Simon Wright (politician)
Simon Wright | |
|---|---|
 Wright in 2010 | |
| Member of Parliament for Norwich South | |
| In office 6 May 2010 – 30 March 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Clarke |
| Succeeded by | Clive Lewis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 September 1979[1] |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Liberal Democrats |
| Alma mater | Imperial College London King's College London |
Simon James Wright[2] (born 15 September 1979) is a former British Liberal Democrat politician, who served as the Member of Parliament for Norwich South from 2010 to 2015. Wright defeated frontbench incumbent Charles Clarke (Labour), winning 29.7% of the votes and a narrow majority of 310 votes.[3] He is now chief executive officer of a Norfolk-based charity, Nelson's Journey.[4]
Early life
[edit]Wright was educated at Dereham Neatherd High School. He attended Imperial College London, receiving a BSc in Maths, and King's College London, receiving a PGCE. He has worked as a maths teacher at Alderman Peel High School in Wells-next-the-Sea in North Norfolk.[5]
Political career
[edit]Wright was elected as a councillor for the Lancaster North ward (Fakenham) on North Norfolk District Council in 2003.[6] Wright achieved the second-highest percentage of the vote of two seats available in the poll behind Cllr Nich Starling (LD).[7][citation needed]
Later that year, Wright quit his job as a teacher to become campaigns officer for Norman Lamb, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk. In 2005, Wright oversaw Norman Lamb's successful re-election campaign in North Norfolk, which increased his majority from 483 votes to 10,606.
Wright stepped down as campaigns officer in 2007 to devote himself full-time to being the Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Norwich South.[citation needed]
Wright's first parliamentary appointment saw him appointed to the Environmental Audit Select Committee in July 2010.[8]
He lost his seat at the 2015 general election, when he finished in fourth place behind the Green, Conservative and Labour Party candidates.
Personal life
[edit]Simon Wright worked as campaigns officer for Norman Lamb MP. The member of staff whom Wright replaced in that role became his wife in 2006.[9]
After losing his parliamentary seat in 2015, Simon became chief executive officer of a children's bereavement charity called Nelson's Journey in Norfolk in June 2016.[10]
In 2019 Simon got re-married to fellow runner Anna Thorpe, making headlines for taking part in the weekly parkrun with other guests before the ceremony.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ "Simon Wright MP". Democracy Live. BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 August 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
- ^ "List of Members Returned to Serve in Parliament at the General Election 2010". The Gazette. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "Norwich South". Election 2010. BBC News. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
- ^ "About Us | Nelson's Journey | Child Bereavement Help for Norfolk". Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ "Wright, Simon, (born 15 Sept. 1979), Chief Executive Officer, Nelson's Journey, since 2015". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2010. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U251661. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
- ^ "Overall District Wards Summary" (PDF). North Norfolk Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ^ "Local Elections Archive Project - 2003 - North Norfolk". www.andrewteale.me.uk. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ "Norwich MP to sit on Environmental Audit Committee". Simon Wright for Norwich South. Simon Wright. 13 July 2010. Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ^ "Simon Wright chosen to contest Norwich South". Norwich Liberal Democrats. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
- ^ McMahon, Rosa. "Former Norwich South MP Simon Wright is Nelson's Journey's new CEO". Eastern Daily Press. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
- ^ Cope, Lauren. "Newlyweds kick off wedding day celebrations with 5km Parkrun - in a veil and top hat". Norwich Evening News. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
