Nick Timothy

Last updated

The Public Order Act is increasingly being used as a blasphemy law to protect Islam from criticism. The act was never intended to do this. Parliament never voted for this, and the British people do not want it. To use the Public Order Act in this way is especially perverse, since it makes a protester accountable for the actions of those who respond with violence to criticism of their faith. This is wrong, and it destroys our freedom of speech. We should be honest that the law is only being used in this way because the authorities have become afraid of the violent reaction of mobs of people who want to impose their values on the rest of us. My bill will put a stop to this and restore our freedom of speech — and our right to criticise any and all religions, including Islam.

The bill was a reaction to the trial of Hamit Coskun [64] [65] and the grievous assault of Salman Rushdie, for which the assailant was sentenced by a jury to the maximum term of 25 years in jail, [66] amongst other events. [63] The National Secular Society amongst others said that the conviction of Coskun revives blasphemy laws. [62] He (Timothy) felt that the Crown Prosecution Service had given "the game away when it first sought to prosecute Coskun for causing “distress” to “the religious institution of Islam”.. appeasing the mob never works. If we allow threats and violence to succeed, more threats and violence will follow until the mob gets its way and imposes its beliefs and culture even more emphatically on the rest of us." [63] The Bill was also proposed as an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill. [67]

Timothy has also campaigned against what he describes as Labour’s “rigged ‘Islamophobia’ consultation”, calling for public support to “stop Britain's new Islamic blasphemy laws”. [68] This generated media attention around religious freedom and hate crime legislation. The working group responsible delayed the publication of its findings after thousands of people wrote in expressing their opposition. [69]

Local Campaigns

Timothy has called for a Mildenhall relief road as part of the town’s expansion plans. [70] He has also campaigned for the renewal of the Haverhill to Cambridge rail link, engaging in talks with the Government about reinstating this major transport connection, and proposed a Charter for West Suffolk to manage new development. [71]

He has also backed the horse racing industry during its action over Government proposals to harmonise online gambling taxes, reflecting the interests of Newmarket, the world capital of horse racing, in West Suffolk. [72] He is the Joint Chairman of the APPG on Horseracing and Bloodstock and has made several calls in Parliament for reforms to the way the sport is funded. [73]

Since the election, Timothy has opposed the Government’s business tax increases and their impact on the local economy and campaigned to save Suffolk Police from a merger with Norfolk. Timothy has also adopted a sceptical position towards the reorganisation of local government in Suffolk. [74]

Personal life

Timothy and his family live in West Suffolk. He is an Aston Villa supporter. [75]

Electoral history

Nick Timothy
Official portrait of Nick Timothy MP crop 2.jpg
Official portrait, 2024
Member of Parliament
for West Suffolk
Assumed office
4 July 2024
General election 2024: West Suffolk [76]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Conservative Nick Timothy 15,814 34.3 −30.0
Labour Rebecca Denness12,56727.2+5.0
Reform UK David Bull9,62320.8N/A
Liberal Democrats Henry Batchelor4,2849.3+0.3
Green Mark Ereira-Guyer2,9106.3+1.8
Independent Katie Parker4851.1N/A
Independent Luke O'Brien3450.7N/A
SDP Ivan Kinsman1330.3N/A
Majority 3,2477.1−35.1
Turnout 46,33160.1−4.6
Registered electors 77,149
Conservative hold Swing −17.5

References

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  2. Walker, Jonathan (14 July 2016). "Theresa May's top advisor is a Brummie who loves Aston Villa" . Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 McInerney, Laura (22 March 2016). "Profiles: Nick Timothy". Schools Week. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  4. Richardson, Hannah (9 September 2016). "School selection plans could undo years of reform – Morgan". BBC News. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  5. "Conservative History Group: Books". Conservative History Group. 31 July 2013. Retrieved 24 August 2016. Joseph Chamberlain was one of the dominant figures of Victorian and Edwardian Britain – but while he is remembered for his record as Mayor of Birmingham, his role in committing the Conservative Party to social reform has been neglected by modern Tories. In this study, Nick Timothy explores the many roles Chamberlain played during his political life – Radical and Unionist; outsider and Cabinet Minister – and argues that his legacy is every bit as important to modern Conservatism as Disraeli's 'One Nation' approach and Randolph Churchill's Tory Democracy
  6. Gimson, Andrew (15 July 2016). "Profile: Nick Timothy, May's thinker-in-chief and co-Chief of Staff". ConservativeHome . Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  7. "Nick Timothy". Centre for Science and Policy. University of Cambridge . Retrieved 15 July 2016.
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  9. Coughlan, Sean (28 January 2016). "Call to end limit on religious free schools". BBC. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  10. Why have ministers delayed final approval for Hinkley Point C?, The Guardian , 29 July 2016
  11. Nick Timothy: The Government is selling our national security to China, Conservative Home, 20 October 2015
  12. "HSJ100 2016: The list in full". Health Service Journal. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  13. Timothy, Nick (14 June 2016). "I've already voted Leave – but these wretched campaigns show everything that's wrong with British politics". ConservativeHome . Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  14. Hardman, Isabel. "Beware the aides of May! The people who'll really run the new government". The Spectator. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
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  17. Swinford, Steven (9 June 2017). "'A toxic clique': Calls for Theresa May's closest advisers, Nick and Fiona, to be sacked or PM will face leadership challenge on Monday". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 June 2017.
  18. "Nick Timothy: Why I have resigned as the Prime Minister's adviser". Conservative Home. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  19. Timothy, Nick (2020). "The Politics of Elder Care". RSA Journal. CLXVI (2). London: 20–21. ISSN   0958-0433.
  20. "Nick Timothy". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  21. Timothy, Nick (12 July 2024). "The Critic".
  22. Timothy, Nick (12 July 2024). "The Conservative Reader".
  23. Timothy, Nick (2020). Remaking one nation: the future of conservatism. Cambridge, UK; Medford, MA: Polity. ISBN   978-1-5095-3917-8.
  24. "Aston University Maths School". 12 July 2024.
  25. Timothy, Nick; Rice, Gavin (28 February 2023). "There is still hope for Conservatism in Britain". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  26. "New additions to our expanded team at Policy Exchange". 12 July 2024.
  27. Brown, Rivkah (23 January 2019). "People like Nick Timothy don't get fired: they just fail into great new jobs". New Statesman . Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  28. "Nick Timothy". Gov.UK. 12 July 2024.
  29. 1 2 Weich, Ben (8 February 2018). "Theresa May's former aide accused of using antisemitic slur in Brexit article on George Soros". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  30. 1 2 Bush, Stephen (8 February 2018). "Why is Nick Timothy's Telegraph column on anti-Brexit billionaire George Soros so disturbing?". New Statesman. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
  31. Pollard, Stephen (1 April 2017). "Mrs May 'more pro-Israel even than Harper'" . Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  32. "Ex Downing Street chief Nick Timothy rejected as Meriden candidate". BBC News. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  33. "Dame Caroline Spelman standing down over 'Brexit abuse'". BBC News. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  34. 1 2 "The Trojan Horse Affair". The New York Times. 27 January 2022.
  35. Perry, Dr Damon L.; Stott, Dr Paul (11 December 2022). "The Trojan Horse Affair: A Documentary Record" (PDF). Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  36. Sodha, Sonia (20 February 2022). "The Trojan Horse Affair: how Serial podcast got it so wrong". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  37. Penna, Dominic (30 July 2023). "Nick Timothy selected as Tory candidate for Matt Hancock's seat". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN   0307-1235 . Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  38. "Theresa May's ex-adviser Nick Timothy picked as Tory candidate to replace Matt Hancock in West Suffolk". Sky News. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  39. "Penrith MP Neil Hudson linked to Matt Hancock's seat". Cumberland and Westmorland Herald . 25 July 2023.
  40. "Breaking News Penrith and The Border MP looses second selection bid". PenrithTown. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  41. Goodman, Paul (31 July 2023). "Nick Timothy and Bradley Thomas are selected to contest West Suffolk and Bromsgove respectively". Conservative Home. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  42. "New West Suffolk candidate to 'draw a line' under Hancock controversy". BBC News. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  43. Earth, Matthew (5 July 2024). "Nick Timothy wins West Suffolk in General Election 2024" . Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  44. "His Majesty's Official Opposition: Whips Office (Commons)". 29 August 2025.
  45. 1 2 "Contributions for Nick Timothy". 29 August 2025.
  46. Timothy, Nick (29 August 2025). "The Telegraph".
  47. Timothy, Nick (21 July 2025). "Unless the Government axe the racing tax rise it will be goodbye Glorious Goodwood". The Sun.
  48. Timothy, Nick (12 July 2025). "How to save Conservatism". The Spectator.
  49. Timothy, Nick (27 March 2025). "We need to end Deliveroo visas. We can and here's how". ConservativeHome.
  50. 1 2 "The green vs. NIMBY split blowing up British politics". POLITICO. 18 November 2024.
  51. Timothy, Nick (14 August 2025). "Nick Timothy". Facebook.
  52. Timothy, Nick (7 March 2025). "Nick Timothy MP challenges the Government's 'ideological' drive to net zero". Nick Timothy MP.
  53. Timothy, Nick (21 June 2025). "Nick Timothy MP highlights madness of Labour's energy policy". Nick Timothy MP.
  54. Timothy, Nick (18 December 2024). "Immigration and Nationality Statistics". Hansard.
  55. Timothy, Nick (10 February 2025). "Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill". Hansard.
  56. Timothy, Nick (11 March 2025). "Employment Rights Bill". Hansard.
  57. Penn, Baroness (18 June 2025). "Employment Rights Bill". Hansard.
  58. "MP Nick Timothy Demands NCA Probe into Corrupt Officials over Grooming Gang Scandal Following BBC Revelations". Conservative Post. 1 August 2025.
  59. "Freedom of Expression (Religion or Belief System) Bill - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament".
  60. "U.K. Parliamentarian Files Bill to Protect Free Speech". Middle East Forum. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  61. "Bill to protect criticism of religion to come before Parliament".
  62. 1 2 "Bill to exempt criticism of religion from harassment laws – Anglican Mainstream".
  63. 1 2 3 4 5 "Criticising religion should be exempt from harassment laws, say MPS".
  64. "REX V HAMIT COSKUN - JUDGMENT" (PDF). Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  65. "Man fined for 'provocative' Quran burning". BBC. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  66. "Man who stabbed author Salman Rushdie on stage sentenced to 25 years in prison". CNN. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
  67. Timothy, Nick (18 June 2025). "Crime and Policing Bill". Hansard.
  68. Timothy, Nick (26 June 2025). "Help me to defeat Labour's rigged 'Islamophobia' consultation". Nick Timothy MP.
  69. Wright, Oliver (15 August 2025). "Islamophobia definition review delayed as consultation paper goes viral". The Times.
  70. "Relief road calls for Mildenhall West Row Road homes scheme". East Anglian Daily Times. 19 March 2025.
  71. Timothy, Nick (20 December 2024). "Nick Timothy MP: My Contract with West Suffolk". Nick Timothy MP.
  72. "https://www.suffolknews.co.uk/newmarket/news/this-action-should-send-a-powerful-message-mp-backs-racin-9430144/". Suffolk News. 18 August 2025.{{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  73. Timothy, Nick (24 October 2024). "Horseracing". Hansard.
  74. "Suffolk's Conservative MPs seek protection for councils". East Anglian Daily Times. 20 April 2025.
  75. Timothy, Nick (3 February 2024). "More than just a club". The Critic.
  76. "West Suffolk - General Election Results". BBC News. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
Government offices
Preceded by Downing Street Chief of Staff
20162017
With: Fiona Hill
Succeeded by
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for West Suffolk
2024–present
Incumbent