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About Richard Holden

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Richard was elected in December 2019 and is the first Conservative Member of Parliament ever to be elected by the people of North West Durham.

Born in Blackburn, Richard grew up in the Pennine village of Grindleton, near Clitheroe. He attended the local village primary school and passed the 11+ to go to a grammar school in Skipton, North Yorkshire. He went to sixth form in Blackburn before going on to study at the London School of Economics (LSE), where he graduated in 2007.

Since then he has worked in both the public and private sectors, as well as in political campaigning. Most recently, before becoming an MP, he worked in the Department for Education as a Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Education.

Following his election, Richard has been very active on behalf of his constituency, both locally and in Parliament, raising issues such as transport infrastructure, jobs and the economy, farming, and lobbying for a replacement to Shotley Bridge Hospital. He is also involved in national campaigns to better regulate gambling, provide better mental health services and help prevent suicide, and for environmental protection.

Richard served on the Public Accounts Committee from 2019-2022, which holds the Government to account for how taxpayers money is spent. He is also on the European Statutory Instruments Committee, which scrutinises all regulations that the Government is making during the transition period following our exit from the European Union. In addition, Richard is part of UK parliamentary delegations to overseas bodies for democracy, such as the Council of Europe and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. 

Since being elected to Parliament, Richard has led successful campaigns to change Government policy. Within weeks of being elected he successfully convinced the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reverse the 'Motorhomes Tax' - an EU regulation that had caused a huge rise in tax on motorhomes. This was severely impacting Elddis, a caravan and motorhome manufacturer that employs almost 500 people in his constituency.

Subsequently Richard has helped introduce a new draught beer duty for pubs and changed the law through the Health and Care Act to ban Virginity Testing and so-called hymen repair procedures. Richard is currently campaigning in Parliament to extent the Automatic Enrolment of Pensions to 18 year-olds in order to boost the financial retirement prospects of millions across the UK.

In February 2022 Richard was promoted to Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. This is an unpaid assistant role, acting as the 'eyes and ears' for the Department in the House of Commons, carried out in addition to his role as a Backbench MP. 

Richard lives in Wolsingham. He enjoys cooking roasts, local pubs and walking in the Durham Dales.

 

News

Richard Holden MP secures meeting with Schools Minister about Witton-Le-Wear Primary School

Thursday, 4 November, 2021

Earlier in the year Richard was contacted by Governors at Witton-le-Wear Primary School who are concerned that the current buildings, while well maintained and in which the fantastic little school does a cracking job - just aren't the right lay-out for a school of 80+ children.

Richard at Nissan with the Trade Secretary

Richard Holden MP welcomes new Free Trade Deal with the EU

Tuesday, 29 December, 2020

Over the last few days I have been looking at the detail of the new agreement for the last few days and where we've landed is right at the top-end of where I thought we'd end up.

Richard Holden in North West Durham

A personal message from Richard Holden as he celebrates one year of being North West Durham’s first ever Conservative MP

Saturday, 12 December, 2020

Over the last year it has been the greatest honour of my life to represent the people of North West Durham.

Richard and Doug on the A692 litterpick

Richard Holden MP kicks off his new #LockdownLitterpick campaign

Sunday, 14 June, 2020

Richard Holden MP kicks off his #LockdownLitterpick

Richard at Tow Law War Memorial

Richard Holden MP - Britain's cultural heritage is our history

Friday, 12 June, 2020

Our physical and cultural heritage is important.

Richard Holden visiting Romag in Leadgate

Richard welcomes the news that 10,500 jobs have been directly supported in North West Durham by the Furlough Scheme

Thursday, 11 June, 2020

Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, has welcomed the massive positive benefit that the Government's furlough scheme has had in North West Durham and across the North East of England.

Richard Holden and The Football Foundation

Richard Holden confirms that Tow Law AFC will be receiving funding to improve their pitch

Monday, 8 June, 2020

Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, has received confirmation from Martin Glenn, Chairman of The Football Foundation, that Tow Law Football Club have been successful in their application for a Pitch Preparation Grant worth £1500.

Richard Holden in North West Durham

Richard Holden welcomes good news for local homelessness charities as Government announces funding boost

Monday, 8 June, 2020

Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, has today welcomed news that the Government has announced new funding for frontline homelessness charities.

Richard & Charlotte at AFC Consett

Richard Holden raises concerns of local football clubs with Sports Minister

Wednesday, 29 April, 2020

Richard Holden, MP for North West Durham, spoke to Nigel Huddleston MP, Minister for Sport in the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, last week and has followed that up with an email today regarding football in North West Durham. 

Richard Holden visits Elddis

Richard Holden wins campaign for a reversal of the Motorhomes Tax

Wednesday, 11 March, 2020

In September 2019, Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) and road tax on new motorhomes faced increases of about 705%. This was due to EU Regulation 2018/1832, which states that motorhomes were to be classed and therefore taxed differently.

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Richard Holden MP for North West Durham

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