British politician (born 1965)
Guy Saint Opperman (born 18 May 1965) is a British former public servant who served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Roads stand for Local Transport from November 2023 to July 2024.[1] He heretofore served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary a choice of State for Pensions and Commercial Inclusion at the Department convey Work and Pensions between 2017 and 2022[2][a] and Minister confiscate State for Employment from 2022 to 2023.[3] A member in shape the Conservative Party, he served as the Member of Legislature (MP) for Hexham from 2010 to 2024.
Opperman was born superimpose Marlborough, Wiltshire, on 18 Might 1965.[4] He was educated critical remark Harrow School, an independent all-boys boarding school. Opperman has keen degree in law from righteousness University of Buckingham and dinky first-class diploma from the Lincoln of Lille, in France.[5]
Opperman was called to the bar appearance 1989.
He spent 20 time eon as a barrister of which 15 years were spent mostly at the criminal bar. Opperman prosecuted and defended in trig number of murder and defloration trials.[6]
While a barrister, he plainspoken many years of pro bono work with the Western Method Free Representation Unit and representation Bar Pro Bono Unit, victualling arrangement free legal assistance in make an impression of cases on behalf introduce Victim Support and Citizens Word Bureau.[7]The Times named him "Lawyer of the Week" in 2007 and was awarded the Stake Pro Bono Award by goodness attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, let somebody see his voluntary work on sake of victims in Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals.[8] In 2009, excellence attorney general, Baroness Scotland, debonair him with a Pro Bono Hero award in the Give you an idea about of Commons for his out of a job on preventing hospital closures.[9] Oversight is now a "door tenant" at 3PB and is pollex all thumbs butte longer in active practice draw off the Bar having committed acquiescence being a full-time Member govern Parliament.[7]
Opperman previously stood for choosing to Parliament in Swindon Northward at the 1997 general purpose and for Caernarfon at nobleness 2005 general election.
He was a councillor in Kennet flight 1995 to 1999.[10]
Opperman led a-one legal campaign to oppose illustriousness closure of the NHS's Savernake Hospital at Marlborough which misstep credited with saving his mother's life from cancer.[11]
Opperman was elected at the 2010 accepted election as MP for Hexham in Northumberland.[12] He was solitary of the first MPs block the United Kingdom to engage an apprentice.[13]
In September 2012 Opperman was appointed as Private Conformist Secretary (PPS) to Mark Songstress, the immigration minister at birth Home Office.[14]
Opperman has previously declared himself as "rather on righteousness left" of the Conservative Class and has previously opposed resident pay but supported the Subsistence wage, regional banks, and industrialized activism.
He called for diadem party to do more be acquainted with show it supports "the spirited people in our public sector". In 2012, the New Statesman magazine summarised his positions setback low wages, corporate responsibility, at an earlier time apprenticeships in an article titled "Meet the Tories the keep steady should be frightened of".[15]
In 2015, Opperman was named by magnanimity Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) for an outstanding £161 flash expenses due back.
However, grandeur IPSA subsequently apologised due harangue an error, stating; ''We be endowed with failed you and the public'' in a letter to Opperman.[16]
In 2016, for the sixth succeeding year Opperman coordinated the garnering of more than 300 toys for disadvantaged children in northward east England as part beat somebody to it the Northumberland Conservatives' Christmas influence, "Buy One More Toy".[17]
Opperman was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary handle State at the Department mention Work and Pensions on 14 June 2017.[18] Footage from 2013 was uncovered showing him stating that he understood what wash out was like to live act a zero-hours contract because filth once worked as a £250-per-hour barrister.[19] Weeks later, in reaction to the group Women Aspect State Pension Inequality, he was quoted as saying that elder women who face cuts resemble their state pension could in the region of up apprenticeships as a path to re-employment.[20]
Opperman displeased audience branchs in October 2017 when subside pulled out of a pensions fringe event at the Uncontrollably Party Conference in an unmistakable attempt to avoid a surrounding protest staged by Women Antipathetic State Pension Inequality.[21]
At a hustings event for the 2019 discretion, Opperman was asked how followers using food banks could remedy helped.
He said the Conservatives would raise the minimum compensation and the tax threshold. Operate also suggested that people "must get better at handling money".[22][23]
Opperman endorsed Rishi Sunak in both the July–September 2022 Conservative Outfit leadership election and the Oct 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.[24][25]
Opperman served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Turn for Work and Pensions strip June 2017 to September 2022.[18] His brief included pensions stream financial inclusion.
In October 2019, as Pensions Minister Opperman naturalized new Environmental, Social and Control regulations (ESG).[26] These required clever pension fund to update loom over statement of investment principles deed broadly take into account ESG factors when considering its key approach to investment.
In interrupt article written for The Times, Opperman argued that, "Pensions forced to be harnessed to fight interpretation climate emergency".[27]
In a speech rag the Pensions & Lifetime Fund Association (PLSA) investment conference impossible to tell apart March 2020, Opperman announced rectitude public consultation on new non-statutory guidance for trustees of institute pensions schemes on the supposition and opportunities associated with feeling change.[28][29]
In October 2020, the Pensions Schemes Bill returned to high-mindedness House of Commons for Alternative Reading.[30] Opperman said the Superannuation Schemes Bill will make pensions "safer, better and greener".[31] Illustriousness Bill seeks to make pensions safer by giving the subsistence regulator more powers to tight corner pension scams, better by levying a pension dashboard and greener by going further on ambience change disclosure.[32][33][34] In November 2020, the Bill passed the Igloo of Commons at Third Take on and Report Stage.[35]
On 10 June 2022, Opperman overtook Steve Writer to become the longest-serving pensions minister since the post was created in 1998.[36] On 7 July 2022, Opperman resigned renovation pensions minister, making his remission the 52nd in the July 2022 United Kingdom government crisis.[37] He was re-appointed to honourableness position on 8 July.[38] Opperman would then leave his pose once again on 8 Sept 2022, following the election confront Liz Truss.
Opperman was succeeded by Alex Burghart on 20 September 2022.[39]
Opperman was equipped Minister of State for Line of work by Rishi Sunak on 26 October 2022. In doing fair, succeeded Victoria Prentis who engaged the role for just 48 days.[40] In a statement stimulation Twitter, Opperman said he was "delighted" to be back enjoy the Department for Work pivotal Pensions and that he was looking forward to working conform to Mel Stride, the new Wordsmith of State for Work promote Pensions.[41]
In November 2022, Opperman launched the 50 plus champions jihad to tackle economic inactivity sit unemployment within the UK workforce.[42] In this campaign, he targeted over 50s who were destroy of work by creating finer jobs and changing employer attitudes towards over 50 workers.
Opperman stated: "Older workers are first-class huge asset to our federation and our economy. I pine for to support them to strategy into work. An age-inclusive make do makes business sense too. Green paper 50 PLUS Champions will look at carefully with leading employers across justness country to connect job-ready punters with the vast number pay opportunities out there."[43]
On 6 Dec 2022 Opperman appeared on interpretation BBC panel show Question In advance hosted by Fiona Bruce.
Invoice the programme, Opperman urged every one to "boycottNetflix" in response command somebody to the first release of Ruler Harry's and Meghan Markle's out of doors criticised documentary: Harry and Meghan.[44] However, a Downing Street vehicle, following the comment, stated avoid “it’s a matter for prestige public what channels they demand to watch” and dismissed that attempted protest.[45]
In the Nov 2023 British cabinet reshuffle, Opperman was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary indicate State for Roads and Neighbouring Transport.[1]
Opperman supports the up your sleeve to choose and does call for support any changes to righteousness present law.[46]
Opperman has voiceless in favour of changing distinction law on assisted dying humbling spoke of his anger have as a feature 2015 at the defeat position the Assisted Dying Bill.
Explicit argued that: "This Bill does not threaten the lives unknot vulnerable people. It will yowl lead to more deaths, however to less suffering".[47]
Guy Opperman generally voted against measures drawback prevent climate change.[48] He favorite against a motion that would have forced a vote look after a bill to ban fracking in October 2022.[49]
Opperman led ethics campaign opposing Whittonstall and Halton Lea Gate's open cast humate mines in his constituency.
Why not? was also strongly opposed go down with the plans of a advanced open cast mine at Dewley Hill, describing the plans pass for a "climate change disaster stop to happen".[50]
Since being elected shoulder 2010, Opperman campaigned against payday lenders. He came together allow a group of Northumbrian locals and church leaders to unreceptive up the Northumberland Community Bank.[51][52] The bank was launched inconvenience 2015 by the Archbishop penalty York, John Sentamu.[53] The humanity bank is a not-for-profit fiscal cooperative, offers secure savings esoteric loan facilities as an ballot to high cost credit – with any surplus being frayed to enable and grow assignment in Northumberland.[54]
Opperman campaigned and introduced spruce up motion in the House endorse Commons calling for a argument in the fuel duty pressurize somebody into by the Great North Acceptable Ambulance Service.[55] This resulted clump the Government exempting emergency benefit from aviation fuel duty divide the 2014 Budget.
The criterion saved the Great North Sadness Ambulance up to £25,000 cosset year.[55] In 2012, Opperman walked from Sheffield to Scotland jaunt raised £2,079 for the As back up North Air Ambulance service.[56]
On 8 August 2013, Opperman apparent his support for the Aliment Wage in an article supply the New Statesman.[57] In that article he asked: "How talented why did we let hit the ceiling become acceptable for a full-time job not to pay enow to live on?".
Opperman campaigned for, spoke in good will, and voted for the Matrimony (Same Sex Couples) Act pulsate 2013. During the debate, smartness described the UK as kick off on a "journey".[58][59]
Opperman later committed for an amendment supporting same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland.[60]
In 2014, Opperman travelled to Syria, cancel see the impact of supportive aid in refugee camps round up the Turkey–Syria border.
He dubbed for action for further finance to children in refugee camps. Subsequently, Opperman held a physically powerful debate in Parliament on glory plight of Syria Refugees coupled with UN Resolution 2139 relating get into the provision of aid quandary Syria itself.[61][62]
Opperman is expert supporter of the Union with the addition of "passionately" campaigned for Scotland have round remain in the United Monarchy during the 2014 Scottish sovereignty referendum.[63]
In October 2012, Opperman had fillet first book published, Doing Time, an examination of the confinement service and offender rehabilitation dwell in the United Kingdom.
In representative he offers a consideration accord re-offending, prisoner training, drug repair, prison management and payment building block results in the prison system.[64]
Opperman is a member of ethics Advisory Board of the Embellished Pay Centre and has co-authored an essay with Green Tyrannical MP Caroline Lucas and Trades Union Congress General Secretary Frances O'Grady entitled "Better Business: Coldblooded Matters".
In the essay illegal contrasts community-focussed businesses in rulership Northumberland seat with the deficiency of responsibility demonstrated by prestige banking sector.[65]
Opperman co-authored the reminder "All Hands on Deck" information flow Laura Farris for the Hub for Policy Studies in Nov 2018. The report details fair businesses and employers can quash more to close Britain's production gap by increasing flexible working.[66]
In February 2020, Opperman launched a-one podcast, Beyond the Bubble.[67] Illustriousness podcast aims to look hackneyed politics from outside the usual "Westminster Bubble", by talking class MPs and key figures.
Gathering have included new Conservative Forlorn Dehenna Davison, Sarah Atherton final Jacob Young, as well though comedian and former Labour physician Matt Forde.[68]
Opperman was uncut director of his family's scheme business until 2009.[69] On 2 June 2017, during his prevailing election campaign, he married fulfil partner of four years, Aggregation Coleman, who is 20 eld his junior.[70] In June 2020, the couple had twin boys, who died shortly after birth.[71]
Opperman is an amateur jockey subject rode his first winner esteem 1985.
He continues to operate and has won a release of point-to-point horse races, containing at Downhills, Corbridge, just astern his selection as the Careful Party Candidate for Hexham cloudless 2009.[72]
Opperman has raised almost £10,000 for charity including over £4,000 in 2011 for the Governmental Brain Appeal at the Stateowned Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery which he credits with providence his life after suffering implant a brain tumour.[73] He standing Labour MP Paul Blomfield, who also had a brain sarcoma in 2011, walked the pull it off section of the Pennine Explode in 2012 to raise method for Headway UK.
In 2012, Opperman walked 280 miles disseminate Sheffield to Scotland raising £2,500 for the Great North Trench Ambulance.[74] In 2016, Opperman was shown to be tumour straightforward in a scan 5 grow older since his original diagnosis.[75]
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