Bernard Jenkin

North Essex (1997–2010)
Colchester North (1992–1997)

Anne Strutt

​

(m. 1988)​

The Honourable Sir Bernard Jenkin MP
Official portrait, 2019
Chair of the Liaison Committee
In office 23 May 2020 –30 May 2024
Incumbent
Assumed office 9 April 1992
Children	2
Parent	Patrick Jenkin (father)
Alma mater	Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (BA)

Sir Bernard Christison Jenkin (born 9 April 1959) is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Harwich and North Essex, previously Colchester North, since 1992. He also served as chair of the Liaison Committee.

Jenkin was elected chairman of the Public Administration Select Committee in May 2010. He is a longstanding critic of the European Union, believing that EU membership undermined the United Kingdom's national sovereignty, and he was one of the Maastricht Rebels during the premiership of John Major. In the 2016 EU referendum he supported Brexit and from 2017 he was one of the most vocal supporters of the Eurosceptic pressure group Leave Means Leave.

Early life and career

Bernard Jenkin was born on 9 April 1959 in Wood Green, to Patrick Jenkin, who subsequently became a Conservative MP and Cabinet minister, and later a life peer (as Baron Jenkin of Roding); and Monica Jenkin (née Graham). He is a descendant of the scientist Fleeming Jenkin.

He was educated at the fee-paying independent Highgate School, the voluntary aided William Ellis School, and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he was awarded a choral exhibition and gained a BA honours degree in English literature in 1982. He was President of the Cambridge Union Society in 1982.

After graduation, Jenkin worked for Ford and the private equity company 3i as Manager of Legal & General Ventures from 1989 to 1992. From 1992 to 1995, he was an advisor to Legal & General Group plc.

Jenkin stood for election as the Conservative candidate in Glasgow Central at the 1987 general election, coming second with 13% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP Bob McTaggart. ^[2]

Parliamentary career

1st term (1992-1997)

At the 1992 general election, his 33rd birthday, Jenkin was elected as MP for Colchester North with 51.5% of the vote and a majority of 16,402. ^{[3] [4]}

During John Major's government, Jenkin was one of the Maastricht Rebels who defied the party whip to oppose the Maastricht Treaty.

2nd term (1997-2001)

Prior to the 1997 general election, Colchester North was abolished, and replaced with North Essex. At the general election, Jenkin was elected as MP for North Essex with 43.9% of the vote and a majority of 5,476. ^[5]

William Hague appointed him Shadow Minister for Transport, serving from 1998 to 2001.

3rd term (2001-2005)

At the 2001 general election, Jenkin was re-elected as MP for North Essex with an increased vote share of 47.4% and an increased majority of 7,186. ^[6]

Jenkin served as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence from 2001 to 2003 under Iain Duncan Smith and Shadow Regions Secretary from 2003 to 2005 under Michael Howard.

4th term (2005-2010)

Jenkin was again re-elected at the 2005 general election with an increased vote share of 47.6% and an increased majority of 10,903. ^[7] He was appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party after the general election and served until 7 November 2006, when he was replaced by John Maples. ^[8] Jenkin's deputy chairman role came to an end when, during a shadow cabinet reshuffle, he was offered another frontbench position, which he declined, reportedly saying to David Cameron that only a return to the shadow cabinet would interest him. ^[9]

In 2006, Jenkin faced criticism after he used the word "coloured" when referring to a British Asian Conservative A-List candidate, Ali Miraj. ^[10]

5th term (2010-2015)

Prior to the 2010 general election, Jenkin's constituency of North Essex was abolished and replaced with Harwich and North Essex. At the election, Jenkin was elected as MP for Harwich and North Essex with 46.9% of the vote and a majority of 11,447. ^{[11] [12]}

In May 2012, Jenkin was re-elected as a member of the Executive of the 1922 Committee. ^[13]

Jenkin, who gained a reputation as a critic of the Coalition government, led calls to drop the House of Lords Reform Bill 2012. ^[14] Jenkin voted in favour of same sex marriage in 2013 "as a matter of principle", whilst acknowledging the decision to hold the debate caused much "political unhappiness". ^[15]

In January 2014, Jenkin drafted a letter calling for Prime Minister Cameron to renegotiate Britain's relationship with the EU to give the House of Commons powers to veto EU legislation, which was ultimately signed by 95 MPs, and reportedly backed by another six. ^[16] Following the Scottish independence referendum and promises made to further devolve powers to Scotland, Jenkin called for the creation of an "English First Minister" and for departments responsible for policy that applied only in England to be accountable only to the English MPs. ^[17]

6th term (2015-2017)

Jenkin was re-elected as MP for Harwich and North Essex at the 2015 general election with an increased vote share of 51% and an increased majority of 15,174. ^[18] Following the general election, he was returned unopposed as the chairman of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee. ^[19]

Jenkin was one of the most vocal supporters of the Eurosceptic pressure group Leave Means Leave, and was a prominent Leave supporter in the Brexit referendum. ^[20]

7th term (2017-2019)

At the snap 2017 general election, Jenkin was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 58.5% and a decreased majority of 14,356. ^[21]

In September 2019, Jenkin criticised the House of Commons speaker John Bercow, stating that he was "irretrievably politicised and radicalised". This comment came after Bercow made a speech warning Boris Johnson that "the only form of Brexit which we will have, whenever that might be, will be a Brexit that the House of Commons has explicitly endorsed". ^[22]

8th term (2019-2024)

Jenkin was again re-elected at the 2019 general election, with an increased vote share of 60.3% and an increased majority of 20,182. ^[23]

Although a sceptic of lockdown, Jenkin supported the first COVID-19 tier regulations in England. However, he urged Boris Johnson to put forward a white paper on the issue, setting out how the UK can deal with COVID-19 through treatments, social distancing and an improved NHS Test and Trace. ^[24]

In 2021, he was a critic of Russia, and urged the government to take action in Ukraine. ^[25]

In June 2023 Boris Johnson called for Jenkin to resign, after his participation in the Commons Select Committee of Privileges which investigated whether Johnson had misled parliament, when it was reported by the Guido Fawkes website that Jenkin had attended an event on 8 December 2020 in parliament. It was reportedly the date of his wife's birthday, with a "drinks party" held by Eleanor Laing, a Commons deputy speaker, in her office. ^[26] In December 2023, it was found that the allegations did not meet the threshold for a fixed penalty notice by the police. ^[27]

In December 2023, Jenkin was placed under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Daniel Greenberg, for alleged "actions causing significant damage to the reputation of the House as a whole, or of its Members generally". ^[28] On 26 March, Greenberg's investigation determined the allegations would not be upheld. ^[29]

9th term (2024-)

At the 2024 general election, Jenkin was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 34.4% and a decreased majority of 1,162. ^[30]

Expenses claims

Main article: United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal

In May 2009, Jenkin was reported by The Daily Telegraph to have used £50,000 in expenses to pay his sister-in-law rent on the property he uses as his constituency home. Jenkin said that he was just paying "an honest and reasonable rent" for the property. ^[31] On 27 October 2009, it was initially recommended that Bernard Jenkin pay back £63,250 by expenses auditor Sir Thomas Legg. This is the highest amount known to have been recommended after an audit of MPs' claims on second homes expenses. His father ultimately settled the bill for him. ^{[32] [33]} This amount was reduced to £36,250 following an appeal. ^[34]

In popular culture

Jenkin's role on the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee was dramatised in the 2017 verbatim musical Committee: (A New Musical), which retold the downfall of the charity Kids Company and which was first performed at the Donmar Warehouse. Jenkin was portrayed by actor Alexander Hanson. ^[35]

Jenkin was portrayed by Tim McMullan in the 2019 Channel 4 drama Brexit: The Uncivil War . ^{[36] [37]}

Personal life

Bernard Jenkin in January 2016

Jenkin married Anne Strutt in 1988 and has two sons. He is an occasional naturist, ^{[38] [39]} and a long-time acquaintance of screenwriter Richard Curtis, who typically includes a character named 'Bernard' in everything he writes. ^[40]

He separated from his wife in 2023. ^[41]

Jenkin is the vice-president of the UK charity Combat Stress, which offers residential treatment to ex-servicemen and women suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder. To mark his 50th birthday, he held a fundraising event in March 2009 which raised over £50,000 for the charity. ^[42]

Honours

In 2018, Jenkin was awarded with a knighthood honouring his political and public service. ^[43]

Jenkin is in favour of marriage equality and was nominated for a Stonewall award in 2013. ^[44] The Climate Coalition awarded him the Green Heart Hero Award in May 2018 for his eco-friendly lifestyle choices. ^[45]

Notes

1. As chair of the Public Administration Committee from 2010 to May 2015.

References

1. "Bernard Christison JENKIN personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK".
2. "Election Data 1987". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
3. "Election Data 1992". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
4. "Politics Resources". Election 1992. Politics Resources. 9 April 1992. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
5. "Election Data 1997". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
6. "Election Data 2001". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
7. "Election Data 2005". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
8. "Jenkin axed in Cameron reshuffle". BBC News. 8 November 2006. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
9. Carlin, Brendan; Isaby, Jonathan (8 November 2006). "Senior Tory sacked in 'A-list' race row". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 13 April 2019.
10. Browne, Anthony (9 November 2006). "Jenkin in new race row after 'coloured' remark". The Times. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
11. "Election Data 2010". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
12. "BBC NEWS – Election 2010 – Harwich & Essex North". BBC News.
13. "New faces elected on to influential Conservative 1922 committee". BBC News. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
14. Watt, Nicholas (10 July 2012). "Rebel Tories scupper motion for House of Lords reform bill". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
15. Jenkin, Bernard (5 February 2013). "Why I, a practising member of the Church of England, will vote for same-sex marriage today". ConservativeHome. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
16. Ross, Tim (11 January 2014). "95 Tory MPs call for EU law veto". The Telegraph. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
17. "Tory backbencher calls for 'England First Minister'". ITV News. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
18. "Election Data 2015". Electoral Calculus. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
19. "Winning candidates for select committee Chairs announced". UK Parliament. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
20. "Co-Chairmen – Political Advisory Board – Supporters". Leave Means Leave. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
21. "BERNARD JENKIN CANDIDATE FOR HARWICH & NORTH ESSEX". bernardjenkin.com. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
22. Evans, Albert (13 September 2019). "Tory MP Bernard Jenkin accuses John Bercow of operating a 'majoritarian dictatorship' over Brexiters". i. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
23. "STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED AND NOTICE OF POLL" (PDF). Retrieved 21 August 2023.
24. Casalicchio, Emilio (2 November 2020). "5 things the UK's lockdown-skeptic MPs want from Boris Johnson". POLITICO. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
25. Dwan, James (7 December 2021). "Harwich MP: 'We are are in a hybrid war' against Russia". Harwich and Manningtree Standard. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
26. Allegretti, Aubrey (14 June 2023). "Boris Johnson calls for Tory MP on privileges committee to resign". The Guardian . Retrieved 14 June 2023.
27. Evans, Martin (8 December 2023). "Police close investigation into Sir Bernard Jenkin's after lockdown party claims". The Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 13 June 2024.
28. "Allegations currently under investigation by the Commissioner". UK Parliament. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
29. https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/pcfs/not-upheld/not-upheld---mc-mp-bj-mp-el-mp-vc-mp.pdf ^{[ bare URL PDF ]}
30. "Harwich and North Essex - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024. 3,561
31. "Stop MP humiliation – archbishop". BBC News. 23 May 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
32. "MP told to repay £63,250 expenses". BBC News. 27 October 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
33. Parkes, Tom (27 October 2009). "MP ordered to pay back more than £60,000". Daily Gazette (Colchester). Retrieved 29 October 2009.
34. Watt, Holly (30 January 2010). "MPs' expenses: Bernard Jenkin has repayment halved". The Telegraph. Retrieved 31 March 2010.
35. "Committee: (A New Musical) review – Kids Company crisis lacks drama". The Observer . 9 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
36. Bennett, Asa (28 December 2018). "Brexit: The Uncivil War review: Benedict Cumberbatch is superb in this thrilling romp through the referendum". The Telegraph . ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 8 January 2019.
37. Matthew Elliott (4 January 2019). "Vote Leave's Matthew Elliott on Channel 4's Brexit: The Uncivil War" . Financial Times . Archived from the original on 10 December 2022. Screenwriter James Graham has turned the campaign into a compelling story – and nailed my mannerisms
38. Hoggart, Simon (2 December 2010). "Register MPs' hobbies? Please no". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
39. "The people's choice?". BBC News. 22 March 2002. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
40. Born, Matt (13 November 2003). "Why Tory MP is the father of all Bernards". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
41. "Essex MP and wife announce separation after 34 years of marriage". Echo. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
42. Brading, Wendy (20 March 2009). "Colchester: Gala event for charity". Essex County Standard. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
43. Jennings, Ryan (11 June 2019). "Arise Sir Bernard! Jenkin humbled with knighthood". Harwich and Manningtree Standard. Retrieved 12 September 2019.
44. "STONEWALL AWARDS 2013 ANNOUNCED". Stonewall.
45. "'Keep it Local, Personal and Funny.' Good climate lobbying according to Bernard Jenkin MP". Hope for the Future. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2022.

External links

• Official website
• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard
• Contributions in Parliament at Hansard 1803–2005
• Voting record at Public Whip
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou
• Bernard Jenkin CV
• Bernard Jenkin MP biography at the site of the Conservative Party
• ePolitix.com – Bernard Jenkin
• Guardian Unlimited Politics – Ask Aristotle: Bernard Jenkin MP
• BBC News – Bernard Jenkin Archived 17 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine profile 20 June 2006

Video clips

• With Anne Widdecombe on YouTube
• Appearances on C-SPAN

News items

• 2006 reshuffle
• Use of the racial descriptor "Coloured"
• Laptop stolen in 2002

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Antony Buck	Member of Parliament for Colchester North 1992–1997	Constituency abolished
New constituency	Member of Parliament for North Essex 1997–2010
	Member of Parliament for Harwich and North Essex 2010–present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Tim Yeo as Shadow Minister for Environment, Transport and the Regions	Shadow Minister for Transport 1998–2001	Succeeded by Eric Pickles
Preceded by Iain Duncan Smith	Shadow Secretary of State for Defence 2001–2003	Succeeded by Nicholas Soames
Preceded by David Davis as Shadow Secretary of State for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister	Shadow Secretary of State for the Regions 2003–2005	Succeeded by Caroline Spelman as Shadow Secretary of State for Local Government Affairs and Communities
Preceded by	Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change 2005	Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by	Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party 2005–2006 With: The Lord Ashcroft	Succeeded by John Maples