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Laura Trott (politician)

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The Right Honourable
Laura Trott
MBE MP
Official portrait, 2023
Shadow Secretary of State for Education
Incumbent
Assumed office
4 November 2024
LeaderKemi Badenoch
Preceded byDamian Hinds
Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
In office
8 July 2024 – 4 November 2024
LeaderRishi Sunak
Preceded byDarren Jones
Succeeded byRichard Fuller
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
In office
13 November 2023 – 5 July 2024
Prime MinisterRishi Sunak
Preceded byJohn Glen
Succeeded byDarren Jones
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions
In office
27 October 2022 – 13 November 2023
Prime MinisterRishi Sunak
Preceded byAlex Burghart
Succeeded byPaul Maynard
Member of Parliament
for Sevenoaks
Incumbent
Assumed office
12 December 2019
Preceded byMichael Fallon
Majority5,440 (10.9%)
Personal details
Born
Laura Trott

(1984-12-07) 7 December 1984 (age 39)
Oxted, England
Political partyConservative
SpouseBahador Mahvelati
Children3
EducationOxted School
Alma materUniversity of Oxford
Websitewww.lauratrott.org.uk Edit this at Wikidata

Laura Trott MBE (born 7 December 1984) is a British politician currently serving as Shadow Education Secretary since November 2024. She previously served as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury from July to November 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, she has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sevenoaks since 2019.

Born in Oxted, Trott attended Oxted School and later studied history and economics at the University of Oxford. She worked as a special adviser between 2009 and 2016, before becoming a partner at Portland Communications. Trott joined the Conservative Party in her teens, and was a councillor for the party on Camden London Borough Council between 2010 and 2014. She was elected to the House of Commons at the 2019 general election for Sevenoaks, becoming the first woman to represent the constituency. She was later appointed a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Department for Transport, before resigning during the July 2022 government crisis.

Trott endorsed Rishi Sunak in his unsuccessful bid for party leader in the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election. She later endorsed his successful bid in the October 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, and was appointed to the government frontbench as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions in Sunak's government after he became Prime Minister in the same month. In the November 2023 cabinet reshuffle, she was promoted to the cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. After the defeat of the Conservative Party in the 2024 general election, Trott became Shadow Chief Secretary of the Treasury in Sunak's shadow cabinet.

Early life and education

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Laura Trott was born on 7 December 1984[1][2] in Oxted.[3] She attended Oxted School[4] before studying history and economics at the University of Oxford as an undergraduate student of Pembroke College, Oxford.[1][5][6][7] Trott joined the Conservative Party in her teens and has cited former prime minister John Major as an early influence to join politics.[8]

Career

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After university, Trott was employed as strategy consultant at Booz & Company.[9] Trott is an ambassador for the Sutton Trust, an educational charity.[10]

Trott served as a Conservative Party Councillor for Frognal and Fitzjohns on Camden London Borough Council between 2010 and 2014.[11][12]

In January 2009, she became a political adviser for the Conservatives, before becoming a special adviser to then Minister for the Cabinet Office Francis Maude in May 2010 with the remit of political policy and media, and was then promoted to chief of staff.[3][13] She was subsequently appointed as a political adviser in the Number 10 Policy Unit, responsible for education and family policy under then Prime Minister David Cameron.[3] Trott was credited for formulating the party's tax-free childcare policy.[14][1]

After the 2015 general election, Trott was promoted to director of strategic communication.[9] In 2016, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in Cameron's Resignation Honours for her political and public service.[15] After the election of Prime Minister Theresa May, she left government service and became a partner at the political consultancy and public relations firm Portland Communications in September 2017.[9]

Parliamentary career

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Official portait, 2019

Early career

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Trott was selected as the Conservative candidate for Sevenoaks in Kent on 10 November 2019.[16] It is a Safe Conservative seat, having elected a member of the party since 1924, and was previously represented by former Secretary of State for Defence Michael Fallon.[16][17] At the 2019 general election, Trott was elected as MP for Sevenoaks with a majority of 20,818 and 60.7% of the vote.[18][19] Trott is the first woman to represent the constituency.[17]

She was a policy fellow at the Centre for Science and Policy at the University of Cambridge between 2020 and 2021.[20]

On 5 February 2020 Trott presented her Private Member's Bill, which aimed to restrict access to botulinum toxin and filler cosmetic procedures for under 18s.[21] It became law in October 2021.[22]

Trott was a member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee between March 2020 and November 2022.[23] She was also on the steering committee of the China Research Group during the same period.[24] Trott co-wrote a policy paper advocating for the establishment of "accelerator zones" with fellow Conservative MP Bim Afolami in February 2021 for the think tank Social Market Foundation. The zones would have relaxation of visa rules, tax incentives, and policy fellowship programmes.[25]

On 6 July 2022, in the wake of the resignations of Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid from the second Johnson ministry following the Chris Pincher scandal, Trott resigned as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Transport, citing "trust in politics is – and must always be – of the utmost importance, but sadly in recent months this has been lost".[26] Two days later, following Johnson's resignation as Conservative Party leader, she endorsed Sunak's failed bid to succeed him in the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, and also endorsed his successful bid to succeed Liz Truss in the October 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.[27]

Ministerial career

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Trott in Downing Street, 2023

Trott was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Work and Pensions on 27 October 2022.[28] During her tenure, the department published the first official data on the gender pensions gap. She also supported the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Act 2023 which enabled the government to reduce the minimum age of enrolment from 22 to 18.[29][30]

On 13 November 2023, Trott was promoted to Chief Secretary to the Treasury during Sunak's second cabinet reshuffle.[28][29]

She was sworn in as a member of the Privy Council on 13 December 2023 at Buckingham Palace following her appointment, entitling her to the honorific prefix "The Right Honourable" for life.[31]

In opposition

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At the 2024 general election, Trott was re-elected to Parliament as MP for Sevenoaks with a decreased vote share of 36.7% and a decreased majority of 5,440.[32] Following the general election, Trott was appointed Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the Shadow Cabinet of Rishi Sunak.[33] Trott endorsed the campaign of Kemi Badenoch in the 2024 Conservative Party leadership election.[34]

Personal life

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Trott is married to Bahador "Bids" Mahvelati, a partner at professional services firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers.[35][36] They have one daughter and twin sons.[3][10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Anon (2020). "Trott, Laura". Who's Who (online Oxford University Press ed.). Oxford: A & C Black. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U294031. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ Brunskill, Ian (19 March 2020). The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election. HarperCollins Publishers Limited. p. 325. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1. OCLC 1129682574. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Smith, Alan (17 November 2019). "General Election 2019: Conservative Laura Trott looks safe in Sevenoaks". Kent Online. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  4. ^ "About Laura". Laura Trott. Archived from the original on 27 November 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  5. ^ Camden, Billy (6 February 2016). "Movers & Shakers: Ben and Michael Dyer, Laura Trott and Brian Lightman". Schools Week. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Dame Lynne Brindley Speech for Pembroke 40 Years of Women Dinner" (PDF). Pembroke College, Oxford. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  7. ^ "The Pembrokian, Issue 38, July 2013". The Pembrokian. July 2013. p. 5. Archived from the original on 2 October 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  8. ^ Scotson, Tom (3 October 2023). "Rising stars: Meet the Conservative Party's ambitious young MPs". PoliticsHome. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "Portland appoints three former Downing Street advisers to its corporate team". Portland Communications. 1 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Laura Trott". Sevenoaks Conservatives. Archived from the original on 15 January 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  11. ^ Youle, Emma (12 June 2013). "Ballerina in bid for Tory Camden Council seat". Ham & High. Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  12. ^ "Local election results 6 May 2010". Camden London Borough Council. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  13. ^ Hill, Amelia (15 February 2012). "Can David Cameron be made to understand what women want?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 January 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  14. ^ Siddique, Haroon (31 July 2016). "Donors, aides and remainers dominate secret Cameron honours list". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 January 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  15. ^ "Resignation Honours 2016" (PDF). gov.uk. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 September 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  16. ^ a b Maguire, Patrick (10 November 2019). "Tories select Laura Trott in Sevenoaks". New Statesman. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  17. ^ a b Duggan, Ciaran (13 December 2019). "General Election 2019: Sevenoaks result". Kent Online. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  18. ^ "Sevenoaks". BBC News. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  19. ^ "Statement of persons nominated, notice of poll and situation of polling stations". Sevenoaks District Council. 15 November 2019. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  20. ^ "Policy Fellows 2020–2021". Centre for Science and Policy. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  21. ^ "New Bill to restrict under 18s' access to Botox and fillers echoes Nuffield Council concerns". Nuffield Council of Bioethics. 5 February 2020. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  22. ^ Trott, Laura (1 October 2021). "'I Hope Today Marks The Start Of Much Needed Change': Laura Trott MP On New The Botox And Filler Ban For Under-18s". Grazia. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  23. ^ "Health and Social Care Committee membership agreed". parliament.uk. 2 March 2020. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  24. ^ Payne, Sebastian (25 April 2020). "Senior Tories launch ERG-style group to shape policy on China". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 24 August 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  25. ^ "Accelerator Zones: how to turbocharge economic opportunity across the UK" (PDF). Social Market Foundation. 21 February 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  26. ^ "Another UK lawmaker resigns from PM Johnson's government". Reuters. 6 July 2022. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  27. ^ Payne, Sebastian (8 July 2022). "Rishi Sunak to stand for leadership of UK Tory party". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  28. ^ a b "Laura Trott MBE MP". gov.uk. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  29. ^ a b Austin, Amy (13 November 2023). "Cabinet reshuffle: pensions and housing on ministerial merry go round". FT Adviser. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  30. ^ Smith, Sophie (13 November 2023). "Updated: Laura Trott moved to Treasury; Opperman moved to transport". Pensions Age. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  31. ^ "Orders for 13 December 2023" (PDF). Privy Council Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 December 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  32. ^ "Sevenoaks - General election results 2024". BBC News.
  33. ^ "UK politics live: Lord Cameron resigns as Rishi Sunak announces interim shadow cabinet". BBC News. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  34. ^ Trott, Laura (31 August 2024). "Like Thatcher in 1979, Kemi Badenoch can win power and stand up for Britain". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  35. ^ Trott, Laura (speaker); Ramewal, Pav, Dr (Returning Officer) (13 December 2019). 13 December 2019. Sevenoaks District Council. Event occurs at 2m56s. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2020. I'd like to thank my family; my friends; my husband Bids here tonight
  36. ^ "Bahador (Bids) Mahvelati". PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Laura Trott (politician).
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament
for Sevenoaks
2019–present 		Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Chief Secretary to the Treasury
2023–2024 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury
2024 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Shadow Secretary of State for Education
2024–present 		Incumbent
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