against the bill's third and final reading, opposing the legalisation of same-sex marriage within England and Wales.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Public Whip — Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill — Third Reading – 21 May 2013 at 18:59 |url=https://www.publicwhip.org.uk/division.php?date=2013-05-21&number=11&display=allpossible&sort=vote |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=www.publicwhip.org.uk}}</ref>

Timms was again re-elected at the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] with an increased vote share of 77.6% and an increased majority of 34,252.<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>

Following the [[2015 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2015 Labour leadership election]], he was offered a junior shadow [[HM Treasury|Treasury]] position by new leader [[Jeremy Corbyn]] but chose to turn it down and return to the backbenches.<ref>{{cite news|last=Murphy-Bates|first=Sebastian|date=16 September 2015|title=Stephen Timms rejects treasury job in Corbyn's Labour|work=Newhaw Recorder|url=http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/home/stephen_timms_rejects_treasury_job_in_corbyn_s_labour_1_4235265|url-status=dead|access-date=3 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614003933/http://www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/home/stephen-timms-rejects-treasury-job-in-corbyn-s-labour-1-4235265|archive-date=14 June 2018}}</ref>

Timms supported [[Owen Smith]] in the failed attempt to replace [[Jeremy Corbyn]] in the [[2016 Labour Party leadership election (UK)|2016 Labour leadership election]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mps-nominating-owen-smith-labour-8451186|title=Which MPs are nominating Owen Smith in the Labour leadership contest?|last1=Smith|first1=Mikey|date=20 July 2016|work=Mirror|access-date=10 November 2018|last2=Bloom|first2=Dan|archive-date=16 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716082001/https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mps-nominating-owen-smith-labour-8451186|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the snap [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], Timms was again re-elected with an increased vote share of 83.2% and an increased majority of 39,883.<ref>{{cite news |title=East Ham parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000679 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716053102/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000679 |archive-date=2018-07-16 |access-date=2018-06-22 |work=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=29 January 2019 |orig-date=7 April 2018 |title=Commons Briefing Paper 7979. General Election 2017: results and analysis |url=https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7979/CBP-7979.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112183438/https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7979/CBP-7979.pdf |archive-date=12 November 2019 |publisher=[[House of Commons Library]] |edition=Second}}</ref> He was again re-elected at the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], with a decreased vote share of 76.3% and a decreased majority of 33,176.<ref name="Statement of persons nominated">https://www.newham.gov.uk/Documents/Council%20and%20Democracy/StatementOfPersonsNominatedAndNoticeOfPollEastHam.pdf {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>

In April 2021, Timms praised the work of the controversial Jesus House Church on [[Twitter]].<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Stephen Timms |user=stephenctimms |number= 1379425681004756994 |title= I applaud the extraordinary work of @jesushouseuk, and of churches and other faith groups, in supporting our communities throughout the past year}}</ref> His tweet came after an official apology from Labour leader [[Keir Starmer]], who had admitted it had been a "mistake" to film a promotional video at the church when it had come to light that the pastor of the church, Agu Irukwu, had previously opposed same sex marriage and equality legislation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-worshipping-pastor-agu-irukwu-campaigned-against-gay-equality-jesus-house-a7763996.html|title=Theresa May 'worships' with pastor who campaigned against gay equality and same-sex marriage|last1=Worley|first1=Will|date=30 May 2017|work=Independent|access-date=7 April 2021|archive-date=3 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210403135354/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-worshipping-pastor-agu-irukwu-campaigned-against-gay-equality-jesus-house-a7763996.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Osbourne |first1=Samuel |date=5 April 2021 |title=Keir Starmer apologises for visiting church where pastor opposed gay rights |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/starmer-church-jesus-house-gay-b1827089.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406221846/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/starmer-church-jesus-house-gay-b1827089.html |archive-date=6 April 2021 |access-date=7 April 2021 |work=Independent}}</ref> [[LGBT+ Labour]] said they were "disappointed" to see Timms' tweet so soon after Starmer's apology, after Timms was criticised for supporting the "anti-LGBTQ+" church.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/04/06/jesus-house-labour-mp-stephen-timms-applauds-keir-starmer-homophobic-church/|title=Labour MP Stephen Timms 'applauds' notoriously homophobic church Jesus House despite Keir Starmer apology|last1=Baska|first1=Maggie|date=6 April 2017|work=Independent|access-date=7 April 2021|archive-date=6 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406172706/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/04/06/jesus-house-labour-mp-stephen-timms-applauds-keir-starmer-homophobic-church/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 23 August 2021, Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] appointed Timms as the UK's [[Prime Ministerial Trade Envoy|trade envoy to Switzerland and Liechtenstein]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-new-trade-envoys-to-boost-british-business-around-the-world|title=PM announces new Trade Envoys to boost British business around the world|website=GOV.UK|date=23 August 2021|access-date=23 August 2021|archive-date=23 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823071605/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-new-trade-envoys-to-boost-british-business-around-the-world|url-status=live}}</ref>

Timms was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[2022 Birthday Honours]] for political and public service.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=63714|supp=y|page=B2|date=1 June 2022}}</ref>

At the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]], Timms was again re-elected with a decreased vote share of 51.6% and a decreased majority of 12,863.<ref>{{cite web |date=5 July 2024 |title=Election Results 2024 |url=https://www.newham.gov.uk/council/general-election-results-2024 |access-date=10 July 2024 |publisher=London Borough of Newham}}</ref>

== Murder attempt ==
{{Main|Stabbing of Stephen Timms}}

On 14 May 2010, Timms was approached by 21-year-old female [[Islamist extremist]] Roshonara Choudhry, during a [[constituency surgery]] at the Beckton Globe Library in Kingsford Way in [[Beckton]].<ref>[http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article7127575.ece Woman charged with attempted murder of Labour MP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320150010/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/ |date=20 March 2022 }}, ''The Times'', 15 May 2010. Retrieved 11 November 2010.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/8683596.stm |title=Former minister Timms stabbed |date=14 May 2010 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=14 May 2010 |archive-date=28 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728152940/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/8683596.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Choudhry stabbed Timms twice in the abdomen with a 15cm (6-inch) kitchen knife, before being disarmed.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/woman-21-arrested-over-stabbing-of-labour-mp-1973948.html Woman, 21, arrested over stabbing of Labour MP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190907165527/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/woman-21-arrested-over-stabbing-of-labour-mp-1973948.html |date=7 September 2019 }}, ''The Independent'', 15 May 2010</ref> She stated that she had been influenced by watching sermons of [[Anwar al-Awlaki]], a leader of [[al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula]], and that her attack was to punish Timms for voting for the [[Iraq War]], and seek revenge for the Iraqi people.<ref name=youtube-withdraws>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/world/05britain.html YouTube Withdraws Cleric's Videos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111112104/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/05/world/05britain.html |date=11 November 2016 }}, ''The New York Times'', 4 November 2010</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.oneindia.in/2010/11/06/alqaeda-leaders-tour-of-britain-radicalised-ageneration.html |title=Al-Qaeda leader's tour of Britain 'radicalised a generation of young Muslims' |work=Oneindia News |date=6 November 2010 |access-date=8 November 2010 |archive-date=8 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008035530/http://news.oneindia.in/2010/11/06/alqaeda-leaders-tour-of-britain-radicalised-ageneration.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>HEGGHAMMER, T., NESSER, P.. Assessing the Islamic State's Commitment to Attacking the West. Perspectives on Terrorism, North America, 9, jul. 2015. Available at: <http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/index.php/pot/article/view/440 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519123210/http://www.terrorismanalysts.com/pt/index.php/pot/article/view/440 |date=19 May 2017 }}>. Date accessed: 7 June 2017.</ref>

He suffered "potentially life-threatening" wounds, including lacerations to his [[liver]] and a perforation to his stomach.<ref name=bbc3nov>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11682732|title=Woman jailed for life for attack on MP Stephen Timms|publisher=BBC News|date=3 November 2010|access-date=4 November 2010|archive-date=3 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103230842/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-11682732|url-status=live}}</ref> Timms underwent emergency surgery at the [[Royal London Hospital]], from which he was discharged on 19 May.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8692562.stm MP Stephen Timms discharged from London hospital] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320150013/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/8692562.stm |date=20 March 2022 }}, BBC News, 19 May 2010</ref>

On 2 November 2010, Choudhry was found guilty of Timms' [[attempted murder]]. She was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years.<ref name="bbc3nov"/> After the court case, Timms said he was not bitter, but that forgiveness was not possible because his attacker showed no remorse. He has since sought the banning of incendiary material on popular internet sites "to protect other vulnerable young people from going down the same road."<ref name=not-bitter>[https://www.standard.co.uk/news/stephen-timms-i-dont-feel-bitter-but-im-not-ready-to-forgive-my-knife-attacker-6532423.html  Stephen Timms: I don't feel bitter but I'm not ready to forgive my knife attacker] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180614/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/stephen-timms-i-dont-feel-bitter-but-im-not-ready-to-forgive-my-knife-attacker-6532423.html |date=10 February 2018 }}, ''Evening Standard'', 4 November 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2010.</ref> [[YouTube]] removed some videos of al-Awlaki within hours of the sentence.<ref name=youtube-withdraws/><ref name=not-bitter/>

Following the 2021 [[murder of David Amess]], Timms said in parliament that he would like to meet Choudhry, so "he can finally forgive her".<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-10-19|title=Stephen Timms: MP who survived stabbing wants to meet jailed attacker|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-58972716|access-date=2021-10-19|archive-date=19 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019235333/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-58972716|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Timms is an [[evangelical Christian]].<ref>[http://www2.labour.org.uk/faith Labour Party: Faith groups] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101174825/http://www2.labour.org.uk/faith |date=1 January 2011 }}. Retrieved 1 November 2010.</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/10/gay-marriage-tory-backlash Tory backlash against same-sex marriage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419211305/http://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/dec/10/gay-marriage-tory-backlash |date=19 April 2016 }}, ''[[The Guardian]]'', 10 December 2012 (retrieved 10 December 2012)</ref> He is passionate about Christians entering politics and is a keen supporter of Just Love, a social justice movement working with Christian students.<ref>[https://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.can.help.to.rebuild.confidence.in.politics.stephen.timms.mp/136452.htm Christians can help to rebuild confidence in politics – Stephen Timms MP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309185023/https://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.can.help.to.rebuild.confidence.in.politics.stephen.timms.mp/136452.htm |date=9 March 2021 }}, ''[[Christian Today]]'', 2 March 2021 (retrieved 3 March 2021)</ref> He has lived in the [[London Borough of Newham]] since 1979, and has been married to Hui-Leng Lim since 1986.<ref name=not-bitter/>

== Notes ==
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==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website|http://www.stephentimms.org.uk}}
* [http://www.newhamlabour.co.uk/ Newham Labour Party] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809032216/http://newhamlabour.co.uk/ |date=9 August 2018 }}
* {{UK MP links | parliament = stephen-timms/163 | hansard = mr-stephen-timms | hansardcurr = 4291 | guardian = 5192/stephen-timms | publicwhip = Stephen_Timms | theywork = stephen_timms | record = Stephen-Timms/East-Ham/567 | bbc = 25278.stm | journalisted = stephen-timms }}

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