Edward Timpson: a closer look
Edward was born in 1973 in Cheshire to John and Alex Timpson.
He has been MP for Crewe and Nantwich since the by-election in May 2008, and held the seat for the Conservatives at the 2010 General election.
He has an elder sister and brother as well as two adopted younger brothers. His parents have also fostered 87 children over the last 30 years, many of whom Edward grew up with.
Having been selected as the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Crewe and Nantwich at an open primary in July 2007, Edward spent the next 10 months campaigning hard in the constituency before the sad death of Gwyneth Dunwoody MP in April 2008.
In the by-election that followed, Edward overturned a 7,000 Labour majority and was elected as MP for Crewe and Nantwich on 22nd May 2008.
Edward has lived and worked in the local community almost his entire life. From 1999 until his election in 2008, Edward practised as a family law barrister in local courts, including Crewe, specialising in the cases of vulnerable children.
Edward has dedicated his time as MP for Crewe and Nantwich to improving the lives of local residents. With an office in the heart of Crewe, regular surgeries and newsletters, visits to local schools, colleges, charities, businesses, residents' associations, religious groups and trades union branches amongst others, Edward has immersed himself in the community he represents.
He has led on a variety of campaigns since taking office. These include campaigns to save the Weston Road Sorting Office and the Oak Street Tax Office in Crewe, the Ambulance First Responders in Nantwich, and a variety of employment and transport issues including Bombardier, Bentley and the National Railway Skills Academy for Crewe.
In the last two years, Edward has become Patron of Home Start based in Crewe, the Holly Holy Day Society and Supported Community Business who help local people with special needs to develop their skills so they can get into the workplace. Edward is also an Honorary Member of the Crewe Alex Supporters' Initiative and the Royal British Legion, as well as a member of the Cheshire Neighbours Credit Union and a Vice-President of the Acton Amateur Operatic Society who perform regularly at the Lyceum Theatre in Crewe.
At Westminster, Edward sat on the Children Schools and Families Select Committee and the Joint Committee on Human Rights. He is also Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) on Adoption & Fostering and on Looked After Children & Care Leavers, Secretary of the APPG for Dairy Farmers, Vice Chairman on the APPG for Runaway Missing Children and Vice Chairman of the APPG on Epilepsy. Edward is also Vice President of Conservative Friends of Poland. His areas of particular policy interest are education, social and family policy and justice.
Edward is enormously proud to represent the people of Crewe and Nantwich at Westminster, and believes they deserve an MP who puts their constituency first. As MP for Crewe and Nantwich, Edward is not frightened to stand up for his constituents even where it is at odds with his Party’s policy. He rebelled against his party on both the proposed part-privatisation of the Royal Mail and on changes to Bingo Tax.
Edward is married to Julia and they have three children, a boy Sam (aged 6) and two girls, Elizabeth (aged 4) and Lydia (aged 2), all born on their due date at Leighton Hospital, Crewe. Lydia is a leap year baby!
Last year Edward completed his seventh marathon in London, raising over £3,000 for local disabled children charities. He ran the marathon again during the 2010 General Election campaign for two more local charities of which he is a patron.
Away from politics, Edward is a fan of football, both watching and playing.
Edward is part of a team that has played a series of fixtures against the Liverpool Legends, Manchester City, West Bromwich Albion and Hollyoaks, raising nearly £30,000 for St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice and the Wingate Centre.
Watch Edward in the video below, filmed during the by-election campaign.