Nick Timothy
Nick Timothy | |
---|---|
![]() Official portrait, 2024 | |
Member of Parliament for West Suffolk | |
Assumed office 4 July 2024 | |
Preceded by | Matt Hancock |
Majority | 3,247 (7.1%) |
Downing Street Chief of Staff | |
In office 14 July 2016 – 9 June 2017 Serving with Fiona Hill | |
Prime Minister | Theresa May |
Deputy | Joanna Penn |
Preceded by | Edward Llewellyn |
Succeeded by | Gavin Barwell |
Personal details | |
Born | Nicholas James Timothy March 1980 (age 45) Birmingham, England |
Political party | Conservative |
Alma mater | University of Sheffield |
Nicholas James Timothy CBE (born March 1980) is a British politician and former special adviser who has served as Member of Parliament (MP) for West Suffolk since 2024. A member of the Conservative Party, he previously served as joint Downing Street Chief of Staff, alongside Fiona Hill, under Prime Minister Theresa May from 2016 to 2017.
Early life
[edit]Timothy was born in Birmingham, the son of a steel worker and a school secretary.[1] He was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School in Aston, Birmingham,[2] and at the University of Sheffield, where he gained a first in politics.[3][4] He was the first member of his family to attend university.
Timothy has cited as his inspiration in politics the Birmingham-born Liberal Unionist politician Joseph Chamberlain, of whom he wrote a short biography for the Conservative History Group.[5] He has supported conservative philosophies which he believes promote strong communities that make markets work and has argued the Conservative Party should focus on benefiting all citizens and regions.[1][6]
Career
[edit]Early posts (2001–2010)
[edit]Following his graduation, Timothy worked at the Conservative Research Department (CRD) for three years, from 2001 to 2004.[3] In 2004, Timothy left the Conservative Research Department to work as corporate affairs adviser for the Corporation of London.[3] In 2005, Timothy took up a post as a policy adviser for the Association of British Insurers.[3] In 2006, Timothy returned to politics after two years in the financial sector, spending a year working for Theresa May - the first of three posts on May's staff.[3] In 2007, Timothy returned to the CRD, where he worked for a further three years.[3]
Home Office (2010–2015)
[edit]In 2010, Theresa May was appointed Secretary of State at the Home Office and appointed Timothy as a special adviser, focusing on police reform, immigration, and counter-terrorism policy. He spent five years working for the Home Secretary, before leaving, in 2015, to become a Director at the New Schools Network (NSN).[3][7][8]
New Schools Network (2015–2016)
[edit]While at the NSN he spoke in favour of ending the 50% Rule which requires oversubscribed Free Schools to allocate half of their places without reference to faith.[9]
In 2015, Timothy wrote an article to express his worry that the People's Republic of China was effectively buying Britain's silence on allegations of Chinese human rights abuse and opposing China's involvement in sensitive sectors such as the Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. He criticised David Cameron and George Osborne for "selling our national security to China" and asserted that "the Government seems intent on ignoring the evidence and presumably the advice of the security and intelligence agencies." He warned that security experts were worried that the Chinese could use their role in the programme to build weaknesses into computer systems which would allow them to shut down Britain's energy production at will and argued that "no amount of trade and investment should justify allowing a hostile state easy access to the country's critical national infrastructure."[10][11]
In October 2016, the Health Service Journal rated him as the fifth most influential person in the English NHS in 2016.[12]
Timothy has stated that he voted to leave the European Union in the 2016 membership referendum.[13][14]
Downing Street (2016–2017)
[edit]Following David Cameron's resignation as Prime Minister in the wake of the Brexit referendum result, Timothy took a sabbatical from his position at the NSN to work on Theresa May's 2016 leadership campaign. May's campaign was a success and Timothy was appointed Joint Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister on 14 July 2016.[15]
In spring 2017, May called a snap general election. As a result of the election, the Conservative Party lost its majority and became a minority government dependent on the Democratic Unionist Party for their majority. Timothy, along with Fiona Hill, faced immediate calls for his removal.[16] Theresa May was also given an ultimatum by Conservative Members of Parliament, to sack Timothy or face her own leadership challenge.[17] On 9 June 2017, Timothy resigned as Joint Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister.[18] Reflecting in 2020 on the projected cost of adult social care, Timothy wrote "Many things went wrong in that election campaign, but I resigned as joint Chief of Staff in Downing Street because our social care proposal blew up the manifesto."[19]
Wilderness years (2017–2024)
[edit]After leaving Downing Street, Timothy worked as a columnist for The Daily Telegraph newspaper[20] and as a sports columnist for The Critic.[21] Timothy is the founder and co-editor of the online newsletter The Conservative Reader.[22] Timothy published a book about the future of conservatism, Remaking One Nation, in 2020.[23]
He also became a business consultant, founding trustee of a new specialist maths school,[24] Chairman of the Future of Conservatism project at Onward,[25] a Senior Policy Fellow at Policy Exchange,[26] a visiting professor at Sheffield University, a visiting fellow at Wadham College, Oxford, and an adviser to the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China. In early 2023 he completed an independent review of the Home Office on behalf of the Prime Minister and Home Secretary.
In January 2019 Timothy was appointed as a member of the organising committee of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, to be held in his home city of Birmingham.[27] Timothy also served as a board member of the Department for Education and the Government’s £250 million Sports Survival Package.[28]
Brexit and allegations of antisemitism
[edit]In February 2018, Timothy denied allegations of antisemitism made in the New Statesman by Stephen Bush[29][30] following the publication of an article of which he was the principal author that claimed the existence of a "secret plot" to stop Brexit by the Jewish philanthropist George Soros.[30] In response, Timothy tweeted: "Throughout my career I’ve campaigned against antisemitism, helped secure more funding for security at synagogues and Jewish schools".[29] When the Jewish Chronicle reported on Theresa May's pro-Israel stance as Prime Minister, a source said "If [Timothy] was a journalist, and he was Jewish, you could imagine him editing the JC."[31]
2019 general election
[edit]In November 2019, Timothy failed to be selected as the Conservative candidate for the Meriden constituency in the West Midlands, for the 2019 general election.[32] The seat had previously been held by Caroline Spelman, who opted to stand down as an MP over the "intensity of abuse arising out of Brexit".[33]
The Trojan Horse affair
[edit]In February 2022, The New York Times released a podcast entitled "The Trojan Horse Affair" which was created by Brian Reed and Hamza Syed.[34] The podcast claimed that Timothy contributed to the scandal when he emailed a Birmingham community centre which was due to host an event entitled "Trojan Horse or Trojan Hoax" in order to shut down the event. In the email it is alleged that Timothy insinuated that the owners of the community centre would be associated with terrorism if they allowed the event to go ahead.[34] Timothy and Michael Gove wrote a joint foreword for a Policy Exchange report with their own account of how hardline activists had taken over several state schools in an attempt to impose, in the words of one of the several official inquiries, an “intolerant and aggressive Islamic ethos”.[35] The podcast has also since been criticised by Observer columnist Sonia Sodha who argued that it "presents a one-sided account that minimises child protection concerns, misogyny and homophobia in order to exonerate the podcast’s hero, a man called Tahir Alam. In doing so, it breaches the standards the public have the right to expect of journalists, with cruel consequences for those it uses and abuses along the way."[36]
Member of Parliament (2024–present)
[edit]2024 General Election
[edit]On 30 July 2023, Timothy was selected as the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for West Suffolk.[37] This was following Matt Hancock's announcement of standing down from parliament.[38] He defeated incumbent MP for Penrith and The Border, Neil Hudson[39][40] and former Financial Times journalist Sebastian Payne.[41] He said he hoped to "draw a line" under the controversy of Hancock who was suspended from the Conservative Party after he appeared on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.[42] Timothy was elected Member of Parliament for West Suffolk at the 2024 General Election.[43]
Nick Timothy was appointed as an Opposition Assistant Whip and Shadow Energy Minister by new Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch in November 2024.[44]
In his backbench capacity, Timothy has contributed to debates around the economy, education, crime, immigration, and multiculturalism.[45] He has appeared on the BBC and GB News, and written columns for The Telegraph[46], The Sun[47], The Spectator[48], and ConservativeHome[49].
Net Zero Criticism
[edit]In 2024, Timothy criticised the Labour government for approving the development of a large solar farm in his constituency.[50] He called it an "insult" to locals.[50] This issue gained national attention due to broader debates about renewable energy and rural communities. Timothy says he opposes all ground-mounted solar applications in Suffolk on the basis that it is “bad energy policy, bad farming policy, and simply unfair to Suffolk and East Anglia.”[51]
As a Shadow Energy Minister, Timothy has criticised the Government in Parliament for its lack of ambition on nuclear power, and its “ideological” approach to renewables and carbon pricing.[52] He has appeared in news coverage exposing what he calls the “madness” of net zero, criticising billions in subsidies being paid towards new renewables like wind and solar as well as the Drax power plant.[53] He has responded for the Conservatives during legislative scrutiny of new regulations and in parliamentary debates.[45]
Immigration Debates
On 18 December 2024, Timothy led speeches in a debate he called on immigration and nationality statistics, arguing that mass immigration is “the biggest broken promise in British politics”.[54]
Timothy has also given speeches in Parliament on the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, arguing “the future of immigration policy must be not just about who comes here, but about who we decide must leave” and “we must accept that not every migrant is the same, and not every culture is equal.”[55] He also proposed amendments to the Employment Rights Bill at committee and report stages to regulate the use of substitution clauses in the gig economy that have been widely used to facilitate illegal work for migrants.[56] This later received support from Baroness Penn in the House of Lords.[57]
Grooming Gangs Scandal
Timothy has called for the Home Secretary to order the creation of a specialist unit in the National Crime Agency to investigate police officers, councillors, and public officials accused of enabling the grooming gangs or participating in child sexual exploitation. Following allegations revealed by the BBC in July he wrote to the Home Secretary reiterating his demand.[58]
Anti-Blasphemy Bill and Free Speech
[edit]On 10 June 2025 Timothy used the Ten-minute rule to introduce the Freedom of Expression (Religion or Belief System) Bill.[59][60][61] It sought to clarify that provisions of the Public Order Act 2023 does not apply in the case of "discussion, criticism or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse of particular religions or the beliefs or practices of their adherents".[62][63] It was supported by ten MPs including shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick and independent MP Rupert Lowe.[63] Timothy said:[63]
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
[edit]Timothy and his family live in West Suffolk. He is an Aston Villa supporter.[75]
Electoral history
[edit]Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conservative | Nick Timothy | 15,814 | 34.3 | −30.0 | |
Labour | Rebecca Denness | 12,567 | 27.2 | +5.0 | |
Reform UK | David Bull | 9,623 | 20.8 | N/A | |
Liberal Democrats | Henry Batchelor | 4,284 | 9.3 | +0.3 | |
Green | Mark Ereira-Guyer | 2,910 | 6.3 | +1.8 | |
Independent | Katie Parker | 485 | 1.1 | N/A | |
Independent | Luke O'Brien | 345 | 0.7 | N/A | |
SDP | Ivan Kinsman | 133 | 0.3 | N/A | |
Majority | 3,247 | 7.1 | −35.1 | ||
Turnout | 46,331 | 60.1 | −4.6 | ||
Registered electors | 77,149 | ||||
Conservative hold | Swing | −17.5 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "The sage of Birmingham: Theresa May's pugnacious chief-of-staff prescribes a new direction for the Conservative Party". The Economist. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
- ^ Walker, Jonathan (14 July 2016). "Theresa May's top advisor is a Brummie who loves Aston Villa". Retrieved 10 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f g McInerney, Laura (22 March 2016). "Profiles: Nick Timothy". Schools Week. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- ^ Richardson, Hannah (9 September 2016). "School selection plans could undo years of reform – Morgan". BBC News. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
- ^ "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
- ^ Gimson, Andrew (15 July 2016). "Profile: Nick Timothy, May's thinker-in-chief and co-Chief of Staff". ConservativeHome. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- ^ "Nick Timothy". Centre for Science and Policy. University of Cambridge. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- ^ Parker, George (15 July 2016). "Nick Timothy: Theresa May's political 'brain'". Financial Times. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- ^ Coughlan, Sean (28 January 2016). "Call to end limit on religious free schools". BBC. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
- ^ Why have ministers delayed final approval for Hinkley Point C?, The Guardian, 29 July 2016
- ^ Nick Timothy: The Government is selling our national security to China, Conservative Home, 20 October 2015
- ^ "HSJ100 2016: The list in full". Health Service Journal. 11 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Hardman, Isabel. "Beware the aides of May! The people who'll really run the new government". The Spectator. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
- ^ Mason, Rowena (15 July 2016). "May appoints former advisers as joint chiefs of staff". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ Anushka Asthana and Rowena Mason (9 June 2017). "Tories say Theresa May must sack 'monsters who sunk our party'". The Guardian.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Nick Timothy: Why I have resigned as the Prime Minister's adviser". Conservative Home. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ Timothy, Nick (2020). "The Politics of Elder Care". RSA Journal. CLXVI (2). London: 20–21. ISSN 0958-0433.
- ^ "Nick Timothy". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
- ^ Timothy, Nick (12 July 2024). "The Critic".
- ^ Timothy, Nick (12 July 2024). "The Conservative Reader".
- ^ Timothy, Nick (2020). Remaking one nation: the future of conservatism. Cambridge, UK; Medford, MA: Polity. ISBN 978-1-5095-3917-8.
- ^ "Aston University Maths School". 12 July 2024.
- ^ Timothy, Nick; Rice, Gavin (28 February 2023). "There is still hope for Conservatism in Britain". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "New additions to our expanded team at Policy Exchange". 12 July 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Nick Timothy". Gov.UK. 12 July 2024.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ Pollard, Stephen (1 April 2017). "Mrs May 'more pro-Israel even than Harper'". Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "Ex Downing Street chief Nick Timothy rejected as Meriden candidate". BBC News. 6 November 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ "Dame Caroline Spelman standing down over 'Brexit abuse'". BBC News. 5 September 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
- ^ a b "The Trojan Horse Affair". The New York Times. 27 January 2022.
- ^ Perry, Dr Damon L.; Stott, Dr Paul (11 December 2022). "The Trojan Horse Affair: A Documentary Record" (PDF). Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ Sodha, Sonia (20 February 2022). "The Trojan Horse Affair: how Serial podcast got it so wrong". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Theresa May's ex-adviser Nick Timothy picked as Tory candidate to replace Matt Hancock in West Suffolk". Sky News. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
- ^ "Penrith MP Neil Hudson linked to Matt Hancock's seat". Cumberland and Westmorland Herald. 25 July 2023.
- ^ "Breaking News Penrith and The Border MP looses second selection bid". PenrithTown. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "New West Suffolk candidate to 'draw a line' under Hancock controversy". BBC News. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- ^ Earth, Matthew (5 July 2024). "Nick Timothy wins West Suffolk in General Election 2024". Retrieved 12 July 2024.
- ^ "His Majesty's Official Opposition: Whips Office (Commons)". 29 August 2025.
- ^ a b "Contributions for Nick Timothy". 29 August 2025.
- ^ Timothy, Nick (29 August 2025). "The Telegraph".
- ^ Timothy, Nick (21 July 2025). "Unless the Government axe the racing tax rise it will be goodbye Glorious Goodwood". The Sun.
- ^ Timothy, Nick (12 July 2025). "How to save Conservatism". The Spectator.
- ^ Timothy, Nick (27 March 2025). "We need to end Deliveroo visas. We can and here's how". ConservativeHome.
- ^ a b "The green vs. NIMBY split blowing up British politics". POLITICO. 18 November 2024.
- ^ Timothy, Nick (14 August 2025). "Nick Timothy". Facebook.
- ^ Timothy, Nick (7 March 2025). "Nick Timothy MP challenges the Government's 'ideological' drive to net zero". Nick Timothy MP.
- ^ Timothy, Nick (21 June 2025). "Nick Timothy MP highlights madness of Labour's energy policy". Nick Timothy MP.
- ^ Timothy, Nick (18 December 2024). "Immigration and Nationality Statistics". Hansard.
- ^ Timothy, Nick (10 February 2025). "Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill". Hansard.
- ^ Timothy, Nick (11 March 2025). "Employment Rights Bill". Hansard.
- ^ Penn, Baroness (18 June 2025). "Employment Rights Bill". Hansard.
- ^ "MP Nick Timothy Demands NCA Probe into Corrupt Officials over Grooming Gang Scandal Following BBC Revelations". Conservative Post. 1 August 2025.
- ^ "Freedom of Expression (Religion or Belief System) Bill - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament".
- ^ "U.K. Parliamentarian Files Bill to Protect Free Speech". Middle East Forum. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ^ "Bill to protect criticism of religion to come before Parliament".
- ^ a b "Bill to exempt criticism of religion from harassment laws – Anglican Mainstream".
- ^ a b c d e "Criticising religion should be exempt from harassment laws, say MPS".
- ^ "REX V HAMIT COSKUN - JUDGMENT" (PDF). Courts and Tribunals Judiciary. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ^ "Man fined for 'provocative' Quran burning". BBC. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ^ "Man who stabbed author Salman Rushdie on stage sentenced to 25 years in prison". CNN. 16 May 2025. Retrieved 26 July 2025.
- ^ Timothy, Nick (18 June 2025). "Crime and Policing Bill". Hansard.
- ^ Timothy, Nick (26 June 2025). "Help me to defeat Labour's rigged 'Islamophobia' consultation". Nick Timothy MP.
- ^ Wright, Oliver (15 August 2025). "Islamophobia definition review delayed as consultation paper goes viral". The Times.
- ^ "Relief road calls for Mildenhall West Row Road homes scheme". East Anglian Daily Times. 19 March 2025.
- ^ Timothy, Nick (20 December 2024). "Nick Timothy MP: My Contract with West Suffolk". Nick Timothy MP.
- ^ "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
(help)|title=
- ^ Timothy, Nick (24 October 2024). "Horseracing". Hansard.
- ^ "Suffolk's Conservative MPs seek protection for councils". East Anglian Daily Times. 20 April 2025.
- ^ Timothy, Nick (3 February 2024). "More than just a club". The Critic.
- ^ "West Suffolk - General Election Results". BBC News. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
External links
[edit]- Living people
- 1980 births
- UK MPs 2024–present
- British political consultants
- Conservative Party (UK) officials
- Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies
- Politicians from Birmingham, West Midlands
- Alumni of the University of Sheffield
- British special advisers
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Downing Street chiefs of staff