Christopher Heaton-Harris

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Christopher Heaton-Harris

Christopher Heaton-Harris (born 28 November 1967, Epsom, Surrey) was appointed Brexit minister in July 2018.

He has been the British Conservative Party MP for Daventry since 2010.

He is a former British MEP from Conservative and Unionist Party (1999-2009).

From January to July 2018 he was Comptroller of Her Majesty’s Household within the Whip’s office.

Lobbying links

UK lobbyist

Heaton-Harris briefly worked as a commercial lobbyist. He was hired by lobbying agency Fleishman-Hillard while he was standing for Parliament in 2009.

It was reported that Fleishman-Hillard paid for a three-day junket to Washington so Heaton-Harris could speak at a conference on Capitol Hill in March 2010.

American lobby links

Heaton-Harris was listed as an International Delegate of the powerful US corporate lobby group, American Legislative Exchange Council, although it is unclear when this was. Other 'international delegates from the UK include other Eurosceptics: Liam Fox MP, Daniel Hannan MEP, Roger Helmer MEP, Syed Kamall MEP, Richard Ashworth MEP, Martin Callanan MEP and Nirj Deva MEP.

UK Parliamentary career

Eurosceptic

Heaton-Harris describes himself as a “fierce Eurosceptic”.

He was co-chairman of the Fresh Start Project group of Eurosceptic Tory MPs, and chaired the hard-Brexit backing European Research Group of Conservative MPs.

Letter to universities

In early October 2017, Heaton-Harris wrote to vice-chancellors at every UK University asking for the names of any professors involved in teaching European affairs “with particular reference to Brexit”. His letter asks for a copy of each university’s syllabus and any online lectures on Brexit. This led to claims of political interference in academic freedom, as well as censorship. Heaton-Harris, at the time government whip, was rebuked by the leadership of the Conservative Party, although his colleague, universities minister Jo Johnson, suggested that Heaton-Harris might have been innocently researching a possible book on 'the evolution of attitudes' to Europe, rather than acting in his role as a government minister, and "probably didn't appreciate the degree to which (the letter) would be misinterpreted".

Anti-windfarm campaigner

In 2012 Heaton Harris coordinated a letter to then Prime Minister, David Cameron signed by 105 MPs that asked for a drastic cut to onshore wind farm subsidies.

UK Parliamentary affiliations

This article is part of the Spinwatch Fracking Portal and project

• All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas member
• All-Party Parliamentary Group on Biomass
• Former member of All-Party Parliamentary Group for European Reform
• All-Party Parliamentary Football Group - Treasurer

European Parliamentary career

Declaration of Financial Interests

Professional Activities:

• Vice-Chairman, Association of English Football Agents (Unpaid)
• Board Member, SOLL Leaisure (Daventry) Ltd (Unpaid)

Paid Functions or Activities:

• Occasional consultancy for European Consultancy Network Ltd

Financial Support Received in Connection with Political Activities:

Financial:

• Birmingham Airport parking space
• Air France Club 2000 card
• BA Silver Card
• BMI Gold Card

In terms of material:

• I was speaker at the East Midlands Branch of the "Securities and Investments Institute" dinner, which included dinner and drinks for my wife and I.
• Guest of Chelgate at the Conservative Party Conference Gala Dinner.
• Dinner, paid for by reporters from the Daily Mail group.
• Dinner at UK Ambassador to the EU´s residence, provided by the RFU.
• Lunch at Boisdales, London - provided by Santander Group.
• Dinner provided by UPS in Washington DC.
• Dinner at Rugby Expo Awards, provided by organisers.
• Friends of Football Dinner at Stanhope Hotel, Brussels - provided by UEFA.

Further Information:

• I use Alliotts Accountants in Guildford as my "Service Provider". They ensure that all the money I have allotted to me for staff is spent correctly, that the correct tax, national insurance and other deductions are made and report this annually to the European Parliament services. Their address is: "Friary Court", 13-21 High Street, Guildford, Surrey. GU1 3DL.
• I do currently employ a member of my family to work for me. My wife, Jayne, is my UK Diary Secretary and she is paid within the salary band £10k - £20k. Should you wish to meet with me about European issues, either in Brussels, Strasbourg or (preferably) the UK, please hit the "Contact Chris" link on the left-hand menu and we can start the ball rolling.
• I also employ two full-time staff in Brussels (Keith Newman and Jonny Goff) and in the UK (as well as Jayne) I have a Press Officer (Lydia Smith), administrative services provided for me (by West Northamptonshire Conservative Grouping), a Researcher, Rupert Matthews, (who also keeps my website up-to-date), occasionally pay Limelight Software Ltd who do all the funky stuff on my website, take occasional legal and academic advice and, when finances allow, bring out work experience students to Brussels for short periods of time. I also pay my Interns, as and when I have them.

European Parliamentary affiliations

• Member, Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection
• Member, Committee on Culture and Education
• Member, Delegation for relations with the countries of Central America
• Substitute, Committee on Budgetary Control

Record of Parliamentary Votes

• Voted against the directive on "establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy" (A5-0027/2000). The directive covers all water management aspects in order to achieve a 'good status' of all waters by 2015.
• Voted in favour of the directive on "national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutants" (A5-0063/2000). The amendment allows setting less ambitious national emission ceilings for sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3) and volatile organic compounds (VOC), which would result in more damage to human health and the environment.
• Voted in favour of the Commission White Paper on "Strategy for a future Chemicals Policy" (A5-0356/2001). The amandment helps avoid the necessary precautionary approach towards some chemical substances that are not proven to be completely safe.
• Voted against the directive on "waste electrical and electronic equipment" (A5-0100/2002). The amendment sets higher reuse and recycling rates for IT and telecommunication equipment. Rejected due to lack of absolute majority.
• Voted in favour of the report on "Community guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network" (A5-0135/2002). The Trans-European Network of Transport (TEN-T) is a network of so-called 'transport corridors' through Europe. This amendment calls for a full Strategic Environmental Assessment of these transport corridors and calls on the Commission to improve methods for analysing the environmental and economic impact of the TEN-T.
• Voted against the regulation concerning "traceability and labelling of genetically modified organisms and traceability of food and feed products produced from genetically modified organisms" (A5-0229/2002). The amendment allows customers the right to choose GM free food.
• Voted against the directive on "environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage" (A5-0145/2003). According to the amendment, polluters have to pay for environmental clean-up, and it supports an EU-wide regime which makes polluters liable for the damage they cause to wildlife, water and land.
• Voted against the directive on restructuring the "Community framework for the taxation of energy products and electricity" (A5-0302/2003). The amendment aims at giving tax benefits to environmentally friendly sources of energy, which would make them cheaper and more competitive to conventional (more polluting) sources of energy. It also gives tax benefits to environmentally friendly uses of energy for transport, for instance trains. Rejected due to lack of absolute majority.
• Voted against the amendment on Bulgaria’s progress towards accession (A5-0105/2004). The report objects to extending the life of the nuclear power stations in Bulgaria.

Personal Information

Curriculum Vitae

• Member of Parliament (2010-)
• Member of the European Parliament (1999-2009).
• Secretary of Sports Intergroup (2002- ).
• Chairman of Friends of Football (UEFA) (since 2003).
• Parliamentary candidate, Leicester South (1997).
• By-election candidate, Leicester South (2004).
• Soccer referee (1983- ).

Contact

Website:

http://www.heatonharris.com

This article is part of the MEPedia project of Spinwatch.

Resources

• European Parliament, Declaration of Members' Financial Interests: Christopher Heaton-Harris, 09 January 2008, accessed 03 February 2009.
• European Parliament, MEP Directory: Christopher Heaton-Harris, accessed 03 February 2009.
• European Parliament, MEP Directory: Christopher Heaton-Harris, accessed 17 November 2010.
• Friends of the Earth, EU Vote Watch, accessed 02 February 2009.