Virginia Crosbie
MP
Official portrait, 2019
Assumed office
12 December 2019
Preceded byAlbert Owen
Majority1,968 (5.4%)
Personal details
Born (1966-12-08) 8 December 1966
Maldon, Essex, England
Political partyConservative
Children3
Alma mater
Websitewww.virginiacrosbie.co.uk

Virginia Ann Crosbie (born 8 December 1966)[1] is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ynys Môn since the 2019 general election. Prior to her political career, she worked as a director at UBS and HSBC before retraining as a mathematics teacher.

Early life

Crosbie was born in Maldon, Essex, to an English mother and Welsh father,[2] and grew up in the village of Tiptree, where her mother worked at the Tiptree Jam Factory.[3] She attended Colchester County High School.[3] As a teenager, she worked as a dolphin trainer at the Woburn Safari Park for Terry Nutkins's BBC children's television series Animal Magic.[3][4] She studied microbiology at Queen Mary University of London before completing a diploma in management studies at the University of Westminster.[5] After graduating, Crosbie worked for Glaxo Wellcome before becoming a pharmaceutical analyst at the bank UBS.[3][6] She became a director at UBS and later at HSBC. She then retrained, and became a part-time mathematics teacher.[4][6]

She is a former chair of the charity Save the Baby which is based at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington. Crosbie decided to join the organisation after experiencing a miscarriage.[7] She was a director of Women2Win.[8]

Parliamentary career

Crosbie with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in 2023

Crosbie contested the Rhondda constituency as the Conservative candidate in the 2017 general election. She finished third behind the Labour Party and Plaid Cymru candidates.[9] She then became the deputy chair of the Kensington, Chelsea and Fulham Conservatives Association, and the director of Women2Win, an organisation which campaigns for more female Conservative parliamentarians.[10][11] She also worked as a senior parliamentary researcher for Basingstoke MP Maria Miller.[5][6]

She was selected as the Conservative candidate for Ynys Môn on 14 November 2019 (the day when nominations closed).[12] Crosbie was chosen after the former Brecon and Radnorshire MP Chris Davies, the previously selected candidate, withdrew the day before due to opposition by the local association, and other Welsh Conservatives.[13] She was elected as MP for Ynys Môn at the 2019 general election with a majority of 1,968 (5.4%).[14] The constituency had been represented by a Labour Party MP since the 2001 general election.[15] She is the first Conservative MP to represent this three-way marginal seat since 1987.[16]

In January 2020, Crosbie tabled an early day motion about the protection of the Welsh language.[17] From February 2020 to August 2021, she was the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Department of Health and Social Care.[18][19] Crosbie has been a member of the Welsh Affairs Select Committee since 2020 and sat on the Women and Equalities Committee between March and September 2020.[20][21] In July 2020, Crosbie apologised for errors on her Welsh language website, stating that the machine translation was "not 100% perfect". She said she was learning the Welsh language and working on a fully bilingual website.[22]

In 2020 she successfully campaigned to give Ynys Môn protected status in the UK Boundary Changes review. An amendment put forward by Maria Miller MP brought Anglesey in line with other UK islands including the Isle of Wight and Orkney ensuring that it would not become a joint constituency with part of mainland Wales.[23]

In January 2021, Crosbie began a campaign to get 100 people in Anglesey trained in mental health first aid.[24] She runs a long term campaign to find Anglesey's Hidden Heroes which she launched in 2020 during the Covid pandemic.[25] She has campaigned locally for improved broadband connectivity,[26] and better availability of defibrillators.[27]

In 2020, Crosbie started the Anglesey Freeport Bidding Consortium[28] following the UK Government's announcement that at least one freeport would be established in Wales. She sponsored Anglesey County Council's bids for the Community Renewal Fund[29] and Levelling Up Fund.[30]

In 2022 £2.7m was granted to Anglesey from the Community Renewal Fund for projects including promotion of the Welsh language.[31]

In January 2023 Anglesey County Council was granted £17.3m from the Levelling Up fund for regeneration of the port town of Holyhead.[32]

In March 2023 the UK Government and Welsh Government jointly announced that Anglesey was being given Freeport status.[33] The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak MP, visited Ynys Môn and met with Crosbie to make the Anglesey Freeport announcement.[34]

Since beginning her career as an MP, Crosbie has made the case for building new nuclear power stations in the UK. She is the co-chair with fellow Conservative MP Trudy Harrison of the Nuclear Delivery Group which was formed in December 2020.[35] She has been vocal in her support of setting up a new nuclear plant on the site of Wylfa on Anglesey.[36] In September 2023 the Prime Minister hinted that Wylfa could be a preferred nuclear site.[37]

Crosbie sits on the APPG for Nuclear Energy and set up and chairs the APPG for Small Modular Reactors. She was a member of both the Nuclear Energy (Financing) Bill Committee and the ARIA Bill Committee.

From September 2021 to July 2022, she was a Parliamentary Private Secretary in the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales.[38] Crosbie resigned as PPS in July 2022 in protest against the leadership of Prime Minister Boris Johnson over his handling of the Chris Pincher scandal.[39] She endorsed Sajid Javid in the July 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.[40]

In January 2023, Crosbie said that she wears a stab vest when meeting constituents. She commented that she took this precaution following the murder of Conservative MP Sir David Amess in 2021.[41] Crosbie had previously reported around 30 threats, abusive emails and social media posts to the police since being elected as an MP which included violent threats.[42][43]

Crosbie apologised in June 2023 for attending an event briefly in Parliament while COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were in place on 8 December 2020 which she attributed to a "momentary error of judgment".[44]

In July 2023 Crosbie was again made PPS to the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales.

In 2023 a Private Member's Bill sponsored by Crosbie - the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill - received royal assent from King Charles III giving hospitality workers 100% of the tips they have earned.[45]

Crosbie has lobbied for support for farmers on Anglesey. She led a ten minute rule bill to update the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953.[46] She sat on the Agriculture Bill Committee and Environmental Bill Committee.[47] In 2023 she brought the DEFRA Farming Minister, Mark Spencer MP, to visit the Anglesey Agricultural Show. She was part of the campaign to encourage supermarkets to tag foods for "Buy British".[48]

In 2023 following her support for a local campaign for a solution to the low platform at Ty Croes railway station, the Department for Transport Rail Minister, Huw Merriman MP, visited and announced £1m funding for a Harrington Hump at the station.[49]

Crosbie has also led Parliamentary debates on communities served by the West Coast Mainline franchise,[50] the closure of the Menai Suspension Bridge[51] and Freeports in Wales.[52] She subsequently expressed her disappointment that Avanti West Coast was reawarded the West Coast Mainline contract[53] and that the Menai Bridge repairs would not be complete until 2026.[54] Crosbie has also campaigned for better digital connectivity across Anglesey.[55]

In May 2023 she gave away a mile of Union Flag bunting to communities across Ynys Môn to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III[56]

She has a stated aim to bring jobs and investment to Ynys Môn and welcomed a £175m investment at RAF Valley[57] and a new HMRC Inland Border Facility in Holyhead.[58]

In 2023, following a question asked by Crosbie in Business Questions, the Leader of the House, Penny Mordaunt MP, declared the Welsh Government's "blanket" 20 mph speed limit "absolutely insane".[59]

She has sat on the Seafarers Wages Bill, British Sign Language Bill, Shark Fin Bill, Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, Health and Care Bill and the Women and Equalities Committee.[60]

Since November 2023, she has been under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, Daniel Greenberg, for "actions causing significant damage to the reputation of the House as a whole, or of its Members generally".[61]

Personal life

Crosbie is married and has three children.[3][4] Her brother Simon died of suicide in 2018 at the age of 52.[62]

After her election in December 2019, she committed to learning the Welsh language and passed her entry-level speaking examination in July 2021.[63]

References

  1. ↑ Brunskill, Ian (19 March 2020). The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election. HarperCollins Publishers Limited. p. 398. ISBN 978-0-00-839258-1. OCLC 1129682574.
  2. ↑ "Plaid Cymru retain Arfon as Ynys Mon gained by the Conservatives". The Bangor Aye. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Oldershaw, Lauren (21 March 2018). "Former Colchester School girl Virginia Crosbie leads campaign to get more women in politics". Daily Gazette. Colchester: Newsquest. Archived from the original on 30 May 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 "General Election 2019: Meet Wales' first female Tory MPs". Election 2019. BBC News. BBC. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  5. 1 2 Bodkin, Henry (16 December 2019). "Ten new MPs to watch: New Tory intake includes quiz show king and Prue Leith's speech-writer son". The Daily Telegraph. London. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 Bond, Daniel (16 December 2019). "Class of 2019: Meet the new MPs". Politics Home. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  7. ↑ Mosalski, Ruth; Owen, Annie; Willis, Anna (20 January 2022). "Essex-born MP Virginia Crosbie still texts 'amazing' brother who took his own life". Essex Live. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  8. ↑ Crosbie, Virginia (26 January 2019). "Virginia Crosbie: Mentoring is a very Conservative way to change someone's life". Conservative Home.
  9. ↑ "Rhondda – 2017 Election Results". General Elections Online. Parliament of the United Kingdom. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  10. ↑ Crosbie, Virginia (20 August 2019). "A Conservative victory depends on women voters". ConservativeHome. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  11. ↑ "About Us". Women2Win. Archived from the original on 4 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  12. ↑ "Meet the first female Conservative MPs in Wales". ITV News Wales. 13 December 2019. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  13. ↑ "Tory Chris Davies withdraws from seat after criticism". Election 2019. BBC News. BBC. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019. A former MP who lost his seat following a conviction for a false expenses claim has quit the general election after briefly becoming the Conservative candidate for Ynys Mon. Chris Davies pulled out after other Welsh Tories criticised his selection.
  14. ↑ "Ynys Môn". Election 2019. BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  15. ↑ "Labour MP Albert Owen to stand down at next election". BBC News. BBC. 14 August 2019. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  16. ↑ "Ex-Plaid Cymru leader seeks to return as Ynys Mon MP". BBC News. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  17. ↑ "EDM 53: Protecting the Welsh language". UK Parliament. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  18. ↑ @VirginiaCrosbie (26 February 2020). "Honoured to have been appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to support ⁦@MattHancock⁩ and Ministers in the ⁦@DHSCgovuk⁩. Hoping to use my background in healthcare to help improve outcomes for patients across the UK" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 26 February 2020. Retrieved 10 May 2020 – via Twitter.
  19. ↑ "Parliamentary Private Secretaries – April 2020" (PDF). Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  20. ↑ "Welsh Affairs Committee membership agreed". parliament.uk. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  21. ↑ "Women and Equalities Committee membership agreed". parliament.uk. 2 March 2020. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  22. ↑ "Conservative MP apologises for Welsh website translation errors". BBC News. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  23. ↑ "Ynys Môn to remain separate constituency after UK Government accepts amendment".
  24. ↑ "First goal achieved in Anglesey Mental Health 100 Campaign". North Wales Chronicle. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  25. ↑ "Our Hidden Heroes". Virginia Crosbie.
  26. ↑ "Better Broadband for Ynys Môn". Virginia Crosbie.
  27. ↑ "Save a life. Find a defib". Virginia Crosbie.
  28. ↑ Hughes, Owen (2 December 2020). "Holyhead Freeport status bid to be made by island consortium". Business Live.
  29. ↑ "Ynys Môn receives more than £2.7m from the UK Community Renewal Fund". North Wales Chronicle.
  30. ↑ Spridgeon, Dale (9 August 2022). "The £22m plan to turn around town with some of Wales' most deprived areas". North Wales Live.
  31. ↑ "Ynys Môn receives more than £2.7m from the UK Community Renewal Fund". North Wales Chronicle. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  32. ↑ "Levelling Up projects in Wales awarded £208 million by UK Government". GOV.UK. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  33. ↑ "UK and Welsh governments work together to deliver two Freeports in Wales". GOV.UK. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  34. ↑ "Sunak and Drakeford visit Holyhead to welcome Anglesey Freeport boost for region". North Wales Chronicle. 23 March 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  35. ↑ Rawlinson, Ollie (21 May 2021). "Copeland MP delivers nuclear roadmap to Energy Minister". News & Star. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  36. ↑ "Anglesey MP is commended for her support of the Wylfa Newydd project". In Your Area. 9 June 2021.
  37. ↑ "Rishi Sunak hints Wylfa could be preferred nuclear site". BBC News. 28 September 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  38. ↑ "Ynys Môn MP Virginia Crosbie says new Wales Office role will help her 'champion our precious union'". Nation.Cymru. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  39. ↑ "Ynys Môn MP Virginia Crosbie resigns from UK Government, tells Johnson his position is 'untenable'". Nation.Cymru. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  40. ↑ Spridgeon, Dale (12 July 2022). "Virginia Crosbie backs Sajid Javid in the race to replace Boris Johnson". North Wales Live.
  41. ↑ "MP Virginia Crosbie wears stab vest to meet constituents". BBC News. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  42. ↑ "Conservative MP hits out at 'cowardly' online abuse". Cymru News. 30 March 2021.
  43. ↑ "Scale of abuse of politicians on Twitter revealed". BBC News. 9 November 2022.
  44. ↑ "Conservative MP Virginia Crosbie sorry for lockdown event". BBC News. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  45. ↑ "Millions to take home more cash as new law on Tipping passes". GOV.UK. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  46. ↑ "Raising the issue of dog attacks on livestock in parliament". www.nfu-cymru.org.uk (in Welsh). 15 September 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  47. ↑ "Virginia Crosbie MP, Ynys Môn". TheyWorkForYou. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  48. ↑ "Anglesey MP Backs Buy British Online Tab".
  49. ↑ "£1million to improve height of platform at Anglesey station". North Wales Chronicle. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  50. ↑ "Back Bench Business Debate on Rail Transport Services to Communities served by the West Coast Mainland".
  51. ↑ "Hansard - Debate - Impact of Closure of Menai Suspension Bridge". www.google.com. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  52. ↑ "Westminster Hall to hold a debate on freeport proposals for Wales".
  53. ↑ "Avanti's new contract draws criticism from North Wales' MPs".
  54. ↑ "Menai Bridge repairs will be completed by 2026, says MP".
  55. ↑ "Virginia Crosbie MP campaigns for better broadband".
  56. ↑ "Virginia Crosbie MP attends coronation events across Anglesey".
  57. ↑ "Ynys Mon Mon MP welcomes £175m investment at RAF Valley".
  58. ↑ "Anglesey MP thanked for her help in bringing 200 new jobs to Holyhead".
  59. ↑ "Wales' 20mph limit absolutely insane, says Penny Mordaunt".
  60. ↑ "Parallel Parliament - Virginia Crosbie".
  61. ↑ "Allegations currently under investigation by the Commissioner". UK Parliament. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  62. ↑ Mosalski, Ruth (16 January 2022). "'I've texted my brother since he took his own life and his loss drives me every day'". Wales Online. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  63. ↑ "Conservative MP Virginia Crosbie passes Welsh language speaking exam". Nation.Cymru. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
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