Antony Higginbotham Explained

Antony Higginbotham (born 16 December 1989)^[2] is a British Conservative politician who served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Burnley from 2019 to 2024.^[3]

Early life and career

Antony Higginbotham was born on 16 December 1989 in Haslingden. He attended Haslingden High School and went on to study politics at Hull University, becoming the first in his family to attend university.^[4]

After graduating, he briefly worked for the NHS. He then went on to complete a Graduate Diploma in Law at City Law School.^[5] Before becoming an MP, he worked for a trade organisation representing international banks.^[6] He then worked as a banker, first for a Japanese bank then as a banker at NatWest.^{[7] [8]}

While living in London, he unsuccessfully contested the Peninsula ward in the 2018 Greenwich London Borough Council election.^[9]

Parliamentary career

At the 2019 general election, Higginbotham was elected to Parliament as MP for Burnley with 40.3% of the vote and a majority of 1,352.^{[10] [11]}

In June 2021, Higginbotham and Burnley Council submitted a bid for £20m to improve constituency life through three construction projects.^[12]

He is a member of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, which includes 12 months of courses on military affairs to help improve parliamentary knowledge on the military.^[13]

Higginbotham endorsed Liz Truss during the July–September 2022 Conservative Party leadership election, citing her views on tax, education and 'levelling up'.^[14]

In June 2024, Higginbotham was re-selected as the Conservative candidate for Burnley at the 2024 general election.^[15] He lost his seat to Labour candidate, Oliver Ryan.^[16]

Personal life

Higginbotham is openly gay and was one of 20 LGBT+ Conservative MPs in the 2019–2024 Parliament.^[17]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Facebook. www.facebook.com.
2. Book: Brunskill, Ian. The Times guide to the House of Commons 2019 : the definitive record of Britain's historic 2019 General Election. 19 March 2020. 978-0-00-839258-1. 129. 1129682574.
3. News: Burnley parliamentary constituency - Election 2019. www.bbc.com.
4. Web site: About Antony Higginbotham . 2022-07-12 . Antony Higginbotham MP . en.
5. News: About Antony Higginbotham . 13 June 2020 . Antony Higginbotham MP.
6. Web site: About Antony Higginbotham . 2022-07-12 . Antony Higginbotham MP . en.
7. Web site: About Antony Higginbotham . 2022-07-12 . Antony Higginbotham MP . en.
8. Web site: Class of 2019: Meet the new MPs. Bond. Daniel. 16 December 2019. Politics Home. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191216131414/https://www.politicshome.com/news/uk/political-parties/conservative-party/house/house-magazine/108577/class-2019-meet-new-mps . 16 December 2019 . 21 December 2019.
9. Web site: Dominic Moffitt . 7 December 2019 . All the Conservative Party General Election candidates standing in Lancashire . 14 December 2019 . Lancs Live.
10. Web site: Sophie-May Clarke . Burnley turns blue after more than a century . 13 December 2019 . . . 13 December 2019.
11. Web site: Archived copy . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20201205014137/https://www.burnley.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Statement%20of%20Persons%20Nominated%2C%20Notice%20of%20Poll%20and%20Situation%20of%20Polling%20Stations.PDF . 5 December 2020 . 15 November 2019.
12. Web site: Jacobs. Bill. 11 June 2021. Burnley town centre £20million upgrade bid. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210611120427/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/19365732.burnley-town-centre-20million-upgrade-bid/ . 11 June 2021 .
13. Web site: East Lancs MP Antony Higginbotham falls in for army training to learn more about the UK military and what they do as part of special armed forces Parliamentary scheme. 2021-07-09. Lancashire Telegraph. 23 September 2020 . en.
14. News: Jacobs . Bill . East Lancs MPs back Liz Truss as next PM . 29 September 2022 . Lancashire Telegraph . 2 August 2022.
15. Web site: STATEMENT OF PERSONS NOMINATED, NOTICE OF POLL AND SITUATION OF POLLING STATIONS . 12 June 2024 . Burnley Council.
16. Web site: Burnley results . 6 July 2024 . BBC News.
17. Web site: The new UK Parliament reportedly has the highest number of LGBTQ MPs in the world. 16 December 2019. Attitude.co.uk. 18 March 2020. 17 December 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191217154517/http://attitude.co.uk/article/the-new-uk-parliament-reportedly-has-the-highest-number-of-lgbtq-mps-in-the-world/22471/. dead.